FlexEthernet – Knowledgebase

Benefits

• Maximum flexibility, redundancy, and transparency
• Path redundancy provided by default through Inter.link segment-routing based backbone
• Flexible billing & shorter terms available
• Non-disruptive migration between P2P and MP2MP topologies
• Can still offer a P2MP-like service by using multiple P2P services with a common “A-end”
• Ethernet Physical Interface (MRU) frame size of 9.100 Bytes which includes the complete Ethernet header
• Network teams can forward MPLS over the service
• Inter.link ignores traffic prioritisation like 802.1p, meaning the service is fully transparent:
  Whatever the customer sends into the A end comes out at the B end. If customers are sending a mixture of high and low priority traffic over the Flex Ethernet service, they can do the prioritisation on their side before handing over the traffic to Inter.link.

Service Delivery Time

Inter.link provisions FlexEthernet services in under 48 hours for on-net locations.

Requirements

VLAN
Requires a port
Flex Ethernet can be handed over on a tagged VLAN, which can be defined by the customer, or VLAN untagged.

Specifying a VLAN ID is optional when ordering services on Inter.link ports, but there can only be a maximum of 1 service per port without a VLAN (there can be up to 4094 services with a VLAN ID).

• Multiple sub-interfaces can be ordered under a Flex-Ethernet service
• Sub-interfaces are ordered on a port (a new or existing port)
• A VLAN ID is optional for each sub-interface
• If a VLAN ID is provided, it must not be in use already
• Initially a minimum of 2 sub-interfaces must be ordered
• There is no minimum number of ports required
• Each sub-interface needs to have a bandwidth value specified at the time of order
• Customers will choose the bandwidth from a list of predefined values
• Each sub-interface can have a different bandwidth value, there is no requirement for them to be consistent

Transparency Results

Inter.link’s FlexEthernet service is fully transparent, and the below protocols have been tested and confirmed working.

Each protocol is tested by sending protocol traffic with no VLAN tag, a single VLAN tag, and two VLAN tags (“QinQ”).

Tested and confirmed as transparently forwarded over the service ✅
Tested and confirmed as not being transparently forwarded over the service ❌
Untested and unknown if transparently forwarded over the service: ❔

If a customer sends frames with multiple VLAN tags present, the outer most VLAN tag is removed by the Inter.link router, and the frames are bridged with any remaining VLAN tags into a single broadcast domain which is VLAN-unaware. This means that customers need to take care to not have overlapping MAC addresses in different VLANs, within the same Flex-Ethernet service (for example, overlapping VRRP groups IDs).

Please see text above table for more information on VRRP

How to Order through the portal

FlexEthernet can be provisioned through the Inter.link portal. Below are the steps explaining how to do this.

Setting up an account in the portal is the very first step and this is explained in the Using the Portal section of the knowledgebase.

Step 1

Click on ‘Add a Service’ and select ‘FlexEthernet’

Step 2

Click on ‘Add an endpoint’ to find and select desired locations.

Step 3

Configure your port.

Step 4

Add virtual network name and select port speed.

Step 5

Place your order.

Billing for FlexEthernet

Billing is based on fixed bandwidth, not usage-based

There is a port fee and FlexEthernet service fee.

The pricing is not influenced by region or location. Region or location difference in MRC is generated via the port.

For more information, visit the Pricing section.

Setting up FlexEthernet

• The customer chooses a location, a port at that location, and then defines the VLAN ID for the sub-interface on that port.
• They repeat the above step for as many connections into their broadcast domain as they need.
• A bandwidth value is defined for each sub-interface the customer adds to the order. This means that each sub-interface can have a different bandwidth.
• The contract terms are also defined for each sub-interface.
• The speed of each port at each location does not need to match any of the other port speeds because, ports and services are decoupled from each other.

FlexPeer

FlexPeer is Inter.link’s FlexEthernet service with a different focus. Instead of customers interconnecting their own Inter.link locations with a Layer 2 service, FlexPeer customers can connect with other customers, or with their partners and suppliers (Premium Peers).

For example, FlexPeer can be used by large ISPs to aggregate multiple smaller customers on a single port which saves money on cross connects.

How FlexPeer works between customers

FlexPeer interconnection is achieved by a customer (using their new or existing Inter.link port) generating a FlexConnect Key. This customer hands the FlexConnect Key to another customer, who uses the key to order a FlexEthernet service. The FlexConnect Key automatically links the request for Layer 2 connectivity to the port of first customer who generated the key. The second customer who consumes the FlexConnect Key pays for the service.

See below for steps on how to provision in the portal.

How FlexPeer works with Premium Peers

For Premium Peers utilizing the Inter.link platform, the creation of the connection is fully automated and does not require a FlexConnect Key. Customers of that Premium Peer can simply select the Premium Peer they want to connect with and our platform does everything for you.

See below for steps on how to provision in the portal.

How to Order FlexPeer through the portal

(Layer 2 connectivity between organizations)

Just like FlexEthernet, FlexPeer can be provisioned through the Inter.link portal. Below are the steps explaining how to do this between organizations.

Step 1

The offering party adds a new FlexEthernet service in the Inter.link Portal

Step 2

The offering party chooses to connect to another organization.

Step 3

The offering part will add a new endpoint for the connecting party to connect to.

Step 4

The offering party can choose to use a new or existing port on the Inter.link network.

Step 5

The offering party choses how much bandwidth they want to allocate for the connection, and whether a VLAN should be used.

Step 6

After confirming the order, the offering party can generate the FlexConnect Key.

Step 7

The connecting party will follow the same process, this time choosing to connect to an organisation.

Step 8

The connecting party will also choose to use a new or existing port. After this they can choose to connect to a Premium Peer or use a FlexConnect Key. After choosing to use a FlexConnect Key they must enter the key generate by the offering party.

Step 9

Once the connecting party submits the order they will be charged for the service. The FlexConnect Key cannot be used again. It is a one-time key that links to the exact port and VLAN as chosen by the offering party.

How to Order FlexPeer through the portal

(Layer 2 connectivity to Premium Peers)

Below are the steps explaining how FlexPeer can be provisioned for Premium Peers.

Step 1

The customer chooses to add a new Flex Ethernet service.

Step 2

The customer chooses to create a connection to another organization rather than within their own organization.

Step 3

The customer chooses their local endpoint for connecting with the Premium Peer (a new or existing port on the Inter.link network).

Step 4

The customer choose how much bandwidth they want to connect to the Premium Peer with, and if a VLAN should be used on the customer’s port.

Step 5

The customer chooses to connect to a Premium Peer, selects the specific Premium Peer they want to connect with, and in which of the Premium Peer’s location they want to be connected to.

After placing the order, a Flex Ethernet service will be automatically provisioned between the customer’s chosen port and VLAN, and the Premium Peers port in the chosen location.