In an increasingly converged networking universe, where the diversity of traffic demands high bandwidth and Quality of Service (QoS), Ethernet has emerged a winner. Many enterprises are optimizing their Ethernet investments by extending Ethernet over the Local Area Network (LAN) to the Wide Area Network (WAN). This white paper describes the Ethernet service marketplace, including drivers for its adoption, benefits, the technology behind Ethernet services at a business level, and some of the Ethernet services available today. It also provides an overview of adoption across vertical industries and popular applications for the different Ethernet services. With this information, you should have an understanding of why Ethernet services' popularity is growing, why businesses are adopting it, and what the basic deployment options are in order to better evaluate the best options and best vendor for your business.

1. xo.com
Choosing the Right
Ethernet Solution
for Your WAN

2. Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Table of Contents
Contents 2
Abstract 3
Introduction 3
The Benefits of Ethernet 5
Types of Ethernet Services 6
Connection Options 11
Ethernet Across Vertical Industries 13
Which Ethernet Solution is Best for You? 15
What to Look for When Choosing an Ethernet Service Provider 15
Conclusion 15
XO Ethernet Services 16
Glossary of Abbreviations 19
2 Solutions you want. Support you need.

3. 3
XO Communications
Ethernet is one of the most widely deployed networking options in the world, and its adoption
is growing across all industries. In an increasingly converged networking universe, where the
diversity of traffic demands not only high bandwidth but also Quality of Service (QoS), Ethernet
has emerged a winner. Many enterprises are optimizing their Ethernet investments by extending
Ethernet over the Local Area Network (LAN) to the Wide Area Network (WAN). With the wide
array of Ethernet services available today, marketplace terminology and offerings can be
difficult to sort through. This white paper describes the Ethernet service marketplace including
drivers for its adoption, benefits, the technology behind Ethernet services at a business level,
and some of the Ethernet services available today. It also provides an overview of adoption
across vertical industries and popular applications for the different Ethernet services. With this
information, you should have an understanding of why Ethernet services’ popularity is growing,
why businesses are adopting it, and what the basic deployment options are in order to better
evaluate the best options and best vendor for your business.
Introduction
Ethernet services are being quickly adopted by enterprises of all sizes, across all industries to
connect locations and transport applications, data and information. In fact, IDC predicts that
Total Ethernet revenue in the U.S. is expected to grow from $3.4 billion in 2010 to $8.2 bil-
lion in 2015.1
Since its introduction years ago, Ethernet has evolved from a relatively primitive networking
technology into a sophisticated, exceptionally high bandwidth solution for transporting every
kind of media traffic. Over the past decade, Ethernet has moved beyond the LAN as a preferred
last-mile and WAN service to support VoIP, IP VPNs, video, and other high-traffic applications.
In an increasingly converged networking universe, where the diversity of traffic demands not
only high bandwidth but also Quality of Service (QoS), Ethernet has emerged as one of the
most widely deployed networking options in the world today.
Drivers of Ethernet Growth
Often driving demand for Carrier Ethernet are IP applications—high-traffic, bandwidth-intensive
applications like VoIP, IP VPNs, and video. Some other examples include:
• Distance learning and corporate training
• Medical imaging
• Secure file transfer
• Offsite storage
• Transparent LAN services
• Data center interconnection
Abstract
1
IDC, “U.S. Carrier Ethernet Services2011-2015 Forecast,” December 2011.

4. 4 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Table 1. Top Applications of Ethernet Services
Applications Key benefits
Layer 2 VPNs for IT Infrastructure Performance
Cloud Computing Security, Deterministic, Dynamic
Distributed Storage Area Networks Performance, Bandwidth
Software as a Service (SaaS), Service
Orientated Architecture (SOA),
Transparency, Standardization at all loca-
tions, management
Distributed Imaging Bandwidth
Internet Access Reliability
Site-to-Site Access, Server Consolidation Performance, Bandwidth
Business continuity/disaster recovery Performance, Bandwidth
Video Applications QoS
Server Consolidation Simplicity
VoIP Cost
CCTV Cost ubiquity
Figure 1: Business
applications for Ethernet
Services include Dedicated
Internet Access (DIA),
Ethernet Private Lines,
Ethernet LAN/VPLS, and
Ethernet access to other
network services (e.g., IP/
MPLS VPNs, Frame Relay,
etc.)
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum2
2
Metro Ethernet Forum, “Carrier Ethernet Access, Extending Ethernet into the First Mile,” MEF Presentation January
2011, slide 14, http://metroethernetforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/AnOverviewoftheMEF-2011.ppt,
accessed March 2012
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum, “Ethernet Business Services, MEF Reference Presentation, November 2011, slide 5, http://www.
metroethernetforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/Nov-2011/Carrier-Ethernet-for-Business-MEF-Reference-
Presentation-2011-11-26.pptx, accessed March 2012.
WorldwiderevenueforBusinessEthernetServicesmountssteadilytonearly$40.2billionby2014

