WHAT IS ERPS?

ERPS (Ethernet Ring Protection Scheme) can be used instead of Spanning tree protocol which is not sufficient for Carrier Ethernet Networks. ERPS is defined by the G.8032 standard and is critical for Carrier Ethernet Networks to switch Ethernet traffic under 50 ms in SDH Network topologies. Although ERPS switches Ethernet traffic to the backup path so fast, it has more limited possibilities compared to STP and ERPS.

With ERPS, Ethernet traffic can be switched between 16 SDH points within a distance of 1200 km in less than 50 ms with line drop between the sub and main rings. Although the G.8032 stranding defines the switching time to the backup path as 50 ms, some conditions must be met in order to achieve this time, such as the complete establishment of the ring and the absence of any congestion in the Ethernet traffic. With ERPS, Ethernet switching can be done up to 255 SDH points, as the number of SDH points increases, the switching time will increase. When setting up an ERPS topology, the configuration will become easier as the number of SDH points per ring decreases. You can increase the fault tolerance of the network you set up with ERPS.

With ERPS, AOM Y.131 Continuity Check Messages (CCM) can be used for fault detection along with server level errors.

ERPS is suitable for many different network applications, enterprise services, mobile/wireless backhaul services and individual user services can use ERPS for redundant delivery of Ethernet traffic under 50 ms.