By Claudio Mazzuca, Manager, Transport/Datacom Business Unit

145
APPLICATION NOTE
The advent of multiservice provisioning platforms (MSPPs) and multiservice transport platforms (MSTPs) poses new challenges to field engineers
deploying these network elements. In the past, the SONET/SDH payload envelope (SPE) and its content were well understood and predictable.
Nowadays, however, the SPE has evolved extensively and contains a mix of frame types: GFP-mapped Ethernet, packet-over-SONET/SDH (POS),
ATM, etc.
EXFO has created a powerful tool that simplifies the field engineers turn-up and troubleshooting activities for SONET/SDH networks, removing the
complexity associated with these new multiservice SONET/SDH networks; in essence decoding the content of the signal. This feature, called
SmartMode, is available on the new IQS/FTB-8120(NG) and IQS/FTB-8130(NG) Transport Blazer modules.
Multiservice Signal Discovery
SmartMode is launched from the interface of the IQS/FTB-8120(NG) and IQS/FTB-8130(NG) Transport Blazer modules. All the user has to do is
select the interface signal under test (i.e., the SONET/SDH electrical or optical line under test) and click to launch. Once initialized, SmartMode will
provide users with a detailed, graphical display of the signal content within seconds. Figures 1a and 1b provide examples of an OC-192 signal scan.
SMARTMODE: SONET/SDH
TROUBLESHOOTING
IN A FLASH!
Figure 1a. SmartMode signal discovery display
Figure 1b. SmartMode signal scan with low-order (VT/TU) tributary scan)
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Application Note 145
This signal scan contains valuable information for the user as it:
Provides a full view of high-order and low-order path content, allowing field engineers to validate that the circuit is provisioned as expected;
Highlights any unused capacity; ideal for capacity planning and provisioning purposes;
Provides per-STS/AU and VT/TU path-level information:
Path trace: If a path message is provisioned, helps identify customer/circuit type for each path;
Signal label: Identifies the content of the path (GFP-mapped traffic, HDLC based, etc.).
During its signal scan, SmartMode will also discover any STS/AU and/or VT/TU paths that are part of a virtual concatenation (VCAT) group. VCAT is
used to create an aggregate path, composed of multiple STS/AU or VT/TU paths, that best suits the bandwidth requirements for Ethernet services.
This VCAT discovery feature is ideal for field engineers as it allows them to quickly identify any VCAT-based Ethernet services.
In short, SmartMode discovery demystifies the complexity of next-generation SONET/SDH networks with an intuitive and complete graphical display
of the signal content.
Real-Time SONET/SDH Troubleshooting
Once SmartMode has completed its signal scan, it proceeds to perform an alarm scan for all discovered high-order STS/AU and selected low-order
VT/TU paths. Within seconds, any errored path(s) will be detected, including identifying the precise alarm/error type.
SmartModes real-time alarm/error scan greatly simplifies the troubleshooting of network problems, but most importantly saves significant time over
conventional test methods, resulting in reduced service downtime.
The following example highlights the ease of use and power of this tool. Figure 2 represents the display of an active SmartMode alarm scan of a
discovered OC-192 optical line.
Figure 2. SmartMode signal scan with active alarms/errors
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Application Note 145
In the screen shot shown above, we can see that SmartMode has discovered two paths in error: STS-1 (1,2) and STS-1 (4,1). A red square indicates
that an alarm/error is presently active; whereas the yellow square indicates that an alarm/error has occurred on this path, but is now cleared,
thus helping to identify any intermittent problems that occur.
To identify the exact alarm/error type, the user simply clicks on the errored path, and all information will be displayed on the right-hand side of the
screen. For example, when clicking on STS-1 (1,2), clicking on the path highlights to the user that the active error is an AIS-P, as shown in Figure 3.
Similarly, when selecting STS-1 (4,2), the user can see that the problem for this VCG-equipped path was a B3 error, thus identifying a likely
intermittent bit-error problem on this path (as shown in Figure 4).
Figure 3. STS-1 (1,2) detailed alarm/error display
Figure 4. STS-1 (4,2) detailed alarm/error display
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Application Note 145
Powerful Real-Time Monitoring Solution
Using EXFOs Visual Guardian Lite remote management software, SmartMode becomes a powerful monitoring solution for service providers,
particularly useful for large bandwidth wholesale services provided to large enterprise customers or other service providers. By connecting the
IQS/FTB-8120(NG) and IQS/FTB-8130(NG) Transport Blazer modules at the required monitoring point, a user can remotely access the test unit
and initiate and/or monitor SmartMode, allowing them to identify any alarms/errors in real time. SmartMode also generates detailed test reports when
needed for post-processing analysis and verification.
In addition, SmartMode is a useful tool for monitoring carrier hand-off points. At this point of the network, it is not always clear what exact signal
mapping is being handed-off. A quick and easy SmartMode scan allows the user to clearly see the content of a signal and clarify any provisioning
misunderstanding, as well as quickly identify any issues on this link.
Next-Generation SONET/SDH Made Easy
SONET/SDH-based networks have proven to be the most robust data-transport technology available and will continue to be the transmission system
of choice for carriers who demand a stable and resilient method of delivering broadband services. The advent of Ethernet transport services to the
mix will guarantee that SONET/SDH networks will continue to thrive.
However, to be successful in migrating and upgrading their networks to support these new revenue-generating Ethernet transport services, service
providers must ensure that their field engineers are equipped with the necessary tools to turn up legacy and new Ethernet-based services quickly
and efficiently. Moreover, with the complexity of networks increasing more than ever, these engineers need a troubleshooting solution to help quickly
identify sources of error. The fully featured IQS/FTB-8120(NG) and IQS/FTB-8130(NG) Transport Blazer modules, coupled with their embedded
SmartMode feature, provides the ideal solution for next-generation SONET/SDH networks.
Appnote145.1AN 2006 EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada 06/05
Hand-off point
SONET/SDH
Analyzer
Carrier 1
Carrier 2
EXFO Montreal 2650 Marie-Curie St-Laurent (Quebec) H4S 2C3 CANADA Tel.: 1 514 856-2222 Fax: 1 514 856-2232
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Figure 5: SmartMode monitoring at carrier hand-off points