Broadband initiatives - impact to your network?

Tue Jun 29 15:22:39 UTC 2010

> > you are comparing LAN to WAN, never a bright idea
> 
> Even ATM years ago blurred that arbitrary line.
> 
> Why does there even need to be a line between local and wide in
> terms of networking?  As far as IP is concerned, there is no
> difference.  Even as far as Ethernet is concerned, there is no
> difference.

I beg to differ. There is a big difference between a multipoint traffic
within a small geographical area (typically realized with switches), and
trying to realize the same multipoint topology/traffic across a national
backbone, typically using VPLS and similar technologies.

On the other hand, Ethernet used as a framing/encapsulation technology
for point to point links works just fine across large distances.

Steinar Haug, Nethelp consulting, sthaug at nethelp.no