5. 5
XO Communications
“Since 2001 when the MEF
was formed, Carrier Ethernet
services and networks have
grown from almost zero to
a US$22 billion in 2008
to US$34 billion in 2013
having a $142 billion 5-year
total 2009—2013.”
Metro Ethernet Forum3
3
Metro Ethernet Forum, “Global Interconnect Overview.” http://metroethernetforum.org/page_loader.php?p_id=127,
accessed March 2012.
The Benefits of Ethernet
Ethernet’s popularity is owed to a number of factors, including:
Cost-Effectiveness
• Minimal infrastructure investment is typically required beyond what is already in place as Ethernet
uses existing infrastructure –no major capital outlay for a new network.
• Supports legacy network integration and emerging IP based applications.
• Direct cost savings: XO Communications estimates that 10 Mbps Internet service provisioned over
Ethernet can save 50% to 65% in cost per Mbps over legacy T1 and bonded T1 service.
Scalability
• Standards-compliant interfaces are available for data communication / telecommunication devices
at line rates from 10/100/1000 Mbps to 100 Gbps. Unlike TDM-based Private Line solutions, Ethernet
can be deployed without frequently upgrading speeds in small increments.
Simplicity
• Single connection: A single Layer 2 protocol connects everything, no need for complex protocol
conversions.
• Familiarity: Because Ethernet has been around a long time, IT personnel are comfortable with its
capabilities and are, therefore, willing to accept its use.
Performance
• Support for Diverse QoS Levels: As network traffic becomes more diverse, it demands support for
multiple levels of QoS. Inherent in the Ethernet protocol is a field specifically assigned to carry QoS
information, giving Ethernet the ability to support varying traffic flows according to application. These
range from a best-effort service for low-priority data flows such as e-mail, to the very high-priority
requirements of voice and video.
• Universal Interoperability: Ethernet is fully interoperable with MPLS, the leading WAN solution for
multi-site connectivity. Ethernet’s QoS capabilities mesh seamlessly with the capabilities of MPLS, thus
ensuring full interoperability between the two protocol domains. Because IP and Ethernet are so widely
deployed, they present a level of interoperability that is unequalled in the networking world. As a conse-
quence, Ethernet is widely viewed as a perfect access partner for IP.
• Support for Convergence: Ethernet interfaces seamlessly with IP and MPLS, supports diverse traffic
types and needed QoS levels, within the context of a widely deployed, well understood technology that
is service and cost effective.

6. 6 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Types of Ethernet Services
Ethernet network services—those services offered by telecommunications carriers or service providers
that extend Ethernet beyond the LAN—are based on standardized definitions developed by the industry-
organized Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF). The MEF helps define and standardize Ethernet services in terms
of bandwidth, resilience and service multiplexing and other characteristics. This helps facilitate SLAs and
allows customers to compare Ethernet service offerings.
That said, service providers offer innumerable, ever-changing arrays of Ethernet services, many with
proprietary naming conventions. To help navigate the marketplace, it can help to be familiar with the basic
terminology and framework for Ethernet services set forth by the MEF.
E-Line versus E-LAN
All Ethernet services fall under two primary types: E-Line and E-LAN, point-to-point and multipoint-to-
multipoint services, respectively. The point-to-point E-Line covers the needs of many businesses, although
it is not a solution for the WAN, which requires the multipoint-to-multipoint connectivity of E-LAN.
• E-Line services include:
• Ethernet Private Line
• Ethernet Virtual Private Line
• E-LAN services (which extend Ethernet beyond the LAN across the metro and WAN) include:
• Ethernet Virtual Private LAN
• VPLS—the classic example of an E-LAN service and the focus of this white paper.
Table 2. Ethernet Services
Service Description Port-Based
(All-to-One
Bundling)
VLAN-Based
(Service-
Multiplexed)
E-Line Point-to-Point
Replaces Private
Line, Frame Relay,
Internet Access
Ethernet Private Line
(EPL)
Ethernet Virtual
Private Line (EVPL)
E-LAN Multipoint-to-
multipoint
Extends LAN to WAN
Ethernet Private LAN
(EP-LAN)
Ethernet Virtual
Private LAN
(EVP-LAN)
Ethernet is fast becoming the
communication platform of
choice within the small and
big enterprise community
to drive Next Generation
Application adoption.”
itVAR News 4
4
Kalpana SInghal, “Technology of Choice, that’s Ethernet for Enterprise” itVARNews.com, January, 25, 2011, http://
www.itvarnews.net/news/12085/Technology-of-Choice-that%E2%80%99s-Ethernet-for-Enterprise_.html, accessed
March 2012.

