RFC 3619 (rfc3619) - Page 1 of 7
Extreme Networks' Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) Version 1
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group S. Shah
Request for Comments: 3619 M. Yip
Category: Informational Extreme Networks
October 2003
Extreme Networks'
Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS)
Version 1
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2003). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document describes the Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching
(EAPS) (tm) technology invented by Extreme Networks to increase the
availability and robustness of Ethernet rings. An Ethernet ring
built using EAPS can have resilience comparable to that provided by
SONET rings, at a lower cost and with fewer constraints (e.g., ring
size).
1. Introduction
Many Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and some Local Area Networks
(LANs) have a ring topology, as the fibre runs. The Ethernet
Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) technology described here works
well in ring topologies for MANs or LANs.
Most MAN operators want to minimise the recovery time in the event
that a fibre cut occurs. The Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching
(EAPS) technology described here converges in less than one second,
often in less than 50 milliseconds. EAPS technology does not limit
the number of nodes in the ring, and the convergence time is
independent of the number of nodes in the ring.
Shah & Yip Informational
