The MetroLAN 1000 - Transmits Multiple E1 and Multiple Fast Ethernet over Fibre The Metrodata MetroLAN 1000 simultaneously supports up to 8 E1 feeds and up to 8 Ethernet 10/100BaseT feeds over Multimode or Singlemode fibre. This can be dark fibre (a private fibre connection) laid between two points with an MetroLAN at each end of the link, or it can be used as a carrier Service Provider product delivering multiple E1 and Fast Ethernet over a SDH network.

MetroLAN 1000 Front

MetroLAN 1000 Rear

The MetroLAN presents LAN ports as fully auto-sensing 10/100BaseT interfaces with manual override, thereby supporting any LAN network infrastructure. The MetroLAN offers 8 independent LAN interfaces, each of which may be transported to a remote location via the Sonet infrastructure.

Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) encapsulation along with virtual concatenation (VCAT) with VC-4/VC-3 or VC-12 granularity and LCAS support offers maximum benefit to both service providers and users in terms of flexibility and bandwidth optimisation. The MetroLAN supports 8 independent GFP sessions, each of which may be directed to separate remote destinations.

The MetroLAN supports IEEE 802.3x flow control on all 10/100 ports to prevent traffic loss when reduced bandwidth is available. Full wire speed forwarding on any GFP session requires 50 VC-12 tributaries. The remaining bandwidth is available to other GFP sessions enabling the full 155Mbps to be utilised.

The MetroLAN supports large frames of up to 4096 bytes and is protocol and payload transparent. The MetroLAN will pass VLAN tagged frames, including "Q in Q" double tagged frames and CISCO ISL, transparently end to end. To further optimise network utilisation the MetroLAN offers 8 E1/T1 G.703 clear channel ports. Each E1/T1 may be mapped into an individual VC-12 for mapping into the remaining Sonet payload.

The management of the MetroLAN is either local via the console port or remote via the Ethernet management port using SNMP or Telnet. Both console and Telnet access methods are password protected. Performance statistics are available for all ports. Access via the overhead data link is offered for integration into standard network management schemes. SNMP Version 1 is supported, including MIB-2 and traps. SNMP traps will be generated based on alarms for any of the network or user ports. TFTP download of software and configuration data is supported as a means of future-proofing the products.

A pair of changeover relays indicate alarm conditions arising on the MetroLAN. The Major alarm relay is energised for normal operation to ensure that a fault is signalled in the event of power failure. The MetroLAN-2000 is a 1.5U unit. The integral PSU is fully auto-sensing from 100 to 250 VAC, and -48VDC powered versions are available.

The MetroLAN-2000 includes an additional E3/DS-3 mapping module which enhances the basic MetroLAN product by means of its ability to map up to 3 E3/DS-3 interfaces into the Sonet payload. It offers clear channel transport of E3 or DS-3 over Sonet.