With an objective to provide quality products for service providers that facilitate them to deliver Ethernet services for business and mobile backhaul applications within a reliable environment, Transition Networks Inc. – a networking connectivity solutions provider – announced that it has earned Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF (News - Alert)) certification for the company’s ION Network Interface Devices (NIDs).

As an expert on fiber access technology, Transition Networks provides networking connectivity solutions that make networks perform better, faster and more reliably while helping companies leverage their existing networking infrastructure.

Transition’s NIDs that have been certified compliant to MEF 9, MEF 14 and MEF 21 requirements include remotely-managed x2220 NID, x3220 NID, x3320 NID, and S3240 multi-port standalone NID. These NIDs are designed for business Ethernet and mobile backhaul applications, and are part of Transition’s ION products.

Transition's ION Platform is an intelligent, high-density, multi- protocol system supporting a variety of NIDs. The ION family of NIDs is designed to deliver SLA-enabled Ethernet services and meet the needs of applications such as business Ethernet and mobile backhaul. These NIDs incorporate advanced security features like: SSL, SSH, Multi-layer Access Control Lists (ACL), RADIUS, and Management VLANs, to prevent unauthorized access.

The MEF, which provided MEF 9, MEF 14 and MEF 21 requirements to Transition’s ION NIDs, is a global industry alliance developing Carrier Ethernet technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote interoperability and deployment of Carrier Ethernet worldwide.

Currently, the MEF comprises of over 175 organizations such as telecommunications service providers, cable MSOs, network equipment/software manufacturers, semiconductors vendors and testing organizations.

According to a press release, the compliance tests and certification process were performed by Iometrix (News - Alert), Inc. – an independent testing lab - on behalf of the MEF through the MEF Carrier Ethernet Certification Program.

The MEF Carrier Ethernet Certification Program is designed to ensure that global equipment and services comply with MEF standards and facilitate for interoperability. The MEF 9 and MEF 14 equipment certifications ensure delivery of compliant, high performance Carrier Ethernet services at the User Network Interface (UNI). The MEF 9 verifies service delivery and functionality, and comprises of 244 test cases that cover the Ethernet Physical Interface, UNI Attributes, Service Frame Delivery and VLAN Tag support.

The MEF 14 verifies service performance and bandwidth profiles, and comprises of 170 test cases that cover service performance, bandwidth profiles and bandwidth rate enforcement.

The MEF 21 certifies Link OAM functions of the MEF UNI Type 2, and is based on IEEE (News - Alert) 802.s-2005 Clause 57. It is important for large scale automated management of Carrier Ethernet service links, and comprises of 371 test cases that cover OAM Discovery, OAM PDUs and OAM TLVs.

In a press release, Patrick Schaber, director of marketing, Transition Networks (News - Alert), said, "These latest certifications prove our commitment to carrier Ethernet and leading organizations like the MEF."

Transition Networks' x2220, x3220 and x3320 NIDs are either available as a chassis card for the ION modular chassis or as a standalone version, and the S3240 is a multi-port standalone NID with redundant power and an extended operating temperature.

In recent news, Transition Networks had introduced a new Gigabit Ethernet ExpressCard fiber adapter, as reported by TMCnet.