7. 7
XO Communications
Ethernet Private Line – Replaces TDM Private Line
E-Line, Point-to-Point
Ethernet Private Line (EPL) Service provides a point-to-point Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC) between
two end points, the type of connectivity previously provided by TDM Private Line.
Ethernet Private Line service is used to support connections between sites: cross town or cross country.
It is also used to replace the Private Line connections frequently used to connect to the Internet. EPL can
deliver a variety of service levels to accommodate the demands of disparate SLAs. At its most basic level,
EPL offers symmetrical, best-effort, two-way bandwidth between traditional 10 Mbps Ethernet systems.
However, it isn’t limited to this level of service, depending on the specific service provider’s offering.
Advantages of Ethernet Private Line
With EPL, enterprises benefit from high-speed, full-duplex, point-to-point connections. Because band-
width capacity is solely dedicated to the customer’s use 24/7, enterprises select EPL to send extremely
time-sensitive or mission-critical communications with top speeds and reliability.
EPL services offer security, resiliency, high-speed connectivity and low latency (delay). Companies can
rapidly send large volumes of data across a single connection without the need of a local “loop”—and at
significantly lower costs per megabyte than older technologies. EPL circuits are good when you need to
connect two sites, but can get costly if you need to connect multiple locations. Pricing can also be geo-
graphically sensitive, creating a drawback for businesses with locations in some areas.
Popular uses for EPL:
• Secure transport of data
• Internet
• Live streaming video
• Television, movies
• Bulk transfer of data among storage access networks or data center
• Industry applications: distance learning, medical imaging, financial transactions, engineering
Ethernet Private Line (EPL)Figure 2: A dedicated User
Network Interface (UNI)
specifies procedures and
protocols between customer
equipment (CE) and the
Carrier Ethernet Network. The
UNI is the physical interface
or port (10Mbps, 100Mbps,
1Gbps, 10Gbps, 100Gbps)
that is the demarcation
between the customer and
service provider. The service
provider always provides the
UNI.
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum5
Ethernet Private
Line (EPL)
• Replaces TDM Private
Line
• Port-based service
with single service
(EVC) across dedi-
cated UNIs for site-
to-site connectivity
• Typically delivered
over SDH (Ethernet
over SDH)Universal
interoperability
• Most popular
Ethernet service due
to simplicityCost-
effective
5
Metro Ethernet Forum, “Introducing the Specifications of the MEF,” December 2011, slide 20, http://metroether-
netforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/Technical-Overviews/Overview%20of%20MEF6-%20
1_10-2_and_10-2-1_v6.ppt.

