Re: [EFM] EFM x 802.3ah - broad picture x narrow scope
Carlos-
I agree with your concepts but not your terminology.
EFM and P802.3ah belong to each other and go together. EFM as a term was
created by the EFM Study Group. This group will become the P802.3ah Task
Force later this month and I fully expect them to hang onto the EFM label.
The larger concept of the network, new standards (802.1, IETF and ???) and
hardware (ruggedized switches, reliable power...) needed to provide high
speed Ethernet connections from subscribers into service provider networks
needs a label of its own.
Ethernet Subscriber Access (ESA) would be my choice.
Geoff Thompson
At 07:27 PM 9/4/01 -0300, carlosal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>Ryan,
>
>I'm posting this to everyone in the group, as it sums up my opinion in the
>recent discussion about EFM scope.
>
>There are several seemingly incompatible requirements to meet. We have to
>maintain compatibility with other Ethernet related standards such as
>802.1d, 802.1q, and so on; at the same time, working with public access
>networks is not the same as working with corporate customers. Some
>potential customers require long reach, others can work with short reach.
>Some of the discussions are still at a somewhat 'intuitive' stage, where
>we have few actual data to make a informed decision.
>
>For me, the fundamental point is that 802.3ah is not the same as "Ethernet
>First Mile". Given the name, EFM is more of a concept: it covers all that
>is needed to bring Ethernet to the access network. 802.3ah is just this
>standard group, which has to keep a narrow scope. It's fair to say that
>there are good reasons for the narrow focus. The question now is, how to
>map all the requirements of the broad picture of "Ethernet First Mile"
>into the narrow scope of 802.3ah.
>
>Give this scenario, the trick is to find the key points that need to
>included into the 802.3ah standard in order to support the complete EFM
>proposition, without going way out of the scope. That's a huge quest for
>the group to solve.
>
>Carlos Ribeiro
>CTBC Telecom
>