Scalable, hierarchical, Ethernet transport network architecture (HETNA)

Ethernet technology is not inherently scalable, and yet, Ethernet dominates LANs, and recently has diffused to access, aggregation networks, and MANs. Ethernet is even considered for transport networks in the backbone. Many solutions from IEEE, IETF, and MEF are considered for enabling Ethernet beyond LANs and bridged LANs. In this paper we offer HETNA, a hierarchical Ethernet forwarding, which is compatible with legacy networks used by enterprises, carriers, and backbone networks, and provides scalability, mobility, protection, multicasting, and QoS support to intra- and inter-domain networks in an efficient forwarding manner. The suggested architecture can handle streaming, real-time, multicasting, and other applications as well as various addressing mechanisms (e.g., IP or URI addressing). Both connection-oriented transport services and connectionless-oriented services are possible in the suggested architecture. This architecture was simulated and prototyped, showing significant improvements over regular Ethernet in terms of buffers and control messages that enable this network to function.