re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoLots of talk about Ethernet over PDH. On paper it looks great. But where is it being deployed? Also, it doesn't address the core issue which is bandwidth. The reality is ATM or PPP basically can achieve the same link.
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoService Providers seem to like layer-2 with some sort of OSS on top, instead of Layer-3 routed nets. The fact the BT guy had to protect MPLS shows how popular PBT has become. As to EXTR seeing 100% PBT in RFQs, consider the source. The real question is how many requests they are getting.
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoOn the flipside, at FutureNet (formerly MPLSCON), Nortel was trying to defend PBT in the face of many of the architects of MPLS and Internet standards in general. Most of the questions center around "Why bother.", when MPLS already exists and can do the same thing.
If there is a cost savings by going hop by hop through a PBB-TE network to the end user from the agg node versus going hop by hop through an MPLS node, then I'm all for it. Since no devices really exist right now, all we can do is wait.
For the time being, large carriers are deploying MPLS instead.
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet Expo"As to EXTR seeing 100% PBT in RFQs, consider the source. The real question is how many requests they are getting."
These guys must be seeing different RFQs than we get over here. I've reviewed the 17 Ethernet RFPs/RFQs that I've worked on in the past 12 months, and except for a certain carrier associated with tea and crumpets, PBT has been mentioned zero times, even as an optional/information feature.
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoStay focused: it is not about technology; it is not about PBT versus MPLS (or T-MPLS). It is all about good marketing that Nortel and BT started together in mid-2005, and is now culminating in all this fuss about PBT. The approach is simple: get an imature idea, publicize it, and when it turns out to be swiss-cheese-like, push it to, say, IEEE-SA to make it work. In the meantime, enjoy publicity. And pick the bucks.
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoI tell you "Why bother". Could it be that from purely CAPEX perspective it is sickening to carriers that MPLS vendors are making 60-80% margins on their gear and if they can get some of what MPLS does at Ethernet costs then they would be silly not to do it.
Here is my prediction: PBB/PBT will force routers to become commoditized.
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoDask: On the other hand, I see it differently.
The PBB/PBT switches will of course obviate the need for routers in some portions of the network. And, in other portions where routers are indeed needed, they will take on more functionality.
Application-aware networking, or XML routing, holds limitless possibilities. -
re: PBT Stars at Ethernet ExpoFrom EXTR stand point this is just another flavor of their EAPS that they have been pushing for a while. Now with more encapsulation functionality to transport legacy over ethernet it is just timing. Yes it is also about the bling, but yes also for us the consumers we should be glad to see ethernet moving more. The bling for ethernet is much less than the Cisco's of the world like it to be and even forced Juniper to come around. IP won a long time ago and with some advances Ethernet will will and the pinhole in the dam is already showing....
If there is a cost savings by going hop by hop through a PBB-TE network to the end user from the agg node versus going hop by hop through an MPLS node, then I'm all for it. Since no devices really exist right now, all we can do is wait.
For the time being, large carriers are deploying MPLS instead.
These guys must be seeing different RFQs than we get over here. I've reviewed the 17 Ethernet RFPs/RFQs that I've worked on in the past 12 months, and except for a certain carrier associated with tea and crumpets, PBT has been mentioned zero times, even as an optional/information feature.
It's all marketing, nothing more.
Here is my prediction: PBB/PBT will force routers to become commoditized.
DASK
On the other hand, I see it differently.
The PBB/PBT switches will of course obviate the need for routers in some portions of the network. And, in other portions where routers are indeed needed, they will take on more functionality.
Application-aware networking, or XML routing, holds limitless possibilities.
-