What technologies are predominately in use today to transport layer 2 circuits?
MPLS\VPLS used to be all the rage.
eVPN\VXLAN seems to be popular in the datacenter space.
Carrier Ethernet?
We use mainly mpls/p2p pw so much for wholesale/business Ethernet, CBH, and various other purposes. Still using mpls/vpls occasionally… oob mgmt backhaul. For DC interconnect, I use evpn/mpls, since I have an mpls network. We are an SP, so mpls has been the basis for our network-based-L2/L3 VPN’s for 10 years or so.
Aaron
Identify L2 control protocols which will require transparent tunneling end to end before making a decision on underlay tech. Beware of multiple vendor handoffs / NNIs under the hood of any solution, but especially an “oMPLS” solution.
We use mainly mpls/p2p pw so much for wholesale/business Ethernet, CBH, and various other purposes. Still using mpls/vpls occasionally… oob mgmt backhaul. For DC interconnect, I use evpn/mpls, since I have an mpls network. We are an SP, so mpls has been the basis for our network-based-L2/L3 VPN’s for 10 years or so.
Wave circuits
It is tough to argue against VXLAN or anything over UDP, but another workhorse of L2 services, especially for cheaper equipment and needing to go over the top was L2TPv3.
Some interesting stuff was done by Wireguard and Softether, but I am not sure it counts as service. MPLS-TP is still listed in MEF specs, but the hopefully equipment supporting that is collecting dust on shelves somewhere.
There could even be a network somewhere that is doing some variation of SPB, hopefully converting to EVPN.
It is tough to argue against VXLAN or anything over UDP, but another workhorse of L2 services, especially for cheaper equipment and needing to go over the top was L2TPv3.
In an old life, we ran L2TPv3 to extend a DCN, on Cisco routers. It was simple, and worked.
Some interesting stuff was done by Wireguard and Softether, but I am not sure it counts as service.
I do use WireGuard (on pfSense) to create a DCN over the public Internet. Very easy to setup, very reliable. Even run OSPF and iBGP over WireGuard with much success.
I probably wouldn't sell it as a transport service, though.
MPLS-TP is still listed in MEF specs, but the hopefully equipment supporting that is collecting dust on shelves somewhere.
Thank God :-).
Mark.