8. 8 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Ethernet Virtual Private Line – Replaces Frame Relay or ATM
Layer 2 VPN
E-Line, Point-to-Point
Ethernet Virtual Private Line Service (EVPL) provides a replacement for Frame Relay or ATM. This Layer
2 point-to-multipoint configuration provides one physical connection to customer equipment that
fans out to Virtual Ethernet Local Area Network (VLAN) or multiplexed sites to support multiple virtual
connections.
An EVPL service is similar to a Private Line service, in that the network transports traffic in real-time over
a dedicated connection. However, the connection is virtual, using Pseudowire technology, to transmit
Layer 2 protocols usually over an MPLS-based IP network. This type of connection works by creating
the connection using virtual tunnels across the packet network.
Advantages of Ethernet Virtual Private Line
The EVPL approach offers a number of advantages over Frame Relay or ATM. One advantage is lower
networking costs for multi-location enterprises, by simplifying the network with fewer, higher-capacity
interconnections between the primary data centers and the network, or among HQ and branches.
Instead of buying “last-mile” access from many local phone companies to connect locations to a net-
work, the enterprise buys one or two large Hub connections at very high-speeds, and these connections
extend to virtual connections with other sites. In this way, an EVPL uses an MPLS-based network to
virtually connect smaller branch locations.
EVPL also makes it easier and faster to add new locations. In Frame Relay, new locations require the
addition of new Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs). In Ethernet, new locations are added to a pre-existing
multipoint Ethernet Virtual Connection, making the process of service configuration more efficient.
Depending on the service provider, EVPL can offer guarantees for frame loss, jitter, and delay parame-
ters between two communicating end points. It also allows organizations to maintain separation of traffic
as it converges over a single connection.
Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL)Figure 3: Ethernet VPL
allows one physical
connection (UNI) to customer
equipment (CE) for multiple
virtual connections.
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum6
Ethernet Virtual
Private Line
(EVPL)
• Replaces Frame
Relay or ATM L2 VPN
services
• Supports hub &
spoke connectivity
similar to Frame Relay
or Private Line hub &
spoke
• For higher bandwidth,
end-to-end services
• Multiple services
delivered over single
connection
6
Metro Ethernet Forum, “Introducing the Specifications of the MEF,” December 2011, slide 21, http://metroether-
netforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/Technical-Overviews/Overview%20of%20MEF6-%20
1_10-2_and_10-2-1_v6.ppt.

9. 9
XO Communications
Virtual Private LAN Service - Extends Ethernet to WAN
using MPLS
E-LAN, Multipoint-to-Multipoint
With Ethernet Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS), sometimes referred to as E-LAN or Layer 2 multipoint
VPN, the service provider uses an MPLS-based network to virtually connect multiple sites using a
meshed design.
VPLS is the pinnacle solution for Ethernet. It supports multipoint Ethernet services through packet replica-
tion and has the ability to learn and rely on source-based, Medium Access Control (MAC) addresses for
point-to-multipoint VPN support. VPLS allows the customer to provision a “virtual switch” (Layer 2) over an
IP MPLS network (Layer 3). This arrangement, consisting of IP and MPLS in the core and Ethernet at the
edge, supports connectivity among multiple enterprise locations within a metro network or across the
wide area.
In VPLS, each customer-provisioned edge router is connected via a single connection to the local service
provider edge router, which is in turn part of the IP MPLS core (Figure 4). The elegance of this solution is
that an enterprise can continue to operate an existing Layer 2 network while exercising great control over
its Layer 3-routed network and the services transported across each.
Popular Uses of VPLS:
• Enterprise-wide applications and centralized, diversely deployed applications, including:
Supply chain support
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Connecting high value data centers, call centers, or media centers
• Delivering special high-bandwidth applications such as video transfer, storage area networks, and VoIP
among data centers and other mission-critical areas.
Often used by:
• Organizations that already have an MPLS-based network and want Ethernet at specific sites to comple-
ment an overall WAN design
• Companies that want to run their own, or utilize another provider’s, MPLS IP-VPN or Private Line
network
VPLS Advantages
VPLS uses Pseudowire technology to virtually connect remote LANs into a single, bridged WAN. Since
familiar and ubiquitous Ethernet interfaces connect the network, VPLS greatly simplifies LAN to WAN con-
nectivity. With all sites appearing to be on the same Ethernet interface, every part of the user experience
has the same ease and familiarity as using the local office network.
With Ethernet VPLS, it is easier than with MPLS IP-VPN for IT departments to control access and network-
ing among separate domains, special applications or departments—regardless of where the users are
located. In addition, for parts of a network that require special security, Ethernet VPLS provides complete
privacy and full control of routing.
Ethernet VPLS often is an easier and less costly solution for companies to implement than an MPLS-based
network because it usually doesn’t need as many connections and equipment, accepts multiple protocols
and doesn’t require special IT expertise and training unless the company needs to connect hundreds of
locations.
For all of these reasons, Ethernet VPLS is a good choice for enterprises that require a high-speed, simpli-
fied network for a smaller number of sites, when it is necessary to control routing and management. Many

