ETX-550 high-performance Ethernet aggregator from RAD
ETX-550 is a high-performance Ethernet aggregator, which combines multiple Fast Ethernet links to higher rate Gigabit Ethernet
connections upstream. ETX-550 provides up to 24 Ethernet/Fast Ethernet links into up to four Gigabit Ethernet links.
Typically, ETX-550 is used in ‘fan out’ applications, where it is deployed in the service providers’ first POP, to deliver Fast Ethernet services over fiber to
several remote Ethernet network termination units (NTUs), such as RAD’s ETX-102, located at the customer premises (see Figure 1).
ETX-550 Ethernet Capabilities
ETX-550 operates as a Layer-2 Ethernet aggregation device and is transparent to higher protocols. The internal bridge functions in
VLAN-aware or VLAN-unaware bridging modes. Using VLAN stacking (also known as double tagging or Q-in-Q), the service provider
can assign different customers to different Service VLANs (S-VLANs) to separate the traffic of customers within the service provider
network. Customer VLANs are encapsulated by the S-VLAN, allowing transparent LAN service.
The RAD ETX-550 handles jumbo frames of up to 14 kB in size and is transparent to Layer-2 control protocols (L2CP).
ETX-550 Service Differentiation and Traffic Control
Customer bandwidth can be policed to adhere to the service agreement using rate limitation per user port. Rate limitation is based on
single rate bandwidth control with CIR (Committed Information Rate) and CBS (Committed Burst Size) parameters.
ETX-550 Redundancy
The network-facing GbE ports support 1:1 (two GbE ports) or 2:2 (four GbE ports) redundancy. Two redundant power supply modules
provide AC or DC power to the device. In case any one PS module fails or loses its input power, the remaining PS module continues
to supply power to the chassis, without any service disruption.
ETX-550 MiRIC SUPPORT
MiRIC-E1/T1 and MiRIC-E3/T3 are RAD’s SFP-based remote bridges that forward Fast Ethernet packets over TDM-based WAN at full
duplex wire-speed. The bridges can be installed instead of the Fast Ethernet SFPs, providing Ethernet services over framed/unframed
E1 , T1 , E3 or T3 links (see Figure 2). The MiRICs can be mixed with the regular Fast Ethernet SFPs in the same ETX-550. This
provides a flexible solution for both fiber Ethernet and Ethernet over TDM access services in one aggregation device.
ETX-550 Management Capabilities
The ETX-550 can be managed using different ports and applications:
Local management via an ASCII terminal connected to the RS232 port
Remote inband management via user or the network ports using a dedicated management VLAN. Remote management is performed using Telnet, Web browser or RADview, RAD’s SNMP-based management system
Remote out-of-band management via dedicated Fast Ethernet port.
IP address, IP mask and default gateway can be automatically obtained using DHCP.
Up to ten different stations can manage ETX-550 simultaneously, enabling monitoring the network status from different locations.
The following security protocols ensure client-server communication privacy and correct user authentication:
RADIUS (client authentication only)
SSL for Web-based management application
SSH for Secure Shell communication session.
ETX-550 high-performance Ethernet aggregator product data sheet
(pdf)
