Edge network provides information exchange between the access network and the core network. The devices and facilities in the edge networks are switches, routers, routing switches, IADs and a variety of MAN/WAN devices, which are often called edge devices.

Edge network provide entry points into carrier/service provider core/backbone networks. On an enterprise network, edge network may connect LANs (Ethernet or Token Ring) to an ATM backbone.

Edge network devices may translate between one type of network protocol and another if different technologies in the access and the core networks are used. For example, if the core network uses ATM switches, which send data in cells and use connection-oriented virtual circuits, while in the access network an IP router is used which is packet oriented. The device ad the Edge network are responsible for handling this conversion. There is an ingress (input) and egress (output) edge device for all connections. The edge device aggregates ingress traffic for high speed transmission in the core/backbone network and then distribute egress traffic to end user through access devices.

Due to the variety and complexity at customer access technologies and multiple choises of a core network, a switch at the edge network for a WAN may be a multiservice unit, meaning that it supports a wide variety of communication technologies, including voice and IP over dial-up connections, ISDN, T1 circuits, frame relay, and ATM. An edge device may provide enhanced services, such as VPN support, voice over IP, and QoS services.

Edge Network and Technologies

Related Terms:Core network, Access network, router, switch, ATM, SONET, IP, Gigabit Ethernet