10. 10 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
enterprises are in the process of replacing their older ATM and Frame Relay circuits with Ethernet VPLS
services for greater WAN routing control and cost reduction.
MPLS IP-VPN or Ethernet VPLS?
Due to the popularity of VPLS with organizations that already have an MPLS-based network and compa-
nies that want to run their own, or utilize another provider’s MPLS IP-VPN or Private Line network, Ethernet
VPLS networks typically involve fewer sites and larger bandwidth needs than MPLS IP-VPN networks.
Ethernet VPLS is a newer offering than MPLS IP-VPN, sometimes touted as the latest WAN technol-
ogy. Certainly, upcoming Metro Ethernet Forum adoption of official E-NNI interoperability standards and
Operating, Administration and Maintenance standards could make Ethernet VPLS the preferred WAN
solution for specific circumstances within the overall WAN design. Total public U.S. Ethernet revenues grew
from 2.5 billion in 2009 to $4.1 billion in 2011, and are projected to nearly triple by 2016.
Both Layer 3 (IP VPN) and Layer 2 (VPLS) VPNs rely on MPLS as the underlying protocol, and share fea-
tures and functionality, such as Class of Service. The difference between MPLS IP VPN and VPLS is that
with MPLS IP VPN, traffic is routed based upon IP addresses, and with VPLS, the customers’ sites are
discovered by the network based on the MAC addresses associated with their routers and/or switches. In
other words, the technologies are not mutually exclusive; they complement each other. And there are solid
reasons why many enterprises have elements of both technologies within their total Wide Area Network.
Figure 4: With VPLS,
geographically dispersed
VPNs can interconnect and
communicate over an IP
MPLS network as if they were
on the same LAN.
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum7
7
The Insight Research Corporation, “Carriers and Ethernet Services: Public Ethernet in Metro & Wide Area Networks
2011-2016,” August 2011, p. 6.
7
Metro Ethernet Forum, “Carrier Ethernet Services,” PowerPoint presentation, November 2011, slide 14, http://www.
metroethernetforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/Nov-2011/Carrier-Ethernet-Services-Overview-
Reference-Presentation-R03-2011-11-15.pptx.
Ethernet Virtual
Private LAN
Service (VPLS)
In Ethernet Virtual Private
LAN Service (VPLS),
an E-LAN or Layer 2
multipoint VPN, the
service provider uses an
MPLS-based network
to virtually connect
multiple sites using a
meshed design. Ethernet
VPLS uses Pseudowire
technology to virtually
connect remote LANs
into a single, bridged
Wide Area Network.
Ethernet VPLS

11. 11
XO Communications
Hybrid WAN Solutions
Most enterprise WAN are comprised of hybrid solutions that combine some aspects of more than one
network-based VPN service and point-to-point Private Line services. Organizations often consult with
service providers to custom build the WAN that best meets the myriad of special requirements that
confront IT WAN managers. These requirements may be based on multiple and sometimes conflicting
objectives for the WAN and may include user access needs, location access needs, reliability, scalabil-
ity, ease of management and cost savings. What’s more, network-based VPN solutions with Quality of
Service guarantees are preferable.
Network administrators should carefully consider the cost-saving benefits of consolidating services with
a single provider, thereby eliminating duplicative lines and equipment and making it easier to move, add
or delete sites. The WAN solution should support existing and planned equipment and infrastructure
technologies, and in this way, support multiprotocol and access agnostic connectivity.
Connection Options
In Ethernet adoption, coverage is key. Historically, most Ethernet services have only been available via fiber
optic connections, which are very limited. Now, Ethernet can reach hundreds of thousands of business
locations through a combination of access capabilities including fiber, copper, coax and wireless. It has
become a practical, cost-effective solution for extending the LAN to the WAN.
Each option has been extensively tested and deployed, and each offers advantages depending upon the
deployment situation it best serves. In addition, hybrid solutions can also be created to meet specific
circumstances (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Carrier Ethernet
offers multiple options for
enabling LAN connectivity
within and between
metropolitan areas in a cost-
effective way (copper, fiber,
coax, wireless).

