In my previous post I did discussed about some of the key features of NX-OS lets see what else it offer

• Base services: The default license that ships with NX-OS covers Layer 2 protocols including such features such as Spanning Tree, virtual LANs (VLAN), Private VLANS, and Unidirectional Link Detection (UDLD).
• Enterprise Services Package: Provides Layer 3 protocols such as Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System (ISIS), Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Policy-Based Routing (PBR), Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM), and Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE).
• Advanced Services Package: Provides Virtual Device Contexts (VDC), Cisco Trustsec (CTS), and Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV).
• Transport Services License: Provides Overlay Transport Virtualization (OTV) and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) (when available).

With introduction of the Cisco Carrier Packet Transport (CPT) System, Cisco Systems into packet optical transport system market. According to Cisco Systems the newly designed solutions assists for migrating service provider transport infrastructures to support next-generation IP-based services. Cisco claims this solution combines the reliability of the transport network with efficiencies of packet technology to deliver current and future services.

Pic Courtesy: Cisco Systems

The Cisco Carrier Packet Transport System family includes the 6 RU CPT 600, the 2 RU CPT 200, and the CPT 50. This last pizza-box platform operates as a satellite to the CPT 600 or CPT 200, offering port extension up to 80 km away from its master platform. Ports on the CPT 50 are operated as if they were part of the master platform, says Cisco’s Stephen Liu.

The Cisco CPT system supports MPLS-TP Ethernet with quality of service and virtual local area network manipulation capabilities, as well as optical transport network and reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer functionality.

Currently the Cisco Carrier Packet Transport (CPT) System is in field trains with several service providers like Verizon in US and BT in UK and the scheduled date of availability is in the first quarter of 2011.

Supporting Quotes (Courtesy: Cisco Systems)

• Glenn Wellbrock, director optical transport network – architecture and design, Verizon

“Next-generation transport solutions should be clearly aimed at making packet transport suitable for carrier transport networks. Features such as standards-based operations, performance monitoring, administration, management, and sub-50-milliseconds protection switching are critical requirements in the Verizon packet transport network and we support Cisco’s decision.”

• Randy Nicklas, chief technology officer, XO Communications

“We continue to make significant network investments to enhance the capabilities of our Ethernet, Private Line and Wavelength services portfolio. The new Cisco Carrier Packet Transport system will support MPLS-TP interoperating seamlessly with MPLS on the Cisco ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers and a variety of other devices, and helps contribute to a unified packet transport solution that should simplify operations while contributing to increased end-to-end service-levels. Moreover, the Cisco ROADM and DWDM systems integrated into the Cisco Carrier Packet Transport system allows for wavelength services to be offered on the same platform as Ethernet and MPLS-TP services, with potentially significant economic and operational benefits.”

• Raymond Zhang, chief network architect, BT

“Cisco is a recognized leader in IP and MPLS, and its approach to next-generation packet transport has been focused on the standards-based technology of MPLS-TP. MPLS-TP is the logical extension of the industry-proven MPLS, and Cisco’s implementation of a MPLS and MPLS-TP solution for core, edge and access is suitable for both packet and transport networks.”

• Bill Gartner, vice president and general manager, Optical Transport business unit, Cisco

“As the next generation of packet transport solutions evolves, we are confident the Cisco Carrier Packet Transport system, along with Cisco Integrated Multiprotocol Label Switching and Cisco Premier Integrated Network Management Experience will play a significant role as service providers look to optimize their network infrastructure investments. The Cisco Carrier Packet Transport system assures service providers of standards-based technologies and familiar operational models, thus helping them accelerate time to revenue with a rich set of services.”

The prerequisite for CCNP SP Operations Certifications is to have a valid CCNA Service Provider Operations Certification. To be a Certified CCNP SP Operations you need top pass four exams. Following are the details.

642-770 OFCN Operational Foundations for Cisco Service Provider Core Networks (OFCN)

642-775 MSPRP Maintaining Cisco Service Provider Routing Protocols (MSPRP)

642-780 MSPVM Maintaining Cisco Service Provider VPNs and MPLS Networks (MSPVM)

642-785 MSPQS Maintaining Cisco Service Provider Quality of Service (MSPQS)

Each exams costs $ 150 each and this certification is valid for 3 years. To recertify you must pass any of the 642 exam which is the part of the professional level curriculum or any CCIE /CCDE written exam of course before the certification expiring date

With a CCNP SP Operations certification, a network professional demonstrates the knowledge and skills required to isolate network performance problems, implement proactive fault measures using operations management processes, frameworks, and network management systems.

Interconnecting Data Centers Using VPLS is a book which aims at providing solutions that provide a high speed, low latency network and spanning tree protocol (STP) isolation between data centers based on Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS).

Pic Courtesy: Cisco Press

The book makes interesting reading, especially as it covers in detail about the architecture design and configuration required to interconnect data centers as well as case studies to interconnect Data Centers.  This book is targeted to Systems professionals and System engineers who are into designing solutions for interconnecting data centers which ensures high availability Layer 2 connectivity and STP isolation.

The authors Nash Darukhanawalla and Patrice Bellagamba started the book with explaining the need for high availability of the Data Centers, explaining the concept of the high availability clusters, introduction to Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS), MPLS traffic engineering.

The authors’ present different flavors of data center interconnect solution using different combination of Spanning Tree modes, VLAN mapping as well other criteria’s along with complete configuration required at the  aggregation switches and provider edge routers.

The book is divided into 13 chapters, and it also deals with issues related to layer 2 bridging domains and provides guidance to extend VLANs using Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). This book contains lot of reference network diagrams which can help the readers to understand the presented solutions in normal mode as well as in failover mode.

I found this book extremely readable and enjoyable and I would recommend this book to the folks who are interested in knowing more about the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). The book comes with lot of useful information which will definitely help the readers to get familiar with the Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) concepts and configuration steps required for interconnecting data centers.