Ethernet ring protection for carrier ethernet networks

Ethernet technologies are rapidly gaining importance as a prevailing solution for carrier networks. Ethernet ring protection switching, defined in ITU-T Recommendation G.8032, provides a means of achieving carrier network requirements for ring network topologies. This article outlines the novel concepts in this Ethernet ring protection switching mechanism and discusses the fundamental operating principles by which the automatic protection switching (APS) protocol works. In addition, several feature enhancements in protection behavior and solutions being considered for the next phase of standardization are discussed.