MetroEthernet - Virtual Private LAN service

Virtual Private LAN service is the simplest MetroEthernet service, as it’s a point-to-point connection between two sites. It is also often called Ethernet Line Service or E-Line. Metro Ethernet is a type of Wide Area Network service that leverages Ethernet as its transmission protocol.

From the customer’s perspective, it’s like connecting two routers to each other with a crossover cable. It’s a layer two link so if you configure IP addresses, the routers will be in the same subnet. The point-to-point link is called an EVC (Ethernet Virtual Circuit).

If you have multiple sites, it is possible to use multiple E-lines on a single physical interface using subinterfaces. In other words, we use 802.1Q trunking and a different VLAN for each Virtual Private LAN.

VPLS is the term used when the provider uses MPLS on their network, transporting Ethernet over the MPLS network.

E-Line is the term used when MPLS is not involved in the implementation.

Links:

https://networklessons.com/cisco/ccna-routing-switching-icnd2-200-105/introduction-to-metro-ethernet/#E-Line_Ethernet_Line_Service