12. 12 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Mid-Band Ethernet (Ethernet over Copper, or EoC)
Mid-Band Ethernet is an easy, affordable, and immediate solution for providing feature-rich, high-speed
access and services.
• Ubiquitous throughout the first mile: Thanks to legacy voice and the widespread deployment of DSL,
twisted-pair copper is relatively ubiquitous throughout the first mile. Consequently, Mid- Band Ethernet
is ideal as a deployment topology for residential neighborhoods and office complexes.
• Preferred to DSL or T-1: Mid-band Ethernet is a preferred solution over business-class DSL service (768
Kbps – 6 Mbps) or T-1 (1.5 Mbps) for business customers seeking an affordable 10 Mbps solution with
guaranteed throughput.
• Widely available: Deployment is widespread and available from a number of service providers.
• Standards are ratified and mature for mid-band Ethernet, and it offers a powerful and compelling option
to higher cost, more complex options.
• Can coexist with ADSL, VDSL, ISDN, and PSTN in the same cables, bringing native Ethernet to the first
mile over a twisted-pair access network.
Ethernet over DS-1 or DS-3
For customers beyond the distances reachable by fiber and/or copper pairs, Ethernet over DS-1 or DS-3
connections are also valid options for offering carrier- class Ethernet services and solutions.
• DS-1s can be bonded and handed off to SONET rings in standard 10 Mbps Ethernet
• DS-3s can be offered as standalone 44 Mbps Ethernet, or bonded to offer 87 or 100 Mbps
Ethernet solutions.
Wireless Carrier-Class Ethernet
Wireless Ethernet has established itself as a killer application through the proliferation of WiFi deployed
within buildings and at WiFi hotspots. Wireless Ethernet is also being deployed to support first-mile
access for business locations, campuses, and municipal networks. Businesses seeking wireless Ethernet
connectivity in the first mile should investigate a range of licensed and unlicensed services that have
emerged over the years. Licensed solutions are the best bet for interference-free, carrier-class wireless
Ethernet with the highest reliability. For example, the service provider may provide a licensed wireless
Ethernet as a redundant link for backup service in the event that the fiber optic link is ever severed
(Figure 4).
Wireless Ethernet is Ideally Suited as a Redundant Backup ServiceFigure 6: Wireless Ethernet
is ideally suited as a
redundant backup service
for Enterprises, offering a
separate entrance facility not
affected by fiber cuts.

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XO Communications
Ethernet across Vertical Industries
In the Enterprise, the first segments to benefit from Ethernet Services were Health Care, Finance, Education and
Manufacturing. Ethernet enabled—or greatly enhanced—applications in site-to-site access, server consolidation,
disaster recovery, Service Orientated Architecture and Internet access. Enterprise IT departments found a
compelling value proposition in Ethernet’s control, reliability, performance, scalability, cost reduction and
simplicity of implementation, especially in organizations that were usually under-resourced. The success of the
early adopters was a good indicator for success in many industries.
Early Adopters of Business Ethernet Services
Education: In education, a low-cost, high-bandwidth solution was needed to support multiple diverse
applications simultaneously. ATM was not cost-effective, and Frame Relay didn’t offer the bandwidth
or flexibility. Ethernet was an optimal solution for distance learning programs, LAN-to-LAN wide area
connectivity, transferring large files, and Internet access. Already widely deployed throughout higher
education as a high-speed, campus-to-campus connectivity solution, Ethernet integrated seamlessly.
Financial Services: Federal and state regulators who oversee financial institutions demand high levels
of security, confidentiality, and privacy for customer records and transactions as well as data backup and
disaster recovery. Network performance is critical in the financial vertical, and QoS backed up by rigid and
stringent SLAs is an absolute requirement. Ethernet proved to be an ideal solution in meeting the demands
of financial services.
Healthcare: Among the most highly regulated industries in the United States, healthcare’s mandates are
numerous. One specifies that caregivers remain in constant contact with one another with an “immediate
and guaranteed” ability to share information, sometimes in the form of large image files like X-rays,
MRIs, and CAT scans. Ethernet’s proven performance and QoS capability made it a natural fit for the
healthcare industry.
Manufacturing: The manufacturing supply chain is critical—disruptions in commerce can alienate
customers, lose opportunities, and quickly add up to long strings of zeroes. Corollary technologies,
such as the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) inventory tracking solution, inject massive quantities of
real-time information into the overall process and add to network load. Ethernet’s bandwidth, universality,
reliability, and relative simplicity have made it an ideal solution for transporting global supply chain information.
Table 3. Ethernet Services Today – Top Vertical Markets
Vertical Most Used
Finance 33%
Medical 15%
Education 6%
Data Center / Storage / IT 9%
Real Estate 9%
Legal 6%
Retail 9%
Wholesale Telecom 9%
Media 6%
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum, “Ethernet Business Services,” MEF Reference Presentation November 2011, slide
6, http://www.metroethernetforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/Nov-2011/Carrier-Ethernet-for-
Business-MEF-Reference-Presentation-2011-11-26.pptx, accessed March 2012.

