Advanced Circuits and Solutions

Types of Ethernet Connectivity

Gig-E Internet Service

Gig-E (1,000 Mbps) Internet service allows you to choose a bandwidth range that meets your needs. The maximum physical port speed of determines the maximum bandwidth that you are able to "burst" up to.

Fast-E Internet Service

Fast-E (100 Mbps) Internet service features flexible port speeds with lower costs and commitment levels than Gig-E.

Ethernet Point-to-Point Service

Ethernet private line service consists of a 10 M, 100 M, or 1,000 M circuit which run directly between two company locations.

Details

The term Ethernet actually refers to the LAN cabling that is the preferred network medium of almost every business in America. The most commonly deployed Ethernet is 10 BaseT which has a maximum speed of 10 Mbps. Ethernet is also available in 100BaseT, also called Fast-E, which reaches speeds of 100 Mbps, and Gig-E, which transfers data at 1000 Mbps. In traditional carrier networks, a copper facility such as a T1 or DSL is nailed up from an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) nearest Point of Presence (POP) to the user's premise where it terminates into a router. On the LAN side of the router, Ethernet is delivered to power the PC's and work stations on the LAN with the Internet access that the copper just delivered. In some cases, however, Ethernet is an available source of Internet access without the need of a copper line. In this instance, Ethernet itself is delivered to the router.

Ethernet as an Internet Access service becomes available when an ISP places their own router in the building being serviced and backhauls a local access loop to their network edge. In doing so they are actually extending the edge of their network into the building. Once the ISP has a presence in the building, they can offer Internet access simply by connecting an Ethernet cable from the router directly into a suite of a paying subscriber. In this scenario, most ISPs will offer large throughput speeds such as 10 Mbps for half the cost of a traditional T1. The business model used to achieve the low cost and high speed offer is one of over-subscription. True the ISP may bring in a carrier grade circuit such as a DS-3 with 45 Mbps of throughput, but upon the fifth subscriber of a 10 Mbps Ethernet, the router is officially over subscribed. The ISP counts on traditional subscription ratios that are based on the fact that not every subscriber will be accessing the full throughput at the same time. Using this theory, the ISP will seek to sign up as many subscribers as possible in order to off-set the cost of the local access loop for which they pay a monthly recurring charge to the LEC, and any CAPEX for the router and other equipment deployed.

While Ethernet is not a carrier grade Internet Access service it serves small business well. Coverage is spotty and will only be available in large multi-tenant buildings where ISPs can sign up large amounts of clients and achieve quick ROI and profits.

Ethernet technology delivers Internet access right to your place of business via a cross connect, or within an Ethernet enabled facility. While Ethernet connections are available in 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps increments, a wide variety of Ethernet bandwidth speeds are available in most major US markets.

Learn More About MPLS

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) integrates latency, bandwidth, and utilization into Layer 3 (IP) within the same system. The technology dramatically simplifies and improves the exchange of packets over the carrier network. Speed, scalability, quality of service, and security are all drastically improved. MPLS sets up a specific path for a given sequence of packets, identified by a label put in each header, saving time needed for a network to look up the address of the next node to which it will forward the packet.

MPLS as a Frame Relay Replacement

MPLS proves to be a next-generation intelligent network that delivers advanced value-added services over a single infrastructure. Unlike Frame Relay, MPLS is a connection-less IP technology developed on the Internet side of the industry. MPLS is a more secure, new technology that offers many benefits both in terms of functionality and pricing.

Advantages of MPLS

The end-to-end availability and serviceability of MPLS networks have become increasingly critical as customers more frequently consolidate multiple services over a single infrastructure. This type of traffic engineering provides full control of network resources, enabling admission control, Quality of service, bandwidth protection, constraint-based routing, and explicit routing. Extending the MPLS service from the core to a customer's location provides scalability of multiple services over a single infrastructure. For these reasons, MPLS is expected to be readily adopted as networks begin to carry more and different mixtures of traffic. MPLS provides minimal packet loss over an IP backbone while providing protection that equals the capabilities of SONET in the order of milliseconds. Because of these capabilities, Service Providers can provide higher SLAs and bandwidth protection for intolerant traffic types.

How Is MPLS Used?

