Scalable Research & Education Networks
Dr. Brian Smith, Senior Optical Systems Designer

Content
Introduction.
Review of Requirements for Research and Education Regional Optical Networks.
Comparing Strategies for Regional Optical Networks.
Towards seamless overlay of 10Gbps and 40Gbps traffic.

Introduction
Regional Optical Networks for Research and Education are being built at an increasing rate
Acquisition of dark fiber – lit up as private networks
Some University focused – some joint education/government initiatives.
Large Scale Research Applications are driving the demand for dedicated bandwidth
Real time image sharing between collaborating institutions
Very Large Baseline Interferometry
Distributed supercomputer simulations
Interactive Video

What features would be required in such a network ?
Dynamic Provisioning
Fully reconfigurable wavelength node
Simple migration from ring to mesh networking.
Ability to switch light-paths using Central/Distributed Management workstation(s).
Single wavelength granularity add and drop.
Seamless switching between DWDM and CWDM providing cost effective multi-grid networks.
Bit rate and protocol transparency – universal interface to higher layers.
Traffic grooming down to ‘STS-1’ level for ultimate flexibility but with GFP for protocol transparency.

Other Features ?
Simple and Cost-Effective
Transport platform that integrates WDM transmission, wavelength switching and SDH/SONET grooming.
Central or distributed management of all network elements.
Layer 1 performance monitoring at every node – fault isolation.
Auto discovery of nodes, cards and optical interfaces
Interface directly to existing GigE /10GigE routers/switches (carry 10GigE LAN PHY natively without expensive WAN PHY/SONET encapsulation).
Carry any service (Ethernet, SONET, SAN) at wire speed from Fast Ethernet to 10GigE and beyond.

"Scalability"
Scalability
Add wavelengths ‘in-service’ with no impact on existing traffic.
Add wavelengths with no adjustments to network provisioning (amplifiers etc).
Seamless overlay of wavelengths carrying traffic up to 2.5G, 10G and 40G over the same fiber.
Allow addition of on-grid alien wavelengths.
Make full use of industry standard technologies such as SFP/XFP to reduce cost and complexity of sparing.

Slide 7

OADM vs OADX
Network Issues

Typical OADM

7200 OADX –
Unique Product Architecture

OADM vs OADX
Multi-Degree Support

OADM vs OADX
Multi-WDM Interface Support

OADM vs OADX
 High Error Rate Protection Switching

OADM vs OADX
Adding Wavelengths

Typical OADM capacity upgrade
OADM solutions address fiber exhaust needs but introduce difficult operational and engineering constraints
Serial Architecture Filter Design (Cascaded & Banded)
Result in Stranded Bandwidth
Serious Scaling Pains w/Re-engineering Required

7200 OADX capacity upgrade

Capacity Upgrade – Line Amplifiers

OADM vs OADX
Adding New Nodes

Slide 19

OADM vs OADX
Multi-Protocols Trib Card Support

Meriton 7200 OADX vs OADM

Overlaying 10G and 40G traffic on existing networks

 Link Engineering-  Challenges

Dispersion Tolerance
The dispersion experienced over any km of fiber segment lies within a range defined by the manufacturer.

Dispersion Tolerance (cont. .)

6x80kmx26dB - 32l

Polarization Mode Dispersion

10G + 40G overlay on existing traffic
With an appropriate adaptive DCM at the receiver and enhanced FEC, 40G traffic can be transmitted over a system designed to support 2.5 and 10G traffic.

Summary

Thank You