MEF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The MEF professional certification program is designed for telecommunication professionals seeking to validate their expertise, skills and knowledge of Carrier Ethernet technologies, standards, services and applications.

 

Certification is awarded to individuals that successfully pass MEF administered tests developed by distinguished leaders and experts in the Carrier Ethernet industry. MEF-Authorized Training Partners, global leaders in telecommunication class-room-based training, education and consulting, offer Carrier Ethernet training courses to prepare individuals for exams.

MEF Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional  (MEF-CECP)

 

The MEF-CECP, the first in a series of planned MEF professional certifications, consists of a 2-hour multiple-choice exam covering Carrier Ethernet technology fundamentals designed for product and technical marketing managers, pre-sales and application engineers, product planners and technically oriented sales staff.

 

MEF Certified Professionals are awarded with an official MEF certificate and listed on the on-line Directory of MEF Certified Professionals posted the widely visited EthernetAcademy.net website.

Exam Prerequisites

• MEF Carrier Ethernet services definitions for E-Line, E-LAN and E-Tree Role of Service, Operations Administration and Maintenance (SOAM) in Carrier Ethernet Networks
• Advantages of different Carrier Ethernet Access Technologies
• Definitions and application of UNI, EVC and ENNI in Carrier Ethernet networks
• Key UNI, ENNI, EVC and OVC service attributes
• Definitions of MEF 9, 14, 18 vendor equipment and product certifications and benefits
• Key service requirements for target Carrier Ethernet service applications (wholesale access, Ethernet access to IP, mobile backhaul, retail Ethernet services)
• Comparing and positioning Carrier Ethernet services to layer 2 Frame Relay, IP/MPLS and TDM private line
• Understanding of Circuit Emulation over Ethernet

New Exam Content



The exam covers the following 10 content sections:

Section 1: Services Definitions

Describe and distinguish between the service attributes of EPL, EVPL, EP-LAN, EVP-LAN, EP-Tree, and EVP-Tree.
Describe how EPL, EVPL, EP-LAN, EVP-LAN, EP-Tree, and EVP-Tree are used to meet various subscriber needs.

Section 2: Transporting Carrier Ethernet Services

Describe the connectivity properties of bridging, provider bridging, provider backbone bridging (PBB), provider backbone bridging with traffic engineering extensions (PBB-TE), Ethernet over SONET/SDH, Carrier Ethernet over MPLS VPWS, Carrier Ethernet over MPLS VPLS, Carrier Ethernet over MPLS TP, Carrier Ethernet over OTN, and Carrier Ethernet over WDM.

Describe the capabilities of bridging, provider bridging, provider backbone bridging (PBB), provider backbone bridging with traffic engineering extensions (PBB-TE), SONET/SDH, MPLS VPWS, MPLS VPLS, MPLS TP, OTN and WDM with regards to delivery of Carrier Ethernet services.

Describe the advantages of specific Carrier Ethernet transport technologies.

Describe service protection mechanisms.

Section 3: Carrier Ethernet Access Technologies

Describe the capabilities of Ethernet over PDH, Ethernet over bonded copper, Ethernet over HFC, Ethernet over packet radio, Ethernet over fiber and Ethernet over PON.

Describe the advantages of specific Carrier Ethernet Access technologies.

Given a scenario, identify which Carrier Ethernet Access Technology will meet the stated requirements.

Section 4: Basic Definitions

Define Ethernet User-to-Network Interface (UNI), Ethernet External Network-to-Network Interface (ENNI), Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC), Service Provider, Operator, and Operator Virtual Connection (OVC).

Describe the role of Ethernet User-to-Network Interface (UNI), Ethernet External Network-to-Network Interface (ENNI), Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC), Service Provider, Operator, and Operator Virtual Connection (OVC).

Section 5: Key UNI, ENNI, OVC, and EVC Service Attributes

Define per UNI service attributes (e.g., physical interfaces, Frame format, Ingress/egress Bandwidth Profiles, CE-VLAN ID/EVC Map, UNI protection).

Define EVC per UNI service attributes (e.g. ingress/egress Bandwidth Profiles).

Define per EVC service attributes (e.g., CE-VLAN ID Preservation, CoS ID Preservation, Relationship between Service Level Agreement and Service Level Specification, Class of Service).

Define OVC End Point per ENNI service attributes (e.g., ingress/egress bandwidth profiles).

Describe bandwidth profiles.

Given a service scenario, describe relevant service attribute settings/parameters.

Define and describe the components of a Service Level Specification and the relationship to Service Level Agreement.

Define and describe ENNI attributes (e.g., physical interfaces, Frame format, Ingress/egress Bandwidth Profiles, End Point Map, ENNI protection).

Define and describe OVC attributes (e.g., CE-VLAN ID Preservation, CoS ID Preservation, Relationship between Service Level Agreement and Service Level Specification, Class of Service, hairpin switching).

Define and describe the Carrier Ethernet protection mechanisms.

Section 6: Certification

Describe the Certification process and requirements for networking equipment.
Describe the Certification process and requirements for services delivered by a service provider.
Describe what is covered by MEF 9, MEF 14, and MEF 18 Certifications.
Describe the benefits of MEF Certification for equipment vendors, Service Provider, and end users.

