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- How much management complexity do I want to introduce to my network and how frequently will I need to make changes to my network? Companies with conflicting requirements will need to make careful
trade-offs as to whether it is better to buy a Layer 2 or Layer 3 service. If they do end up choosing a Layer 2 service, however, they need to be mindful that at this stage of the market, not all Layer 2 Ethernet suppliers are equal. Since Shaw Business Solutions has a much longer track record of Ethernet service delivery than most, it stands out as having a mature, MEF-compliant and rich product portfolio as well as the all-important customer service wrap which emphasises rapid service installation times and proactive service monitoring. Cross says that exceptional customer service is a mantra for Shaw Business Solutions. “Our Canadian-based network operations centre (NOC) provides expert technical support and service and proactive monitoring 24/7/365 and throughout the service installation process, our customers have a single point of contact through our Client Services department. We provide accurate, on time billing for our customers and we can offer a full suite of Layer 2 services which are designed to deliver quality performance with predictable cost,” Cross explains. Once a company has decided that a Layer 2 Ethernet service meets
its needs, the next question is which type of Layer 2 service to choose. There appears to be a bewildering array of Ethernet services offered in the market but here, too, Shaw Business Solutions aims to make life simple for its customers. The company offers two types of Layer 2 Ethernet service: multipoint or point-to-point. Each type of service comes in two flavours: best-effort delivery or delivery supported by up to four classes of service. So operators or enterprises first need to ask themselves how many nodes they want the Layer 2 service to address. If they only need connectivity between two locations, for example, a point-to-point service will be sufficient for their needs. If, however, they want to connect multiple, geographically dispersed locations, then they should consider a multipoint service.
POINT-TO-POINT OR MULTIPOINT? Companies will then need to look at the kind of traffic that will be travelling over the service. If the traffic is of a time-sensitive nature, such as VoIP or video, financial transaction data or gaming application requests, the customer should look at a quality of service (QoS)-enabled Layer 2 service. Email or other data transfer applications, such as file back-up, for example, can safely be left to a best-effort service. Shaw Business Solutions offers both two point-to-point products, its
MEF standards-compliant Ethernet private line best-effort service, and Ethernet virtual private line (EVPL), which can prioritise application traffic using the company’s four classes of service. EVPL is ideally suited for companies requiring Ethernet solutions for aggregating Ethernet traffic, data centre hub and spoke networks, dedicated internet access, IP/ VPN network access, VoIP and for extending LAN class of service- based applications across the WAN. These products are complemented with Shaw Business Solutions’ two multipoint products: transparent LAN service, without QoS, and
MEF RFC 4762-compliant virtual private LAN service with four quality of service levels to allow for the classification and transport of voice, video and data traffic. VPLS is ideally suited for customers that wish to connect geographically diverse locations onto a single LAN, provide support for enterprise-wide collaboration, provide enhanced business continuity and network availability and support non-TCP/IP or proprietary protocols across the WAN. Shaw delivers its Layer 2 Ethernet services across its own north American fibre-optic network which stretches from Victoria BC to New York City on two physically diverse paths. Shaw’s 625,000+ km network has a capacity in excess of 2Tb/sec, boasts a redundant core routing infrastructure and regional Sonet rings to further support route diversity. Shaw also operates extensive metropolitan fibre networks in Canada and is the country’s largest, highest-speed ISP, providing access to over 1.8 million high-speed internet customers. Because of its superior network, rich Ethernet portfolio and its
focus on exceptional customer service, Shaw Business Solutions is experiencing high customer demand for its Gigabit Ethernet services. The company believes that Layer 2 Ethernet services put practical control into the hands of their customers and give them the greatest amount of flexibility for lowest cost and complexity. Shaw Business Solutions is dedicated to provide the best Layer 2 customer experience in the market and its long history as a Layer 2 provider makes it a leading authority on carrier Ethernet delivery, which any potential customer would do well to consult.
For more information, please contact:
Lucy Cross Director, Product Development Shaw Business Solutions T: +1 403 716 6033 E:
lucy.cross@
sjrb.ca
Source: Shaw Business Solutions
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