Muxponders — maximizing network utilization
It is undeniable that the amount of data transferred around the world is growing very fast. The period in which increased traffic requires a doubling of bandwidth is getting shorter and shorter.
On the other hand, however, we still need to use interfaces with bandwidths of less than 100 Gbps in networks.
From the article What is DWDM and why do you need it you already know that the range of operation of amplifiers is limited, so we cannot add more channels indefinitely. What to do when we need Use the optical spectrum more effectively and at the same time provide customers with interfaces with low bit rates?
Preparing the network, not just for now Growing demand for traffic, but also for future expansions in the most efficient way, various aspects must be considered.
In these cases, we will often analyze:
- Cost-effectiveness of the solution — primarily due to the speed of return on investment;
- compact size and low power consumption — low cost of space in the server room and low power consumption will allow us to keep OPEX in check,
- ease of management, expansion and maintenance — the possibility of launching new services with the same technical resources will have a positive impact on operating costs;
- support a wide range of services — The more versatile this device will be, the more different customer needs we will meet with the same solution.
Wave Multiplication Technology In itself, it allows a lot enhance capabilities of a single fiber. By assigning to each service a dedicated wavelength - whether Fibre Channel, Ethernet, SDH or OTN transmission - which are then multiplexed, we can transmit multiple independent data streams in the same fiber.
Importantly, different services require different optical spectra. Today, the most commonly used DWDM solutions are grid-based 100 GHz or 50 GHz. The quantities of channels available in these systems have been determined by ITU-T. What to do to “not waste” optical channel for single services, e.g. 10 Gbps?
He comes to our aid muxponder technology, which allows you to aggregate multiple services in a single wavelength. As with the standardization of DWDM networks, in this case too we can take advantage of what ITU-T proposes.
Recommendation G.709 describes, among other things, the principles for mapping different services to OTN. Standardisation, also in the case of a muxponder solution, can be crucial. This approach allows us cascade muxponders in order to make even more optimal use of the band.
The popularization of coherent technology (more on this we will learn from the article Understanding Coherent Technology) has led to the fact that today single wavelengths in wave multiplication systems transmit more and more often 100/200 Gbps and the role of muxponders is help you fill this bitrate in the best way possible. Muxponder should therefore support protocols such as 10/40/100GbE, 8/16/32G Fibre Channel or OTU2/2e/3/4.
This solution will allow us fill the lambda 100/200 Gbps. But how do we deal with the “lower order” bitrates that are still used in our networks? What to do with services such as FE/GE, 1/2/4G Fibre Channel or STM-1/4/16? It seems optimal to use cascading muxponders.
Ultra-low bit rate services we can aggregate e.g. to the OTU2 signal on a single muxponder, and the entire OTU2 stream may be a component of signals aggregated by a “higher order” muxponder. This approach can be achieved through standardization. In addition, it allows not only the optimal use of the optical spectrum, but also the client ports available on the devices.
The increasing demand for the amount of data transmitted over optical networks makes optimizing the use of available resources an ever-evolving challenge.
On the one hand, we must maximize the use of the network, and on the other - we must not forget about the costs of its operation. Salumanus is a helping hand for companies whose functioning and efficiency depend on efficient networks.