Networks Edge  and Technologies

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

Network edges provide entry points into carrier service provider core backbone  networks. On an enterprise  network, network edge may connect ANs ( Ethernet or liken  Ring ) to an ATM backbone.

figre Network Edge Information exchange  between  the access netowrk and the core netowrk

Network  edge  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  send data in calls  and use connection  oriented  virtual circuits while in the access network  edge  are responsible  for handling  this conversion. There is an  ingress (input) and egress(output)  edge devised 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 choices  of a core  network.  A switch  at the network edge 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 frame relay and TAM.

A core  network  ( or network core ) is  the  central  part of a telecom network that  provides various services  to customers who  are connected by  the access  network.