Method and system for layer-2 pseudo-wire rapid-deployment service over unknown internet protocol networks
An International Standards Organization (“OSI”) Layer-2 (“Ethernet”) Pseudo-wire (“OSI Layer-1 type service”) appliance, method, system and hub service is disclosed. The method and system facilitate the rapid deployment of Layer-2 Pseudo-wires over unknown and untrusted Internet Protocol (“IP”) networks. The method and system facilitate the fluid edge of corporate networks and any situation where the Layer-3 network addresses cannot be changed.
1. A system for rapid-deployment and delivery of a layer-2 connection, comprising:
a first provider-edge appliance connectable to a first unknown network, the first provider-edge appliance being operable to originate a first open system interconnection (OSI) layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connection over a first packet switch network tunnel connection;
at least one provider-core comprising a cross-connect that waits for the first packet switch network tunnel connection, whereupon completing the first packet switch network tunnel connection, the first provider-edge appliance and the at least one provider-core connect to establish the first open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connection through an access port on the first provider-edge appliance and at least one port on a cross-connect on the at least one provider-core; and
a second provider-edge appliance connectable to a second unknown network, the second provider-edge appliance originating a second open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connection over a second packet switch network tunnel connection to the at least one provider-core, whereupon completing the second packet switch connection, the first provider-edge appliance and the second provider-edge appliance connect to establish the open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connection through the at least one port on the cross-connect on the at least one provider-core.
2. The system for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 pseudo-wire as defined in claim 1 , wherein an end-to-end pseudo wire connection is created between the first provider-edge appliance and the second provider-edge appliance.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first provider-edge appliance and the at least one provider-core auto connect to establish the first open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connection between the port on the first provider-edge appliance and the at least another port on the cross-connect on the at least one provider-core.
4. A method for rapid-deployment and delivery of a layer-2 pseudo-wire connection comprising:
initiating a provider-core to provider-core open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet cross-connect hub/service;
engaging two incoming open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet legs with the layer-2 Ethernet cross-connect hub/service for cross connection of the two incoming open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet legs, wherein each of the two incoming open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet legs comprise a layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connection; and
providing an open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet access-circuit to open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet access-circuit end-to-end open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet connection between two provider-edge appliances that cannot connect directly to each other because of a communications barrier comprising a member selected from the group consisting of firewalls, incompatible IP addresses, and combinations thereof, wherein each of the two provider edge appliances are operable for connection to an unknown network.
5. A system for rapid-deployment and delivery of a layer-2 connection comprising:
a first provider-edge appliance, at a first site, comprising a plurality of ports;
a second provider-edge appliance, at a second site, comprising another plurality of ports;
a first provider-core appliance and a second provider-core-appliance, each comprising a plurality of ports, including one or more cross-connect ports;
the first provider-edge appliance at the first site is connected to a first unknown network and is configured to use a first packet switch network connection to a first trunk network and establish a first packet switch network-tunnel connection to the first provider-core appliance at the first site,
the first provider-core appliance being pre-configured to accept an incoming connection request from the first provider-edge appliance such that when the first packet switch network-tunnel connection is established a first Ethernet connection exists between the first provider-edge appliance and a first of the one or more cross-connect ports on the first provider-core appliance;
the second provider-edge appliance at the second site is connected to a second unknown network and is configured to use a second packet switch network connection to a second trunk network and establish a second packet switch network-tunnel connection to the second provider-core appliance at the second site, and
the second provider-core appliance being pre-configured to accept another incoming connection request from the second provider-edge appliance such that when the second packet switch network-tunnel connection is established a second Ethernet connection exists between the second provider-edge appliance and a second of the one or more cross-connect ports on the second provider-core appliance, wherein when the first and the second of the one or more cross-connect ports are in communication, then an end-to-end Ethernet connection is established between the first provider-edge appliance and the second provider-edge appliance.
6. The system for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 5 , wherein the first provider-edge appliance comprises at least one Ethernet port.
7. The system for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 6 , wherein the Ethernet port comprises at least one port selected from the group consisting of an access-circuit service port, a trunk packet-switched-network (PSN) port, and combinations thereof.
