generating entropy for network junkie’s and other addicts…
I must say ITU-T Recomendations are plain boring! (I mean… interesting 
)
Currently decoding G.8080/Y.1304 (06/2006) – “Architecture for the automatically switched optical network (ASON)”.
Anyway, they are needed in this ultra-tech world we are living in, it’s kind of the civil-code for Telecommunications. Whiteout them, interoperability on telecom systems would be a complete chaos. Off course, we can’t also forget about IETF!
link to a better world?
Did someone forgot to change the default Ethertype value on T-MPLS? it seems so…
According an article on NetworkWorld and ComputerWorld, there is a kind of “war” undergoing between IETF (The Internet Engineering Task Force) and ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) started by allegations from IETF that current T-MPLS specification by ITU-T could lead to massive interoperability issues for service providers.
T-MPLS stands for Transport-MPLS and defines a suite of specifications and architectures in order to allow MPLS traffic to run over an Ethernet provider backbone. The problem seems to be on some shared codepoints (including EtherType, which is a field on Ethernet frame that indicates the protocol being transported) between T-MPLS and MPLS standards. Since they aren’t fully compatible (due to different technology implementation), according IETF, T-MPLS should use different EtherType in order to avoid any confusion in operational networks.
It is our opinion that the use of common Ethertypes for IETF MPLS and T-MPLS in the manner in which ITU-T SG 15 is currently progressing represents a mutual danger to both the Internet and the Transport network that will carry T-MPLS and this should not be advance
You can read the IETF open-letter here: Letter from IETF to ITU regarding T-MPLS.
On the other way, ITU-T argues that T-MPLS will only be used in the provider network (encapsulating MPLS traffic from client network), as such they would be deployed in disjoint networks leaving no space for protocol conflicts.
T-MPLS working group is undergoing some meetings in Stuttgard (Germany), on which this issue should also be discussed.
I really don’t get it, why didn’t ITU-T defined a new EtherType for T-MPLS in the fist place? anyway, this also sounds a little like politics… “you stolen my EtherType idea! I will not allow it! give it back to me!” (sorry, couldn’t resist!) 
Cheers!
Since some weeks ago I was looking around the options I had to get Internet at home. As I am already hooked on Cable TV service from a major Portuguese player, the most obvious choice would be to subscribe also the Internet service. Nevertheless, after checking prices I was not convinced… also thought on xDSL offers, but as I am living in a rented flat I didn’t want to pay for the copper line installation.
Then I gave a shoot on mobile operators and search their 3G products. The one that most convinced me was Vodafone’s Residential service based on 3G card (USB) from Huawei Technologies, since it would allow me to have internet at home and if needed it could also be used for mobile access outside home (paying an extra-fee, off course). As I wasn’t going to do massive downloads, the 3.6Mbps service including 5GB download / 1GB upload seemed enough (if needed, also had an happy hour bonus).
…then I realized that the 3G device would need a dedicated application to manage network connection, which would mean that probably I would be forced to run MS-Windows on my laptop! and that, was really something I didn’t want (currently running Ubuntu at home)… so, I went back digging on this issue… after google around I discovered the Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver for Linux at Vodafone Betavine. This was really a good and unexpected surprise, Vodafone has developed a specific application to manage the 3G device over Linux and released it under GPL license! I just couldn’t believe, a Mobile Operator gave me an option besides MS-Windows? this is really something new to me, maybe things are really changing… the Linux user was not forgotten
well, that was enough to me, I was convinced, my search for an Internet provider had officially ended.
Below I leave some pictures of the “Vodafone Mobile Connect Card driver for Linux” app in action. This thing is really user oriented, after installing it you just need to plug the USB device, start the app, authenticate and press connect. Of course, for the first time you use it you also need to input the correct settings on preferences (this may be not as simple as it looks as there is a complete lack of information on the issue, for Vodafone Portugal network check below the settings I’m currently using).
… I was surprised by the outcome, a mobile Operator had “won” the competition for providing me Internet access, plus it runs smooth over Ubuntu!!!
note: anyway, according Vodafone Portugal official site, only MS-Windows is currently supported… may I ask why?
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