Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Huawei, Solana Networks and
Spirent Communications announced that they have completed a large-scale,
multi-vendor interoperability test leveraging IEEE 802.1aq Shortest Path
Bridging (SPB) technology.

SPB allows customers to greatly simplify how they create
and configure networks — across the enterprise and for the cloud by requiring
service provisioning only at the edge of the network.

It uses Intermediate System To Intermediate System
(IS-IS), a proven carrier-grade link state protocol, to dynamically build the
topology between network nodes, saving network administrators time and effort,
and virtually eliminating human error.

The interoperability test simulated a large network
environment of almost 200 nodes and more than 400 links. It demonstrated full
control plane interoperability between each vendor’s equipment, native network
discovery in a multi-vendor network and Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN)
interoperability.

L2VPN connectivity was validated by passing real and
simulated traffic between network connected devices and a network emulator.
Avaya and Spirent also tested the Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (IEEE
802.1ag) standard, showing successful Layer 2 operations.

This test builds on previous validation efforts that have
showcased SPB’s capabilities for multi-site data centers and hybrid clouds,
including the migration of a virtual machine over a multi-vendor SPB network
that seamlessly transferred services between nodes delivered by different
vendors.

“This was the first multi-vendor commercial test for
multi-path Ethernet leveraging Shortest Path Bridging technology,” said
Mike Spanbauer, principal analyst, Current Analysis.

By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]