• Tying together all of your locations into a unified voice and private data network.
• Implement an infrastructure that can be used for CoS, and mission critical applications.
• Securely connect all of your locations in a fully meshed network.
• Boost the performance of software-based IP.
• Eliminate the need for VPN or Frame based security while increasing overall bandwidth.
• Increase end-to-end availability and serviceability.
• Improved communications, reduced costs, and built additional stability into your network.

How can I evaluate if MPLS is the right choice for me?

Contact a Bandwidth.com Account Executive to help determine if MPLS makes sense for your business. A Bandwidth.com Account Executive will help with overall analysis of your current network and your future needs and price out multiple MPLS providers at wholesale rates.

Learn More About Co-location

The Facility

State-of-the-art facilities provide secure space, power, and connectivity for any Data Center application.

Physical Infrastructure

• Physical Infrastructure
  • Carrier-neutral environment
• Cabinets and suites
  • Carrier-neutral environment
  • Battery and generator backup
  • Fire detection/suppression
  • 24 x 7 technician support
  • NOC performance monitoring
  • Infrastructure for outside fiber plant
  • Extensive security measures, including biometric entry scanning
• Cooling
  • Redundant cooling systems insure protection in the event of an equipment failure
  • Cooling efficiently delivered through raised floor space
  • Humidity maintained at 50% (+ or - 10%)
  • Temperature maintained at 72 degrees (+/- 6 degrees)
• Advanced Fire Detection and Suppression
  • Sprinkler system is a dry-piped, double-interlocked, pre-action fire protection system
  • Provides best security against accidental discharge from sprinklers
  • Smoke detection system above and below raised floor
• Overhead Ladder Racking
  • Three-tiered overhead infrastructure improves cable management and air flow
  • Clean and easy access to cabling and power
• Security / Access
  • The multi-tiered physical security policy controls access 24 x 7 to the colocation area
  • Photo ID access cards required at point of entry
  • 24 x 7 x 365 Closed-Circuit Video Monitoring and Logging at all entry points
  • Perimeter doors alarm-monitored 24 x 7 x 365
  • Palm Scan and Photo Badge ID required to enter Colocation area
  • Secured cabinet and caged access
  • Routine quarterly testing of security policies and procedures
  • Dedicated security professionals proactively manage physical and network security
• Power
  • Electrical distribution system, UPS, and backup generators are specifically designed to keep your equipment running, even during a blackout
  • Redundant UPS power, backed by batteries and powerful emergency generators, provide sufficient backup power to keep facilities operational at maximum load
  • In the event of a commercial power failure, automatic transfer switches (ATS) ensure smooth transition to back-up generator power
  • Power availability greater than 99.999%
• Service Support
  • 24 x 7 x 365 pay-by-the-hour service provides you with world-class field personnel to meet your key hands-on maintenance requirements.
  • Replace hardware components
  • Card swaps
  • Power leads
  • Tag and return defective components
  • Audit labeling of cables, hardware, and patch panels
  • Hardware backups
  • 24-hour security escort
  • LED readings
  • Equipment installation
  • Mounting and racking
  • Cable connection
  • Initiating test cycles
  • Collaborating with customer NOC
  • Network element testing
  • Hardware resets
  • Receive or store replacement hardware components
• Why chose Bandwidth.com to procure your co-location needs
  • Freedom to connect to carriers in the facility
  • Industry-leading co-location footprint
  • Multi-tiered 24 x 7 facility security program
  • Proven power and cooling reliability
  • State-of-the-art quality infrastructure
  • Flexible space and power options
  • 24 x 7 tech remote hands maintenance and support
  • Cost efficiency
  • Significant savings from outsourcing data center needs (up to 80%, according to some studies)
  • It's difficult to replicate the environment of a Data Center
  • Predictable costs
  • Monthly costs are defined and predictable
  • Security
  • Security is superior, compared to typical systems built in-house
  • Lack of internal expertise
  • Scalability
  • Reliability
  • Time-to market
  • Get to market quicker because the infrastructure is ready to go
  • Ability to focus on core competencies
  • Leave the details of managing the infrastructure to someone else
  • Human resource
  • Instead of hiring additional staff, utilize Data Center personnel

Learn More About Private Line Service

Private lines are used for:

• Interoffice VoIP
• Traditional analog voice channels between remote locations
• Off-site survivability/Disaster recovery
• SAN (storage area network) implementation

All quotes from Bandwidth.com on private lines include access and IOC (interoffice channel) pricing, and feature the some of the strongest SLAs in the industry.