14. 14 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Ethernet Services for Mission-Critical Applications by Industry
Ethernet Services are being used for mission critical applications across a number of vertical markets. Examples
of its use in health care, finance, education, government and media are shown in Table 4.
Table 4. Mission Critical Applications by Vertical Market
Mission Critical Applications
Carrier Ethernet Service Relevance by Vertical Market
Application Profile Top Applications
Health Care • Regulatory issues
• Imaging driving storage
• HIPAA compliance
• Performance and scal-
ability requirements
• TCO/ROI critical
• Site-to-site access
• Server consolidation
• Disaster recovery
• Service orientated
architecture
• Internet access
Finance • Data integrity via distrib-
uted, closely-controlled,
simplified architectures
• Regulatory compliance
(SOX, SEC, GLB)
• Site-to-site access
• Server consolidation
• Disaster recovery
• Service orientated
architecture
• Internet access
Education • Increased demands of
community partner-
ships using educational
infrastructure, TCO/ROI
critical
• Site-to-site access
• Research
• Internet access
Government • Web based applications
• Flexible SLAs
• TCO/ROI
• Site-to-site access
• Server consolidation
• Disaster recovery
• Service orientated
architecture
• Internet access
Media • Scalability
• Reach
• Convergence demands
on low latency, high per-
formance networks
• Video, streaming media
• Site-to-site access
• Server consolidation
Source: Metro Ethernet Forum, “Ethernet Business Services,” MEF Reference Presentation November 2011, slide
6, http://www.metroethernetforum.org/PPT_Documents/Reference-Presentations/Nov-2011/Carrier-Ethernet-for-
Business-MEF-Reference-Presentation-2011-11-26.pptx, accessed March 2012.

15. 15
XO Communications
Which Ethernet Solution is best for you?
All too often, technologists begin with a technology and then try to back into an application for it. As a
user of the technology, it is far more important to start with the need, and then determine the appropriate
technology to address it.
On the road to selecting an Ethernet solution, ask yourself these questions:
• What is the business challenge that I am attempting to resolve?
• What is my budget for resolving this issue? What is the cost of not resolving it?
• Will my bandwidth and location needs change frequently in the future?
• What facilities and customer premise equipment (CPE) are already in place that I might be able to reuse,
thereby eliminating the need to add costly resources?
What to Look for When Choosing an Ethernet Service Provider
A service provider should demonstrate that it has the following:
• A good track record with regard to technology deployment
• Extensive metro and long-haul network assets
• Well-designed service management organization
• Broad range of service deliverables
• Clear understanding of your business environment and connectivity requirements
• Option for managed solution or flexibility in supporting CPE
Conclusion
Ethernet Services have been designed to satisfy the diverse and growing demands of the enterprise.
Ethernet supports the transport requirements of applications that have traditionally been best served by
such technologies as Private Line and Frame Relay, and also lends itself to emerging IP networks,
including VPNs.
Ethernet offers a compelling value to the enterprise customer in providing simple, cost-effective ways to
connect locations and deliver applications, data and information to flow seamlessly over the LAN and WAN
with high levels of performance and reliability. Ethernet’s ubiquitous and cost-effective characteristics—
and its familiarity to those who have worked with Ethernet on the LAN—make it a highly viable solution
for extending the LAN to the WAN. Its scalability allows for bandwidth increases as business needs grow,
without having to deploy new or costly equipment.
Ethernet offers a range of QoS levels to support all types of traffic, including voice and video. It interfaces
seamlessly and transparently with IP and MPLS, and offers universal interoperability now and the
foreseeable future. Because it can reuse pre-existing infrastructure elements, it reduces the need for
capital outlay to build a new network. Finally, Ethernet is an ideal technology for the converged network,
for all the reasons cited above. As enterprise traffic continues to become more media-intensive and places
greater demands on the network, Ethernet is a reliable solution to satisfy those demands, now and in the
future, with appropriate QoS and service level agreement support.

