Anatomy of a ROADM Network (Part 1)From Light to Protocol If we go back in history, the first high-speed networks were based

on SONET/SDH 2.5G technologies. In point-to-point or ring architectures, it became possible to aggregate voice and data over the same architecture. As more and more bandwidth was required in the network, single-wavelength architectures could no longer sustain the growth rates, resulting in the debut of point-to-point wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). As technology evolved, the capability to add or drop wavelengths without having to multiplex or demultiplex the signal brought additional functionality to networks. It was now possible to use WDM in ring architectures. Figure 1 provides a view of the evolution of WDM towards reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADM).

Figure 1: WDM evolution from point-to-point to ROADM The need for bandwidth brought us 10G SONET/SDH rates with the same underlying technologies (i.e., on optical add/drop multiplexer OADM). As technology evolved, the multiservice provisioning/transport platform (MSPP/MSTP) came along, enabling different networks to be consolidated into one. The capability to aggregate voice, data, and storage traffic onto the same network provided substantial economies of scale to service providers as they now only need to support a single network. However, this consolidation introduced challenges in combining multiple optical rings, which was addressed by managed reconfigurable ROADM technology. ROADMs made it possible to merge multiple services while maintaining traffic-management capabilities from a wavelength perspective.

As ROADMs continue to gain popularity in network deployments, we can now look into the possibility of switching IP traffic directly in the optical domain and using GMPLS whenever necessary in order to automatically create network paths to deliver this traffic. However, this IP convergence continues to put a strain on network speed requirements, which is why we are already seeing 40G and 100G technologies being evaluated in labs or being ratified by standard bodies as a means of removing bottlenecks.

Anatomy of a ROADM Network Element

The anatomy of a ROADM network element is dependent on the technology used by network element manufacturers. The heart of the network element lies in its opticalswitching technology, which dictates the physiology of the architecture. Figure 2 provides a general view of the building blocks found in a ROADM network element.

Figure 2: Anatomy of a ROADM network element Traffic coming into a ROADM network must be aggregated efficiently in order to maximize each wavelength. Different services can be groomed into one wavelength using technologies such as generic framing procedure (GFP), virtual concatenation (VCAT), link-capacity adjustment scheme (LCAS) and optical transport network (OTN). These technologies provide the adaptation, containers and automation necessary to enable multiple services to run on the same network. GFP is a framing mechanism to transport packet-based client signals, such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, ESCON or FICON over fixed data-rate optical channels. VCAT can be described as a method that allows SONET/SDH containers to be arranged together to create a virtual payload. It radically improves data/Ethernet transport efficiency

by providing a more granular payload than typical SONET/SDH concatenations with full legacy SONET/SDH compatibility. It introduces both high-order and low-order payload frames to offer flexibility in providing appropriately sized channels over SONET/SDH. The concatenated payload does not need to be formed by consecutive timeslots in the transport path. Only termination points in the transport path must support the VCAT functionality, thus reducing the CAPEX and OPEX for service providers. LCAS allows for dynamic bandwidth increase or decrease of a VCAT group without affecting services. It uses signaling messages within the SONET/SDH path overhead between end-points in the network. LCAS allows VCAT groups (VCG) to be dynamically enlarged or reduced as required. It provides a hitless adjustment of bandwidth should a network failure occur or based on time of day. Once the traffic is groomed, a final step must be performed so the wavelengths are manageable in the optical domain. This step is the mapping into OTN. This stage, based on the ITU-T specification G.709, adds a digital wrapper to incoming client signals to offer the same level of operation, administration, maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P) capabilities as found in SONET/SDH. It provides a standardized method for managing optical wavelengths end-to-end in the optical domain. G.709 defines interfaces for the 2.5, 10 and 40 Gbit/s OTN. One of the major benefits of implementing G.709 is the forward error correction (FEC) capabilities. It uses a Reed-Solomon FEC algorithm to reduce the number of transmission errors and to enable longer optical spans. It improves error performance and subsequently extends the reach (i.e., put 10 Gbit/s signals on 2.5 Gbit/s rated optical fibers). Once the traffic is mapped into G.709, it is ready to be transmitted in the optical domain.

Transmitting the Signal

Once the signal is built out of the tributaries and assembled into an OTN layer, the next step is to send it on the optical portion of the ROADM network. The optical portion of the ROADM network element is composed of optical switches and line amplifiers. There are two main concepts behind ROADM architectures; the first is based on fixed-configuration wavelength blockers (WB), and the second is the flexible wavelength-selective switch (WSS).

Wavelength BlockersThe Brute-Force Approach

This approach was the first one to market. From the ROADM input, all wavelengths are split into two different signals, as presented in Figure 3.

Figure 3: ROADM wavelength-blocking architecture The first signal is sent to the wavelength blocker and passes through to the next ROADM network element; the second signal is sent to the ROADM tributary. For each wavelength that is dropped to the tributary, it must be blocked in the WB module. The WB module is made of an optical demultiplexer, a series of programmable attenuators (one per wavelength) and a multiplexer. As can be seen at the ROADM tributary, all dropped wavelengths get demultiplexed and will go through an optical performance monitoring (OPM) section to make sure that they have the same optical power. A common programmable attenuator is found at the input of the demultiplexer to level out the optical signal. Once the signals are dropped or moved to the next ROADM network element, the next step is to insert the new payload. From the ingress ROADM tributary, new traffic is inserted. Each wavelength is measured and leveled so it can be combined with the traffic going through the ROADM. An OPM will ensure that all wavelengths have the same power before being transmitted to the next ROADM network element.

The Wavelength-Selective Switch: Evolution of ROADMs

WSS technology is a major step forward, as each wavelength can be switched individually (i.e., no need for the WB module). As demonstrated in Figure 4, the multiport switch can redirect any wavelength to any port. With this architecture, each ROADM acts as a multidegree network element and does not have to be preconfigured as would be the case for the WB architecture.

WSS

Figure 4: ROADM WSS architecture In a WSS architecture, each wavelength is switched. It can either be switched to an express port (ROADM output) or to a tributary. The express port is then mixed with new input tributary signals and dropped to the ROADM output. This functionality is further illustrated in Figure 5. As in the WB architecture, the output is monitored by an OPM and

wavelengths can be attenuated so the final signal is as flat as possible.

Figure 5: ROADM WSS functionality diagram

Scalability of ROADM Technology

As presented in the previous sections, ROADM technology is used to dynamically switch wavelengths either from an input to a tributary or to let it go through the ROADM network (express route). On the tributary side, not only can signals be dropped, but they can also be inserted into a dedicated wavelength. So how can this technology be scalable? 021-7182345 & 021-7197754 Its all in the arrangement of the WB or WSS architecture. By connecting building blocks to one another, network element vendors can create multiple connection systems that are known in the ROADM world as multidegree network elements. As demonstrated in Figure 6, a multidegree network element can be created to switch any wavelength to any optical ring. This capability enables service providers to collapse multiple rings into one network, providing ring-to-ring connectivity in a meshed architecture.

Figure 6: Multidegree ROADM network architecture

Conclusion
Will ROADMs be the answer to the ever-present request for more bandwidth and flexibility? They are definitely part of it. As network element manufacturers continue to provide new platforms that can be upgraded from simple DWDM to multidegree ROADM and upgradeable to higher rates (i.e., 40G and 100G), service providers will have the means to create larger and more flexible networks from their existing fiber assets. With the deployment of ROADMs, they can also provide multiple services from the same network, enabling large economies of scale from the OPEX and CAPEX perspectives.