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The MEF Certification Program was launched in April 2005 as part of the forum’s mission to accelerate the worldwide adoption of Carrier Ethernet. The program verifies compliance of vendor equipment and service provider services to MEF technical specifications through a rigorous series of tests based on MEF approved Test Suites. The program tracks areas of critical interest to members of the MEF and expands as further technical specifications are developed. Certification is conducted by Iometrix, the forum's official test laboratory committed to providing globally recognized and trusted certifications for Carrier Ethernet. 
| | The MEF Certification Program continues its steady growth recently reaching a total of 100 certified companies including the world's largest service providers and telecom equipment vendors. Over 1000 tests have been conducted and more than 750 certifications have been delivered. The rapid expansion of the program is motivated by the industry’s commitment to deploy and offer standardized Carrier Ethernet services. |
By creating a single, efficient and internationally recognized testing process to validate compliance, the MEF certification program significantly reduces cost and accelerates time to market for system manufacturers as well as for providers delivering Carrier Ethernet services to their residential, business and inter-carrier customers. Click here to see the complete list of certified companies, products and services.
MEF Certification for Service Providers MEF Certification tests for Service Providers are based on field tests executed from special probes installed on the Service Provider's network. The program currently offers 2 certifications and will expend as further technical specifications are developed: MEF Carrier Ethernet Services | | | Ethernet Services at the UNI: 244 Test Cases to verify that Carrier Ethernet EPL, EVPL and ELAN services comply with the functional specifications defined by the MEF for each service.
| MEF 14
| Traffic Management Phase 1: 183 Test Cases to verify that Carrier Ethernet EPL, EVPL and ELAN services adhere to a strict set of MEF service performance objectives.
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The certification roadmap includes MEF 18 (Circuit Emulation Services over Ethernet) that includes stringent synchronization tests based on ITU-T G.8261; G.823; G.824 to validate the successful transport of TDM traffic over Carrier Ethernet networks and ENNI (External Network-to-Network Interface) that defines a compliant way for Carrier Ethernet service providers to interconnect.
MEF Certification for Equipment Vendors MEF Certification tests for Equipment Vendors are performed in a lab environment. The program currently offers 4 certifications and will expend as further technical specifications are developed: MEF Carrier Ethernet Services | | | Ethernet Services at the UNI: 244 Test Cases to verify that Carrier Ethernet EPL, EVPL and ELAN services comply with the functional specifications defined by the MEF for each service.
| MEF 14
| Traffic Management Phase 1: 183 Test Cases to verify that Carrier Ethernet EPL, EVPL and ELAN services adhere to a strict set of MEF service performance objectives.
| MEF Circuit Emulation Services over Ethernet | MEF 18
| Circuit Emulation Services over Ethernet: 334 Test Cases to validate successful transport of TDM traffic over Carrier Ethernet networks including stringent synchronization tests based on ITU-T G.8261; G.823; G.824.
| MEF Carrier Ethernet Interface: UNI Type 2 | MEF 21
| Link OAM: 371 Test Cases to verify Link Operations, Administration & Maintenance (clause 57 of IEEE 802.3) at the User Network Interface (UNI) split into the UNI-C and the UNI-N.
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The certification roadmap includes other components of UNI Type 2 such as MEF 24 (E-LMI) and MEF 25 (Service OAM) as well as ENNI (External Network-to-Network Interface) that defines a compliant way for Carrier Ethernet service providers to interconnect.
MEF Certification Program Milestones The MEF Certification Program has continued its steady growth throughout the years offering Service Providers and Equipment Vendors a growing set of innovatives certifications. The program milestones include launches of new certifications and a number of certification award cermonies: | Sept 2009 | First 8 Equipment Vendors, 23 products MEF 21 Certified | | June 2008 | First 3 Equipment Vendors, 3 products MEF 18 Certified | | Feb 2008 | MEF 18 Certification for Equipment Vendors launched | | June 2007 | First 11 Service Providers, 20 Services MEF 14 Certified | | Oct 2006 | MEF 14 Certification for Service Providers launched | | June 2006 | First 15 Equipment Vendors, 40 products MEF 14 Certified | | Feb 2006 | MEF 14 Certification for Equipment Vendors launched | | April 2006 | First 7 Service Providers, 21 Services MEF 9 Certified | | Oct 2006 | MEF 9 Certification for Service Providers launched | | Sept 2005 | First 16 Equipment Vendors, 39 products MEF 9 Certified | | April 2005 | MEF 9 Certification for Equipment Vendors launched | | April 2005 | MEF Certification Program launched with Iometrix |
MEF Certification: A three stage process 1/ Technical Spec, ATS and Test Plan Development | | Technical Specifications | Defines the requirements for Test Cases
Approved by the MEF Technical Committee
| Abstract Test Suite (ATS)
| Defines Test Cases strictly based on the technical specifications requirements
Test Cases include: Test requirement and object, Test configuration and test bed schematics, Test procedure and variables
| Test Plan
| Defines detailed Test Cases based on the ATS
Specifies the Test Case variables and all testing parameters
| | | | 2/ Pilot Phase
| | Test Bed | Test Bed design, installation, configuration and automation by test lab (Iometrix)
| Pilot Testing
| First rounds of tests performed by test lab (Iometrix) with MEF member companies
| Resolution
| Resolution of technical issues through certification oversight and technical committees
| Award Ceremony
| End of Pilot Phase with announcement of first group of companies successfully completing testing
| | | | 3/ Full Certification Program | MEF Member
| Certification available to all MEF member companies on an on-going basis
| | Logistics | Administrative and logistical tasks (registration, scheduling...) handle by test lab (Iometrix) | Testing
| Test lab (Iometrix) performs all certification tests and test procedures adhere strictly to the Test Plans as approved by the MEF | Deliverables
| MEF Certificate, Test Reports, MEF Certified Compliant logo and website listing
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Certification 