16. 16 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
XO Ethernet Services
XO Ethernet Services provide simple, cost-effective ways to connect your business locations and deliver
applications, data and information to flow seamlessly over your Local Area (LAN) and Wide Area Networks
(WAN) with the performance and reliability your business requires.
Ethernet VPLS: Multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet WAN ideal for enterprises to connect key locations,
transport special applications with protocol transparency, and maintain separation of different network
domains
Ethernet Private Line: Point-to-point Ethernet connectivity ideal for businesses looking for dedicated
bandwidth between office locations
Ethernet Hub: Point-to-multipoint Ethernet solution ideal for connecting branches or offices to centralized
headquarters or data center
Ethernet Access: Affordable, scalable Ethernet access to deliver Dedicated Internet Access, VoIP and
MPLS IP-VPN services across your enterprise
Table 5. XO Ethernet Speeds and Applications
Support a Broad Range of Speeds and Applications across 60 Markets
Type Description Best
Apps*
Availability Speeds
10
Mbps
100
Mbps
Gig E 10
Gig E
Ethernet
over DS1
Serial/bonded 1 Now, 60
markets
Yes NA NA NA
Ethernet
over DS3
Serial/bonded 2 Now, 60
markets
Yes 44
87
100
NA NA
Ethernet
over
Copper
(Mid-
Band)
Copper loops,
390+ serving
offices
1 Now, 60
markets
Yes NA NA NA
Ethernet
over Fiber
Thousands of
XO-lit
buildings
in 60 markets
supported by
close to
900,000 metro
fiber miles
2 Now, 60
markets
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ethernet
over
Wireless
Licensed and
secure
spectrum
1 36 markets Yes Yes NA NA
1
2
Dedicated Internet Access, Virtual Private Networking (VPN), Private Line (point-to-point),
converged data and voice
Same as 1, plus Hub or aggregation point for VPN or private networking
*

17. 17
XO Communications
Figure 7. XO Managed Metro Ethernet
A multi-location Enterprise replaces Private Line or Frame Relay network with XO metro and
longhaul Ethernet solutions.
Figure 8. XO Ethernet Access Solutions
The array of expanding metro and long-haul Ethernet access options that XO offers over copper,
fiber, and wireless* optimizes the performance of an Enterprise MPLS Network.
Cross-town or cross-country scalable solutions
Ethernet Connectivity Powers XO MPLS IP VPN Network

18. 18 Solutions you want. Support you need.
Choosing the Right Ethernet Solution for Your WAN
Figure 9. XO Communications Network
XO operates an 19,000-route mile nationwide network that connects 85 metropolitan markets, and
operates close to over a million miles of metro fiber.
*Not all connection types and speeds are available in all locations.
Serving Businesses Nationwide with a Range of Converged Services

19. 19
XO Communications
Glossary of Abbreviations
ADSL Asymmetric digital subscriber
line
MEF Metro Ethernet Forum
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode MPLS Multiprotocol Label Switching
CE Customer Equipment PSTN Public Switched Telephone
Network
CoS Class of Service PVC Permanent Virtual Circuits
CPE Customer Provided Equipment QoS Quality of Service
DIA Dedicated Internet Access SDH Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
DS-1 Digital Signal 1 SLA Service Level Agreement
DS-3 Digital Signal 3 TDM Time-division Multiplexing
DSL Digital Subscriber Line UNI User Network Interface
E-LAN Ethernet LAN VDSL Very-high-bit-rate Digital
Subscriber Line
E-LINE Ethernet Line VLAN Virtual Ethernet Local Area
Network
E-NNI External Network Network
Interface
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol
EoC Ethernet over Copper VPLS Virtual Private LAN Service
EPL Ethernet Private Line VPN Virtual Private Network
EVPL Ethernet Virtual Private Line WAN Wide Area Network
EVC Ethernet Virtual Connection
Gbps Gigabits per second
IP Internet Protocol
IP VPN Internet Protocol Virtual Private
Network
ISDN Integrated Services Digital
Netowork
LAN Local Area Network
MAC Medium Access Control
Mbps Megabits per second

20. © Copyright 2012. XO Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.
XO, the XO design logo, and all related marks are trademarks of XO Communications, LLC. XOESWP-0412
About XO Communications
XO Communications is a leading nationwide provider of advanced broadband communications
services and solutions for businesses, enterprises, government, carriers and service providers. Its
customers include more than half of the Fortune 500, in addition to leading cable companies, carri-
ers, content providers and mobile network operators. Utilizing its unique combination of high-capacity
nationwide and metro networks and broadband wireless capabilities, XO Communications offers
customers a broad range of managed voice, data and IP services with proven performance, scalability
and value in more than 85 metropolitan markets across the United States. For more information, visit
www.xo.com.
For more information on XO WAN Services and XO Ethernet Services visit http://www.xo.com/ser-
vices/network/pages/overview.aspx.
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