Demarcation point for ethernet service and methods of providing ethernet service
Methods, systems and devices are provided that facilitate the provision of Ethernet service between remotely located Ethernet local area networks (LANs). At least one network interface unit (NIU) is provided that is configured to provide an Ethernet interface between service provider equipment and customer equipment so as to provide Ethernet service between a service provider network and an Ethernet local area network (LAN) running at a customer facility. The NIU is further configured to manage the Ethernet service between the service provider network and the Ethernet LAN running at the customer facility.
1. A system that facilitates the provision of Ethernet service between remotely located Ethernet local area networks (LANs), comprising:
at least one network interface unit (NIU) that is configured to provide an Ethernet interface between a first Ethernet LAN at a first remote location and a second Ethernet LAN at a second remote location so as to provide Ethernet service between the first Ethernet LAN and the second Ethernet LAN, wherein the at least one NIU is located at the first remote location and/or the second remote location.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one NIU further comprises:
a first NIU at the first remote location; and
a second NIU at the second remote location, wherein the first NIU is configured to provide a first interface between service provider equipment and LAN equipment at the first remote location, wherein the second NIU is configured to provide a second interface between the service provider equipment and LAN equipment at the second remote location and wherein the first Ethernet LAN at the first remote location communicates with the second Ethernet LAN at the second remote location through a service provider network provided by the service provider equipment.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first NIU is further configured to manage Ethernet service between the service provider equipment and LAN at the first remote location and wherein the second NIU is further configured to manage Ethernet service between the service provider equipment and the LAN at the second remote location.
4. The system of claim 2 further comprising:
a first housing that is configured to receive the first NIU and that is located at the first remote location; and
a second housing that is configured to receive the second NIU and that is located at the second remote location, wherein the first NIU is positioned in the first housing and the second NIU is positioned in the second housing.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second housings are positioned in neutral locations so as to allow access by a technician.
6. A system that facilitates the provision of Ethernet service between remotely located Ethernet local area networks (LANs), comprising:
at least one network interface unit (NIU) that is configured to provide an Ethernet interface between a first Ethernet LAN at a first remote location and a second Ethernet LAN at a second remote location so as to provide Ethernet service between the first Ethernet LAN and the second Ethernet LAN, wherein the at least one NIU is located at the first remote location and/or the second remote location, wherein the at least one NIU further comprises:
a first NIU at the first remote location;
a second NIU at the second remote location, wherein the first NIU is configured to provide a first interface between service provider equipment and LAN equipment at the first remote location, wherein the second NIU is configured to provide a second interface between the service provider equipment and LAN equipment at the second remote location and wherein the first Ethernet LAN at the first remote location communicates with the second Ethernet LAN at the second remote location through a service provider network provided by the service provider equipment; and
a third NIU that is integrated with the service provider equipment, wherein the first Ethernet LAN at the first remote location and the second Ethernet LAN at the second remote location communicate with the service provider network through the third NIU.
7. An apparatus for providing Ethernet service comprising:
at least one network interface unit (NIU), the NIU being configured to provide an Ethernet interface between service provider equipment and customer equipment so as to provide Ethernet service between a service provider network at a service provider facility and an Ethernet local area network (LAN) running at a customer facility and configured to manage the Ethernet service between the service provider network and the Ethernet LAN running at the customer facility.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a housing positioned between the service provider equipment and the customer equipment at the service provider facility and/or the customer facility, wherein the housing is configured to receive the at least one NIU and wherein the at least one NIU is positioned in the housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one NIU is further configured to test and/or monitor the Ethernet service between the service provider network and the Ethernet LAN running at the customer facility.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the housing comprises at least one of a T200 mechanical enclosure and a T400 mechanical enclosure.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least one NIU is configured to be electrically coupled to the housing through a 56-pin edge connector.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the housing is positioned in a neutral location so as to allow access by a technician.
