2. L2VPN and Pseudowire

The purpose of a Pseudowire is to emulate, via a packet network, a native service from layers 1 or 2 of the OSI model [RFC3916]. This native service is based on a Protocol Data Unit (PDU), which we will transport over the Pseudowire. The PDU contains all the necessary information (data and signaling) for the service.

To date, Pseudowire has made it possible to offer customers two types of service:

• Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS) ;

• Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS).