Allied Telesis AT-FL-X550-8032 ITU-T G.8032 LICS FOR X550 SERIES SWITCHES

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis AT-FL-X550-8032 is a software license that enables ITU-T G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) on Allied Telesis x550 series stackable Layer 3 switches. This Allied Telesis x550 G.8032 Ethernet ring protection license is a per-stack-member, software-only entitlement — no hardware is shipped. G.8032 ERPS is an ITU-T standard for ring-topology Layer 2 networks that achieves sub-50ms failover, providing a deterministic and standards-based alternative to Spanning Tree Protocol (STP/RSTP) for ring-based network designs in carrier, enterprise, and industrial deployments.

Product Description

ITU-T G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) defines a protocol for protecting Ethernet traffic in ring topologies by establishing a primary and backup path, with a ring protection link (RPL) that remains blocked under normal operation. When a link or node failure is detected, the RPL owner unblocks the RPL within approximately 50 milliseconds, restoring traffic flow without reconverging a spanning tree. This results in deterministic, fast recovery that STP and RSTP cannot match in ring environments. The AT-FL-X550-8032 license unlocks this ERPS capability on the AlliedWare Plus operating system running on x550 series switches, which are stackable 10-Gigabit Layer 3 platforms supporting 16-port configurations of either 1G/10G copper or 1G/10G SFP+ fiber. The x550 series already includes Allied Telesis EPSRing (Ethernet Protection Switched Ring), a proprietary Allied Telesis ring protocol; the G.8032 license adds interoperability with third-party vendor equipment in multi-vendor ring networks. This license is issued per stack member — each x550 switch in a stack that will participate in an ERPS ring requires its own license. Activation is applied through the AlliedWare Plus CLI or AMF management framework. No physical hardware is included with this order; the license key is delivered electronically.

Key Features

• ITU-T G.8032 ERPS — Standards-based Ethernet Ring Protection Switching with sub-50ms failover for ring-topology Layer 2 networks.
• Multi-Vendor Interoperability — G.8032 is an open ITU-T standard enabling ring interoperability with third-party switches, unlike proprietary EPSRing which is Allied Telesis-specific.
• Per-Stack-Member License — Licensed individually per x550 switch participating in an ERPS ring; stack members not in the ring do not require the license.
• Software-Only Delivery — License key delivered electronically; no physical hardware shipped. Applied via AlliedWare Plus CLI or AMF.
• x550 Series Compatibility — Supports all x550 series models running AlliedWare Plus.
• Complement to EPSRing — Add G.8032 ERPS alongside the built-in EPSRing capability for maximum ring protocol flexibility.

Typical Applications

• Carrier Ethernet and metro ring networks requiring ITU-T G.8032 ERPS compliance
• Multi-vendor ring deployments where G.8032 interoperability with non-Allied Telesis equipment is required
• Enterprise network core and distribution rings requiring deterministic sub-50ms failure recovery
• Industrial Ethernet ring topologies on the x550 platform requiring standards-based ring protection
• Upgrading existing x550 deployments from proprietary EPSRing to standards-based G.8032 ERPS

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS)?

ITU-T G.8032 ERPS is a Layer 2 ring protection protocol that defines how Ethernet switches in a ring topology detect link failures and restore traffic within approximately 50 milliseconds. It works by designating one ring protection link (RPL) that remains blocked under normal operation. Upon failure detection, the RPL owner releases the block, restoring connectivity without STP reconvergence delays.

Q: How does G.8032 differ from Allied Telesis EPSRing?

EPSRing is Allied Telesis's proprietary Ethernet ring protection protocol, included in AlliedWare Plus without a license. G.8032 ERPS is the ITU-T international standard for the same function. The key practical difference is interoperability: G.8032 enables ring connections with third-party vendor switches (Cisco, Juniper, Hirschmann, etc.), while EPSRing requires all ring members to be Allied Telesis devices. Use EPSRing for pure Allied Telesis rings; add G.8032 for multi-vendor ring environments.

Q: Is this a per-switch or per-stack license?

The AT-FL-X550-8032 is licensed per stack member. Each individual x550 switch unit that participates in a G.8032 ERPS ring requires its own license. Stack members that are not ring nodes do not require the license.

Q: Is hardware included with this order?

No. This is a software-only license. No physical hardware is shipped. The license key is delivered electronically and applied to the target x550 switch through the AlliedWare Plus CLI or AMF management framework.

Q: Is this license perpetual or subscription-based?

The AT-FL-X550-8032 is a perpetual license. Once applied to a switch, G.8032 ERPS capability remains active without annual renewal. Compare this to the AT-FL-X230-OF13-1YR, which is a 1-year subscription license.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-FL-X550-8032?

Available from Creation Networks at creationnetworks.net, an authorized Allied Telesis reseller.