Section 7: Target Application for Ethernet Services

Describe wholesale access services, retail commercial/business services, mobile backhaul services, Ethernet access to IP services, and supporting legacy services over Ethernet.
Describe which UNI or ENNI attribute values are selected for a given target application.
Describe which EVC or OVC attribute values are selected for a given target application.
Describe how specific service requirements of a target application (e.g., frame relay, Dedicated Internet Access, DSL or Cable Internet access, TDM Private Lines, WDM private network are met using Ethernet services.
Given a scenario determine appropriate Ethernet services.

Section 8: Comparing and Positioning Ethernet Services

Compare and contrast Ethernet services with L2, IP, and TDM private line services.
Given a scenario, recommend an Ethernet service to meet end user specifications.

Section 9: Circuit Emulation over Ethernet

Define the purpose and need for Circuit Emulation over Ethernet applications.
Define the critical components of circuit emulation over Ethernet service.
Define the MEF Service Definitions used to deliver emulated circuits.
Define the EVC service attributes required for emulated circuits.
Define the three techniques and their uses for delivering synchronized clock over emulated circuits (e.g., Adaptive, 1588v2, Synchronous Ethernet, NTP, PTP).
Describe how circuit emulation is used in Mobile Backhaul applications.

Section 10: Service Operations Administration and Maintenance (SOAM)

Describe the various partitioning of responsibilities for Service Operations Administration and Maintenance (SOAM).
Describe the basic mechanisms for fault management.
Describe the basic mechanisms for performance management.
Describe the basic metrics for performance management.

Exam Registration

http://www.ethernetacademy.net/index.php/MEF-Professional-Certification/mef-carrier-ethernet-certified-professional-mef-cecp-overview.html

Carrier Ethernet 2.0 – What’s Next?

There are some interesting things happening at MEF these days. MEF is the industry forum where carriers and vendors come together to define common ground in how best to offer Carrier Ethernet services. Over the past few years MEF have been working on standards to make Carrier Ethernet services more interconnected, manageable and differentiated for specific application. This all comes together under “Carrier Ethernet 2.0”.


Carrier Ethernet 2.0 brings together a set of capabilities which enable operators to collaborate by interconnecting their services, endorsing the Ethernet wholesale services and Mobile Backhaul models. It aims to move operators forwards from plain old Carrier Ethernet to an interconnected world of multiple providers cooperating and working together to deliver scalable, dependable CE services with strict SLAs.

CE2.0 encompasses a collection of recent MEF works and distinguishes those operators and vendors who are offering the most advanced capabilities and customer experience. The messages / values / content of CE2.0 are very closely aligned to our own.

Carrier Ethernet 2.0 is a collection of MEF standards which increase the efficiency of doing business tuned to latest industry trends like: Global Enterprises, Cloud Access and Mobile Backhaul. CE2.0 addresses trends which already have momentum in the market and provides a common language and set of Standards to help the industry roll out a New Generation of Ethernet Services:


- Interconnection – to extend service providers’ footprint and create a bigger market for wholesale providers. Ethernet Access Services, Mobile Backhaul, Ethernet Exchanges.

- Manageability – for more consistent performance and deliverable SLAs. Service turn up, in service monitoring, better network visibility.

- Differentiated Application Performance – Multi-COS with performance objectives for geographical reach and application types.

Many of the markets where CE2.0 is targeted already exist and many of the technologies to enable it already exist. In fact, many users already have the tools they need to implement CE2.0. CE2.0 adds the industry framework to make it easier to do business.

For example:

E-Access. Service Definition to allow service providers and wholesale access providers to do business together much more efficiently. Reduces the negotiation between partners, provides a service you know will work, and provides much faster lead times. E-Access will grow the market for both the access providers and end to end service providers.

Mobile Backhaul. Sets out an agreed set of attributes which a mobile backhaul provider needs to provide. It not only makes it easier for the 4G mobile operator and network provider to do business but also helps the equipment vendors building Carrier Ethernet equipment, 4G Base stations and LTE/EPC RAN/Core to focus on delivering the right features.

UNI 2 has added smart management to the edge of the network where services are created. Policing, shaping, EVC creation, SOAM all contribute to the ability to offer solid SLAs.

Carrier Ethernet 1.0 is still relevant and remains the baseline on which CE 2.0 is built. It defined the delivery of services across a single Provider’s and provided a number of very important achievements for the industry:

- 4 Primary Ethernet Service Types
- Common language
- Service Attributes
- CE 2.0 builds on top of CE1.0

MEF is very clear that CE1.0 continues as a valuable service category. Perfectly suitable for many offers such as transparent fixed bandwidth pipes over transport infrastructure. MEF tell us that CE1.0 certifications based on MEF9 & 14 remain valid and will continue to mark out services which provide robust and dependable service. CE2.0 allows service providers to differentiate in the short term and will provide a very helpful framework for interconnection and more targeted services in the longer term.

So far the CE2.0 message is just starting to get out to the market and the response is very positive.

First mover service providers are looking at how they can use the CE2.0 framework to launch differentiating features to reduce their customers’ costs while increasing their own revenue.

For more information on CE2.0 there is a very helpful page on the MEF website which goes into greater detail. Take a look here: CE2.0 Overview.

http://metroethernetforum.org/page_loader.php?p_id=2031