What is a configurable service attribute in Carrier Ethernet?

In Carrier Ethernet, a configurable service attribute refers to parameters that can be adjusted to meet the specific performance and quality requirements of a network service. The bandwidth profile is a key attribute that allows service providers to define and control bandwidth allocation for different services. By setting a bandwidth profile, providers can specify parameters such as committed information rate (CIR), excess information rate (EIR), and other factors that help manage network traffic effectively.

This configurability is crucial as it enables the customer to tailor services to their unique needs, ensuring that application performance aligns with organizational demands. For example, an enterprise might require a certain minimum data rate for critical applications, which can be met through careful bandwidth profile configuration.

Other attributes such as frame delay, frame loss, and service ability are important for the overall service quality but don't have the same level of direct configurability by the end service customer. Frame delay and frame loss are typically monitored metrics that provide insight into service performance, while service ability usually refers to the overall capability of the service offering rather than a specific, adjustable parameter.