13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one NIU comprises first and second NIUs, wherein the first NIU provides a first Ethernet interface between the service provider equipment of a first service provider and the customer equipment of a first customer so as to provide Ethernet service between a first service provider network and an Ethernet LAN running at a first customer facility and wherein the second NIU provides a second Ethernet interface between the service provider equipment of a second service provider and the customer equipment of a second customer so as to provide Ethernet service between a second service provider network and an Ethernet LAN running at a second customer facility.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first and second service providers are the same service provider and wherein the first and second customers communicate using Ethernet service provided to the first and second customers by the same service provider.
15. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one NIU is positioned at the service provider facility and/or at the customer facility.
16. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one network interface unit is coupled to the service provider equipment through a remote terminal.
17. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a connection between the at least one NIU and the service provider equipment comprises a copper connection and/or a fiber optic connection.
18. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one NIU comprises an Ethernet receptacle and wherein a connection between the at least one NIU and the customer equipment is provided by category 5 cable and/or fiber optic cable having a connector that is configured to be positioned in the Ethernet receptacle.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the Ethernet receptacle is configured to receive an RJ45 and/or an LC connector, wherein the connector of the category 5 cable comprises an RJ45 connector and wherein the connector of the fiber optic cable comprises an LC connector.
20. A method of providing Ethernet service comprising:
providing at least one network interface unit (NIU) between service provider equipment and customer equipment at a service provider facility and/or a customer facility so as to provide Ethernet service between the service provider facility and an Ethernet local area network (LAN) running at a customer facility; and
managing the Ethernet service between the service provider facility and the Ethernet LAN using the at least one NIU.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein providing the at least one Ethernet interface further comprises providing the at least one interface in a housing that is positioned in a neutral location so as to allow access by a technician.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein managing the Ethernet service further comprises testing and/or monitoring the Ethernet service between the service provider facility and the Ethernet LAN using the at least one NIU.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein providing Ethernet service further comprises providing a first Ethernet interface between the service provider equipment of a first service provider and the customer equipment of a first customer so as to provide Ethernet service between a first service provider network and an Ethernet LAN running at a first customer facility and providing a second Ethernet interface between the service provider equipment of a second service provider and the customer equipment of a second customer so as to provide Ethernet service between a second service provider network and an Ethernet LAN running at a second customer facility.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first and second service providers are the same service provider, the method further comprising:
providing Ethernet service between the first customer and the second customer through the same service provider network.
25. The method of claim 20 wherein providing at least one Ethernet interface further comprises positioning the at least one Ethernet interface at the service provider facility and/or at the customer facility.
26. The method of claim 20 further comprising coupling the at least one Ethernet interface to the service provider equipment through a remote terminal.
27. The method of claim 20 further comprising coupling the at least one Ethernet interface to the service provider equipment using copper wire and/or a fiber optic cable.
28. A method for providing Ethernet service between remotely located Ethernet local area networks (LANs), comprising:
connecting a first Ethernet LAN at a first remote location to a second Ethernet LAN at a second remote location through at least one network interface unit (NIU) located at the first and/or the second remote location, the at least one NIU being configured to provide an interface between the first and second Ethernet LANs, wherein connecting further comprises:
connecting a first NIU at the first remote location to a service provider network and the first Ethernet LAN;
connecting a second NIU at the second remote location to the service provider network and the second Ethernet LAN;
providing Ethernet service between the first remote location and the second remote location through the service provider network; and
managing the Ethernet service between the first remote location and the second remote location at the service provider network.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein managing the Ethernet service further comprises testing and/or monitoring the Ethernet service between the first remote location and the second remote location using the first and second NIUs.
30. The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
connecting a third NIU integrated located at a service provider facility to the first and second NIUs, wherein the first and second LANs communicate with the service provider through the third NIU.
31. The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
providing the first NIU in a first housing configured to receive the first NIU, wherein the first housing is positioned at the first remote location and wherein the first NIU is positioned in the first housing; and
providing the second NIU in a second housing that is configured to receive the second NIU, wherein the second housing is positioned at the second remote location and the second NIU is positioned in the second housing.