8. The system for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 5 , wherein the second provider-core appliance comprises at least one Ethernet port.
9. The system for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 8 , wherein the Ethernet port comprises at least one port selected from the group consisting of a trunk packet-switched-network (PSN) port, a cross-connect port, and combinations thereof.
10. The system for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 5 , wherein an end-to-end pseudo wire connection is created between the first provider-edge appliance and the second provider-edge appliance.
11. The system of claim 5 , wherein an identity of the first provider-edge appliance is defined by information comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of an internet protocol address of the first provider-core appliance, a media access control address of the first provider-edge appliance, a unique character string assigned to the first provider-edge appliance, another unique identifier, and combinations thereof.
12. The system of claim 5 , wherein an identity of the second provider-edge appliance is defined by information comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of an internet protocol address of the first provider-core appliance, a media access control address of the second provider-edge appliance, a unique character string assigned to the second provider-edge appliance, another unique identifier, and combinations thereof.
13. A method for the rapid-deployment and delivery of a layer-2 connection comprising:
providing a first provider-edge appliance, at a first site, having a plurality of ports;
providing a second provider-edge appliance, at a second site, having another plurality of ports;
providing a first provider-core appliance and a second provider-core-appliance, each having a plurality of ports, including one or more cross-connect ports;
configuring the first provider-edge appliance, connected to a first unknown network, at the first site to use a first packet switch network to a first trunk network and establish a first packet switch network-tunnel connection to the first provider-core appliance at the first site,
the first provider-core appliance pre-configured to accept an incoming connection request from the first provider-edge appliance such that when the first packet switch network-tunnel connection is established a first Ethernet connection exists between the first provider-edge appliance and a first of the one or more cross-connect ports on the first provider-core appliance;
configuring the second provider-edge appliance, connected to a second unknown network, at the second site to use a second packet switch network connection to a second trunk network and establish a second packet switch network-tunnel connection to the second provider-core appliance at the second site,
the second provider-core appliance pre-configured to accept another incoming connection request from the second provider-edge appliance such that when the second packet switch network-tunnel connection is established a second Ethernet connection exists between the second provider-edge appliance and a second of the one or more cross-connect ports on the second provider-core appliance; and
engaging for communication the first and the second of the one or more cross-connect ports, such that an end-to-end Ethernet connection is established between the first provider-edge appliance and the second provider-edge appliance.
14. The method for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 13 , wherein the step of providing the first provider-edge appliance further comprises providing at least one Ethernet port.
15. The method for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 14 , wherein the step of providing at least one Ethernet port further comprises providing at least one of an access-circuit service port, a trunk packet-switched-network (PSN) port or combinations thereof.
16. The method for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 13 , wherein the step of providing at least one provider-core further comprises at least one Ethernet port.
17. The method for the rapid-deployment and delivery of the layer-2 connection as defined in claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the Ethernet port further comprises at least one port selected from the group consisting of a trunk packet-switched-network (PSN) port, a cross-connect port, and combinations thereof.
18. A system for rapid-deployment and delivery of a layer-2 connection comprising:
first and second provider-edge appliances that originates first and second open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire connections over first and second packet switch network-tunnels over first and second open system interconnection layer-3 packet switch networks, the first and second provider edge appliances each being connectable to unknown networks; and
a provider-core that waits for the first and second packet switch network-tunnel connections via the first and second open system interconnection layer-3 packet switch networks and which connect together and establish an open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire between first and second access circuit Ethernet ports on the first and second provider-edge appliances and Ethernet cross-connect ports on the provider-core.
19. A system for rapid-deployment and delivery of a layer-2 connection comprising:
a provider-core to provider-core open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet cross-connect hub/service that permits two incoming open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet pseudo-wire legs to be connected together at the Ethernet cross-connect hub/service to provide an open system interconnection Layer-2 Ethernet access circuit to open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet access circuit end-to-end open system interconnection layer-2 Ethernet data service between two provider-edge appliances that cannot connect directly to each other because of firewalls and incompatible IP addresses, wherein the two provider edge appliances are each operable for connection to an unknown network.