Extreme and Soapstone Demonstrate Dynamic PBB-TE Provisioning and Services

| Mar 5, 2008 | Carrier Infrastructure | Show Update

| Analyst: Glen Hunt

Current Perspective: Positive Vendor Importance: High Market Impact: Moderate

Event Summary

March 4, 2008 -- Extreme and Soapstone demonstrated dynamic provisioning of PBB-TE services across Extreme’s Ethernet switches using Soapstone’s Provider Network Controller (PNC). The demonstration is one of the first events to highlight dynamically provisioned PBB-TE trunks. OAM functions such as service monitoring, repair, and support were also demonstrated. Earlier PBB-TE demonstrations used static configurations and focused on establishing proof points for reliable transport functions.

Analytical Summary

• Current Perspective: Positive on the announcement that Extreme and Soapstone are demonstrating the dynamic provisioning of PBB-TE services, because the demonstration shows that PBB-TE technology and vendor implementations have progressed beyond hand-crafted, manually established point-to-point circuits, to dynamically constructed services flowing over Extreme’s BlackDiamond series switches. The demo also showcases additional capabilities of Soapstone’s Provider Network Controller (PNC), such as monitoring, repair, and network operations support functions.

• Vendor Importance: High to Extreme and Soapstone, since both vendors have been early endorsers of PBB-TE, and the demonstration shows that they are ready to move toward field and lab trials with an integrated end-to-end solution. This is the first public demonstration conducted by Extreme, which uses a control plane manager to establish services and provide basic OAM functions. The demonstration highlights the progress Soapstone has made since its inception and that its concept of using an external control plane to provision and manage network devices is valid.

• Market Impact: Moderate on the carrier Ethernet market, since the demonstration shows that PBB-TE is closer to being ready for service provider lab and field trials. The combination of the PNC and the BlackDiamond switches provides a visible example that the PBB-TE services can be provisioned, monitored, and managed, which is a prerequisite for any service provider before they will entertain launching a field trial or limited scope service offering.

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Current Perspective

Competitive Positives and Concerns

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