The words of the multi-site network

The twelve core terms

Backbone — core network

The central part of the network that links all sites to one another and to the cloud.

MPLS — Multiprotocol Label Switching

Operator private-network technology, known for its performance guarantees and its high cost.

SD-WAN — Software-Defined WAN

Software layer that picks, for each flow, the best link among those available at a site. Does not act on the core network.

Overlay — superimposed network

Logical network built on top of a physical network it does not control.

VXLAN / EVPN — open network virtualisation standards

Open standards for creating sealed virtual networks on a shared infrastructure; this is what lets the SDO core host one VRB per customer.

SDO — Software Defined Operator

Operator whose core network is fully virtualised and software-controlled.Example: Flex.eu, an SDO operator, designs and operates the sdMPLS core network.

sdMPLS® — the technology

Technology giving each customer a dedicated, controllable core network, on standard links, for WAN, voice and cloud.

VRB — Virtual Router Backbone

The virtual router dedicated to the customer, through which it controls its backbone.

FTTH / FTTO — Fibre To The Home / Fibre To The Office

Shared fibre (residential and business) / dedicated business fibre.

QoS — quality of service

Mechanisms for prioritising flows (for example voice before backups).

Traffic engineering — in French, ingénierie de trafic

Deciding which paths flows take through the core network.

AMO — assistance à maîtrise d'ouvrage

The French term for owner-side project assistance: a telecom consultancy or procurement advisor that helps an organisation define its needs and write its invitation to tender.

To see these terms in context: Understanding sdMPLS and The technology.

Additional terms

Terms used on the website and absent from the messaging framework (proposal, to be validated).

Spine-leaf — core architecture

Core network architecture in which every access device (leaf) is connected to every core device (spine): capacity is added without a central bottleneck.

FRR — FRRouting

Open-source implementation of the routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, etc.) used in open core networks; one of the standards sdMPLS is built on.

Powered by sdMPLS — the label

Label displayed by distributor and integrator partners whose multi-site network offer is built on sdMPLS technology (the “sdMPLS inside” programme).

Private collection gateway — operator interconnection

Direct interconnection between an access operator's network and Flex.eu's core network, through which the sites' links (FTTH, FTTO, xDSL, 4G/5G via private APN) are delivered without passing through the Internet.