Exponential-e is the UK’s pioneer of corporate VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Services) networks. We were the first UK company to design and build a Carrier Class VPLS network back in 2006. We see VPLS as the key to unlocking a smart-wired cloud of services for each customer we work with.
What is VPLS?
VPLS is a significant standard supported by the Metro Ethernet Forum. It extends the plug-and-play functionality we are used to in the LAN across the wide area by facilitating the creation of a completely private Layer 2 virtual cloud to which you can connect all of your offices in order to gain any-to-any connectivity. Across this cloud we are able to create numerous virtual private networks (VPNs), meaning that we can layer value-added services over the network and, importantly for security, keep these services separate from each other.
Exponential-e was pioneering in the UK with its roll-out of a VPLS- enabled network. Aware of the shortcomings of traditional MPLS access, such as its complexity and the fact that it led to a loss of customer control of IP routing, Exponential-e sought to develop an innovative solution that addressed these limitations. It was this desire to improve existing networking that lead to the use of VPLS within our network design. Today many of the leading ISPs are announcing plans for VPLS deployment in the future, but the fact remains that our service is available right now, and has been for over 4 years.
VPLS gives us a service-oriented architecture from which our customers can plug and play with a range of comms; data; DR; security and virtualisation services. We are delivering simplicity and operational efficiencies for IT heads as they focus on getting more value from every ICT pound spent.
You need to know...
- VPLS provides a transparent transport platform for carrying any type of traffic.
- All services connected via VPLS appear to be on the same LAN, regardless of location.
- Services that are stranded at a single site can be moved to the centre of the network.
- True convergence is possible via logically separate networks on the same physical connection.
- Customers can choose what mix of Layer 2 and Layer 3 CPE they require.
- Customers are free to control their own IP addressing schema and routing.
- Services are fully supported with end-to-end QoS; intelligent dynamic distribution of bandwidth and five classes of service.
What does VPLS mean to you?
More and more companies are making the transition from traditional MPLS networks to Layer 2 VPLS, or a combination of the two. This is down to the fact that VPLS has several benefits over traditional Layer 3 MPLS solutions: (view our VPLS v MPLS comparison table here)
- A more efficient network – Our flexible and easily scalable pure Layer 2, switched Ethernet network connects sites using VLAN technology and emulates a LAN environment across the WAN. This greatly simplifies the running of the network and the task of adding and changing sites as there is no routing in the core of our network that is visible to the customer. This also means very low latency between sites (no router hops) and much lower trouble shooting complexity than networks with multiple router hops in the core.
- Return on investment by creating separate networks within networks using the same physical infrastructure – Our use of pure Layer 2 switches in the core of the network means we can simply create networks within networks providing complete separation between different business operations. For example a separate secondary network (Voice/Video/Internet) can be created with different bandwidth limits using the same physical circuits as the corporate network. This means that a secondary network will not use the bandwidth of the corporate network or vice versa – unless the other party is not using their allocation at any given time. A 100Mb or 10Mb circuit can be split into different virtual circuits with physically separate RJ45 hand offs for each network.
- Virtualisation and replication are much easier - Single point-to-point VLANs or ‘E-Pipes’ can be created between just two sites – such as HQ and a data centre, specifically for replication or virtualisation. The Layer 2 nature of this connection makes this ideal for replication or virtualisation as there is no routing to contend with. Again this can be achieved on the same physical circuits as other networks.
- Voice – This is engineered to provide a minimum of MOS 4 toll quality voice regardless of other traffic levels.
- Video – this is optimised to provide the optimum conditions for video conferencing and video streaming
- Critical – Highest priority data traffic for applications that require guaranteed bandwidth however busy the network might be.
- Priority – These services are given priority over best effort services, ideal for line of business applications such as CRM and ERP.
- Normal – Best effort data traffic ideal for Internet browsing and email.
Class of service and QoS agreements
Exponential-e has developed five QoS options to meet the business requirements of our customers. Each of the QoS levels are backed off with SLAs and quality guarantees for bandwidth, latency, jitter and packet loss.
These QoS levels are so important to our customer’s ability to deliver the required network performance that we have made sure that QoS starts at the customer premise and continues all the way through to the point where the traffic arrives at its destination. This feature is delivered by our Ethernet Demarcation device.
Ethernet Demarcation Device
This convergence of services is also enabled by our use of EDDs (Ethernet Demarcation Devices) in all our circuits as standard. EDDs allow us to hand off different services as separate virtual circuits across one physical circuit. They also enable us to guarantee end-to-end Quality of Service on all of our circuits by giving us full visibility of the circuit and enabling us to monitor it 24/7. As a result, any faults that occur can be quickly located and fixed promptly before any disruption to daily activities occurs.
Many services across one pipe, true convergence
As mentioned, the unique thing about our technology is that it enables the delivery of multiple services down a single connection. Once you have that connection in place, you effectively gain access to your own private cloud of business services, saving you costs and greatly simplifying service management.
VPLS unlocks your private cloud of business services:
Intelligent Quality of Service
Our intelligent Quality of Service feature allows us to tune the performance of the network so that each service experiences different performance characteristics uniquely set to maximise the quality of the particular service. Our Intelligent Quality of Service feature is derived from the “service aware” functionality of our Next Generation Network. Each service can be assigned its own bandwidth allocation; its own performance parameters and its own management and security policies, eg. VoIP and data could run as separate VLAN networks over a single connection giving high levels of performance to both.
