MEF Certification Program

Carrier Ethernet is designed to scale from a local to a ubiquitous worldwide service that could span thousands of offices and hundreds of countries and where everything works together harmoniously.

In such a network, the delivery of mission critical applications over a variety of technologies, and by a number of service providers cooperating to provide a single service is no small matter.

However, to the enterprise user, this must work as simply as plugging in an Ethernet cable and powering up.

The program consists of a series of thorough tests that provides evidence for end-users, service providers and manufacturers alike, that products and services are compliant published MEF specifications. Currently, the program comprises

• Service Certification to MEF 9 for Equipment Manufacturers
• Service Certification to MEF 9 for Service Providers
• Traffic Management Certification to MEF 14 for Equipment Manufacturers
• Traffic Management Certification to MEF 14 for Service Providers
• Service Certification to MEF 18 for Equipment Manufacturers
  (First MEF 18 certification announcements: 6/18/08)

Does the program matter to you?

It is designed to assure business users that when one or more certified service providers that combine to deliver a local or global service, it will perform according to the agreed service level specification and to a known international standard. It provides IT departments with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding services and customer equipment with greatly reduced risks.

The program not only brings the value of Carrier Ethernet services on-line faster but at considerable cost savings. For procurement of new services or expansion of existing systems, all you need ask is “Are you MEF Certified Compliant?” This is now a common feature for RFQs.

For service providers

• It gives immediate assurance that vendors equipment complies to MEF Specifications
• Saves money & time on complex testing between vendors, that can significantly speed time to service delivery and enable R&D to focus on creating competitive advantage. This is particularly true on where several service providers combine to form a worldwide service of an Enterprise
• It also removes confusion that arises with many proprietary service names and overlapping options  

• Conformance to MEF 9 allows customers to specify their service requirements by referencing independent, international standards
• It also removes confusion that arises with many proprietary service names and overlapping options.
• Conformance to MEF 9 allows customers to specify their service requirements by referencing independent, international standards
• Traffic Management Certification to MEF 14 for Service Providers is the industry's first certification to include performance criteria
  

There are many benefits for equipment manufacturers

• The program has created a globally recognized interoperability standard that improves ‘approval’ process, increases tender opportunities and dramatically reduces testing costs, time-to-market and installation time
• It creates an independent validation of function and conformance and is creating a strong partnership with service provider customers
• It forms the basis for RFP requests and helps manufacturers focus on their features that distinguish them from competition

The MEF does not certify products or services directly.

Certification is via MEF approved lab: Iometrix Inc. The world leading test vendors have worked in cooperation with Iometrix to produce rigorous tests based on a long standing pedigree of test methodology created by the industry’s pre-eminent authors of IETF RFCs, and other standards bodies.

Video of the initial launch
of the Certification Program

In summary

The program is an important part of the MEF’s mission to accelerate the deployment of Carrier Ethernet in the Access, Metro and Global Network.

Further Information

The Information Center Menu will take you to more information on the program. These include technical details of the tests, in the current MEF Certification Program Presentation on the Presentations page of this site. See the technical specifications and the Technical Dashboard for technical developments and the list of certified companies for the latest list.

If you are interested in participating in the certification program, please email certification@iometrix.com or call (650)872-4001 for more information.

• Future Technical Work and The MEF Certification Program
  • The MEF technical work continues on all elements of Carrier Ethernet (OAM, Network to Network Interfaces, implementation agreements, etc.) This includes coordination with other standards bodies.
  • The MEF Certification Program tracks the progress of the MEF Technical Specifications. The certification roadmap includes Ethernet in the first mile, UNI type 2
• Deployment now brings immediate benefits
  • Immediate benefits are being obtained today based on implementing today’s specifications. The strength of modular nature of the MEF architecture is that there is no need to wait to deploy Carrier Ethernet. As more specifications are completed, and service availability increases, certainly more benefits are added.