Long Reach Ethernet
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Long Reach Ethernet (LRE) is a proprietary networking protocol developed by Cisco, intended to support multi-megabit (5 to 15 Mbit/s) performance over telephone-grade Category 1/2/3 wiring over distances up to 5,000 feet (1.5 km).
Supporting such great distances, LRE is technically classified a Metropolitan area network (MAN) technology. Technically the protocol is similar to VDSL.
The technology is sometimes referred to as Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM).
In addition to Cisco, several networking vendors currently offer networking hardware compatible with Cisco LRE.
Note: Cisco no longer produce LRE switches.
[edit] Applications
Like standard VDSL, LRE would allow existing telephone wiring that connects an organization's offices to be used to network those offices together using standard Ethernet protocol without incurring the huge cost of deploying fiber optic cable or limiting organizations to the bandwidth provided by modems or xDSL devices.
Other sample applications include providing standard Ethernet access to hotel rooms or college dormitories over existing installed telephone wiring.
CISCO LRE is compatible with VDSL ETSI Band Plan 998.
CISCO LRE uses Catalyst switch and Infineon PEF22822/PEB22811 VDSL QAM (10Base-S) chipset like many other VDSL concentrators.
CISCO announced end-of-sale for the LRE products at October 2006. Currently, VDSL is a comparable or better solution.
