System and method for stitching Ethernet networks

摘要

A system and method for stitching Ethernet networks. Communications are sent from a number of communications networks in one of two or more standards. The communications are converted from the two or more standards to a core standard. The communications are sent across a core network in communication with the number of communications networks utilizing the core standard. The communications are converted from the core standard to one of the two or more standards utilized by each of the number of communications networks receiving the communications in response to the communications reaching the number of communications networks.

主权项

1. A method for stitching Ethernet networks, the method comprising:
defining a core standard utilized by a core network, wherein the core standard is border gateway protocol (BGP) based virtual private local area network service (VPLS) with multi-home capability; receiving communications from a first communications network in at least a first regional standard, wherein the first regional standard includes one of a label distribution protocol (LDP) based VPLS, BGP based virtual private local area network service, or a layer 2 virtual local area network communication standard; identifying the first regional standard used in the communications; converting the communications from the first regional standard to the core standard based at least in part on a least common denominator for communications between the first network and the core network; sending the communications converted to the core standard across the core network, the core network in communication with the first communications network and a second communications network associated with a destination for the communications, the core network utilizing the core standard, wherein the first and second communications networks are regional metro Ethernet networks, and wherein the core network is a national metro Ethernet network; identifying a second regional standard, different from the first regional standard, used by the second communications network; and converting the communications from the core standard to the second regional standard utilized by the second communications network; and requiring each of the first and second communications networks to support conversion of the communications to and from the core standard.