Remote Router Porting with Patton's Ethernet-over-E1 Bridge
Patton Electronics introduces a new way of interconnecting remote branches to a Main Office LAN using the Model 2701/I Ethernet-over-E1 Bridge. Called "Remote Router Porting" (RRP), it offers network managers and integrators a simple and economical way for LAN-to-LAN deployments.

At the branch office, RRP replaces the traditional router and CSU/DSU solution with Patton's Patton's Ethernet-over-E1 Bridge, which includes integrated E1 and 10Base-T transparent bridging. This unit allows for high-speed PPP data connections across the Wide Area Network at scalable data rates of nx56/nx64kbps up to 2.048 Mbps, and also connects directly to the 10Base-T branch office LAN at 10Mbps. The 2701/I transparently forwards Ethernet packets to a headquarters LAN based on their destination MAC address.

At headquarters, RRP builds on the bridging capabilities of a router to extend their serial or WAN ports across town or across the country. In order for the central routed network to connect to a remote branch Ethernet network, the serial or WAN interface of the router needs to be configured as a PPP IP half-bridge. In this configuration the Ethernet-over-E1 Bridge sends bridge packets (BPDUs) to the router's WAN interface. The router will then look at the layer-3 address information and will forward these packets based on its IP address. The router's port, connected through the E1 network and Ethernet-over-E1 Bridge, appears as a virtual interface at the branch office network.

The Model 2701/I Ethernet-over-E1 Bridge supports G.704 framing, and AMI and HDB3 line coding. Data rates, framing, and coding options are programmed by DIP switches or from a VT-100 terminal with menu-driven software. A full range of system and diagnostic features make setup simple and easy.