Metro Area Networking

Steven Shepard (Williston, VT) is a professional writer and educator specializing in international telecommunications. He has written and taught technical courses on a broad range of topics around the globe. He is the author of several books, including Telecommunications Convergence and Optical Networking Demystified.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPART 1: A LESSON IN MEDIEVAL HISTORYThe Evolution of Modern NetworksFurther DiversificationCore Versus Edge: A Few WordsThe Birth of MetroFiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS)The Maturing Metro MarketMetro Market SegmentsCarrier-Class EthernetMPLS/GMPLS-Enabled NetworksDWDMThe Next-Generation Intelligent NetworkNetwork ManagementAn Aside: Resilient Packet Ring (RPR)Anatomy of the Metro Network: The EdgeThe Multiservice Metro NetworkNetwork InversionCisco's Central RoleThe Metro Network: AccessAnatomy of the Metro Network: The CoreOptical Burst SwitchingFreespace Opticssynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)Metro TopologiesPoint-to-Point ArchitecturesRing ArchitecturesSummaryPART 2: THE METRO NETWORKWhat is a Metro Network?Metro Touch PointsLong-Haul NetworksAccess NetworksThe Metro Area ItselfThe Evolving Metro NetworkMetro DemographicsRegulatory ImpactsLikely Regulatory SolutionsSummaryPART 3: ENABLING TECHNOLOGIESIntroductionOverview and TerminologyEthernet ServicesEthernet: A Brief HistoryPhase Two: Xerox and DECThe Arrival of Fast EthernetFull-Duplex EthernetUp the Stack: The Ethernet Physical LayerThe Arrival of Fast Ethernet (100BaseT)One Step Up: Gigabit Ethernet (1000BaseT)10-Gigabit EthernetEthernet SummaryService ProvidersAlternative Premises SchemesAccess TechnologiesMarketplace RealitiesISDNDigital Subscriber Line (DSL)Cable-Based Access TechnologiesWireless Access TechnologiesTransport TechnologiesAsynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)Optical NetworkingPutting It All TogetherFiber NonlinearitiesIntermodulation EffectsOptical AmplificationOptical ReceiversDense Wavelength: Division Multiplexing (DWDM)Course Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM)Optical Switching and RoutingSwitching Versus Routing: What's the Difference?Switching in the Optical DomainMultipoint Circuit SupportNonintrusive MonitoringNew ServicesTransporting Subrate Payloads: Virtual TributariesSDH NomenclatureMetro Networking: SONET and EthernetSummaryPART 4: METRO APPLICATIONSCorporate EvolutionThe Importance of Corporate KnowledgeThe ERP ProcessData MiningKnowledge ManagementObstacles to Effective Knowledge ManagementManaging Quality of Service (QoS)An Aside: The SLASupply-Chain IssuesERP in the Telecomm SpaceCustomer Relationship Management (CRM)Putting It All TogetherNetwork Management in Metro NetworksSummaryPART 5: PLAYERS IN THE METRO GAMEComponent ManufacturersThe Component PlayersSystems ManufacturersService Provider IssuesCONCLUSIONAPPENDIX A: COMMON INDUSTRY ACRONYMSAPPENDIX B: GLOSSARYINDEX