Advanced WAN Service Layers

Service providers are interested in providing advanced WAN services that can be supported with low impact on their existing fiber infrastructure. Managed services such as storage, content switching, web hosting, instant messaging, and security built on Ethernet allow the service provider to deliver advanced WAN functions to customers that are using Ethernet user-network interfaces (UNI). Figure 4-1 illustrates the relationship between the different WAN services layers and customer applications.

Figure 4-1. Advanced WAN Services Layers

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