Carrier Ethernet Multicast Framework

Hammerhead provides a complete solution for realization of a full portfolio of Carrier Ethernet solutions through its support of E-LAN and E-Tree services over PBB-TE networks and E-Tree service over MPLS networks under its Carrier Ethernet Multicast Framework^TM (Table below). This framework enables service providers to quickly build and deploy the first seamless multipoint-to-multipoint and point-to-multipoint multicast PBB-TE networks alongside their existing MPLS networks. Hammerhead’s E-LAN and E-Tree services over PBB-TE networks are enabled by Virtual Switch Instances (VSI), which are also used to support VPLS, and PBB-TE trunks. Hammerhead’s PBB-TE Service Gateway software offers seamless edge-to-edge interworking of these multicast and multipoint services over MPLS and PBB-TE networks. A service provider will be able to deploy E-LAN and E-Tree services across their existing core MPLS networks and extend these services to their metro networks via PBB-TE.

As an example, Hammerhead can enable a service provider to offer an edge-to-edge E-LAN service for business multicast and L2VPN applications, where customer sites are connected to metro PBB-TE E-LAN networks, which are in turn interconnected as a seamless edge-to-edge E-LAN using a core VPLS network. Similarly, Hammerhead can enable a service provider to offer an edge-to-edge E-Tree service for IPTV, where subscribers are connected to metro PBB-TE E-Tree networks, which are interconnected as a seamless edge-to-edge E-Tree using a core MPLS E-Tree. PBB-TE E-Trees support local content insertion for ads, and other content, provided by local channels. In fact, Hammerhead E-Tree solutions accept content insertion at any E-Tree node.