SYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL

HIERARCHY

Optical Transmission System

Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH)

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy

Objectives

Standards
Frame Structure
Multiplexing
Regenerator Section Overhead
Mutiplexing Section Overhead
Path Overhead
Advantages

PDH
Notation

Data Rate

Notation

Data Rate

E0

64 Kbps

T0/DS0

64 Kbps

E1

2048 Kbps

T1/DS1

1544 Kbps

E2

8448 Kbps

T2/DS2

6312 Kbps

E3

34368 Kbps

T3/DS3

44736 Kbps

E4

139264 Kbps

T4/DS4

139264 Kbps

Used in South America,

Europe, India etc

Used in USA, Canada

Japan, Korea, Hong Kong
etc

SDH Standards
Optical Signal

Bit Rate

Abbreviated as

STM-0

51.84 Mbps

51 Mbps

STM-1

155.52 Mbps

155 Mbps

STM- 4

622.080 Mbps

622 Mbps

STM-16

2488.320 Mbps

2.4 Gbps

STM-64

9953.280 Mbps

10 Gbps

STM-256

39813.12 Mbps

40 Gbps

Tx End

Rx End

STM-1 Frame Structure

Frame =125s

Frame =125s

Frame = 125s

STM-1 = 270 Columns (2430 bytes)

1
2
3

Pointers 4

Regenerator
Section
Overhead
H1 H2

H3

H1H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3H3

5
6
7

Multiplex
Section
Overhead

Administrative Unit
Capacity of the
Virtual Container
+
Pointers

9 Rows

8
9

Overhead width = 9 columns

STM-1 frame structure

STM-1 frame structure

1-3 rows

RSOH

4th row

AU Pointer

PAY LOAD
5-9 rows

MSOH

9 Columns

261 Columns
270 Columns

SDH Multiplexing Process

STM-N is got by Byte Interleaved

Multiplexing of Lower Order Frame.
For Example
STM-4 is got by Multiplexing 4 STM-1
Frames.

SDH Multiplexing Process

SDH

M
U
X
Line Signal
STM
-4
STM-3

Tributary
Signals
STM-1

Mapping in SDH

Multiplexing Elements
C-n

n=1,2,3,4

bitrates
G.702

virtual container

VC-n

m=1,2
n=3,4

C1, C2
C3, C4

tributary unit

TU-n

n=1,2,3,4

VC-n

container
POH
PTR

PTR
SOH

tributary unit group

TUG-2

administration unit

AU-n

synchronous transport module

STM-1

synchronous transport module N

STM-n

Element

TU-1, -2
n=3,4

VC-n
AU-n, n=3,4

N=4,16

Abbreviation

AU-n, n=3,4
Payload

Mapping of 2Mbps into STM N

signal

A corresponding arrangement is used for demultiplexing

Mapping of 2Mbps into STM N

2.048 Mbps

1 2 3

(E1)

32

32 Bytes

Stuffing Bytes

C-12

1 23

32

34 Bytes

POH (Lower Order)

VC-12

1 23

32

35 Bytes

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Container C-12 (Asynchronous Mapping

for 2 Mbps)

C1 C2 O O O R R R
D D D D
.
.
.
.
.
.
256 x D
.
.
.
.
.
.
D D D D
R R R R R R R R
C1 C2 O O O R R S1
S2 D D D D
.
.
.
.
.
255 x D
.
.
.
.
.
.
D D D D
R R R R R R R R
STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

Block 1

R:

Fixed Stuff Bits

D:

Data-Bits (of 2Mb/s Tributary-Signal)

O:

Overhead-Bits (For future use)

C1, C2:

Justification Indication-Bits
- C1 = 0 -> S1 = Data-Bit
- C1 = 1 -> S1 = Stuff-Bit
- C2 = 0 -> S2 = Data-Bit
- C2 = 1 -> S2 = Stuff-Bit

S1, S2:

Actual Justification-Bits
-Justification is indicated by C1, C2
(Majority-Vote out of 3)

Block 2
Block 3

R R R R R R R R
D D D D
.
.
.
.
.
.
256 x D
.
.
.
.
.
.
D D D D
R R R R R R R R
C1 C2 O O O R R R
D D D D
.
.
.
.
.
.
256 x D
.
.
.
.
.
.
D D D D
R R R R R R R R

Justification Capacity
+/- 1 Bit every 500 ms -> +/- 2000 Bits (~+/- 1000 ppm)
Speed of C-12
136 Byte x 8 Bit / 500 ms = 2.176 MBit/s

Block 4

136 Bytes (500 ms)

1 Byte

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

SDH Multiplexing Element

Container (C)

Basic unit for tributary signals of the PDH

Synchronous to the STM-1 signal
Adaptation of bitrates through positive stuffing in
case of plesiochronous tributary signals
Adaptation of synchronous tributaries through
fixed stuffing bits
Bit stuffing mechanism

10

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

#1
#2

Virtual container VC12

1 Byte
V5

BIP-2
BIP-2:
REI:

RFI

Signal Label

RDI

Bit Interleaved Parity 2

Remote Error Indication (Old name FEBE)

RFI:
Remote Failure Indication
Signal Label: Specifies the content of the VC

#35

RDI:

J2

#36
#37

140 Bytes (500 ms)

REI

Remote Defect Indication (Old name=FERF)

Path Trace J2
J2:

#70

Repetitively transmitted 16-Byte Frame

containing a Path Access Point Identifier

N2

#71
#72

Network Operator Byte N2

N2:

#105
#106
#107

Used for Tandem Connection Monitoring

K4
APS Channel

Spare

K4: APS-Channel: Automatic Protection Switching Signaling

Spare:

#140

STM-N

For Future use

Speed of VC-12: 140 Byte x 8 Bit/500 ms= 2.240 Mbit/s

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

11

SDH Multiplexing Element

Virtual Container (VC)

Creation through addition of the POH

Is transported through the network as one unit
If the VC contains several VCs, it will have a
pointer area
Multi container payload through concatenation
1

4
VC-12

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Tributary unit TU-12

Mapping VC-12 to TU-12

Pointer justification on TU-12 level

12

Mapping of 2Mbps into STM N

Pointer

TU-12
36 Bytes

TU 12 is arranged
Into Matrix of 9 X 4

9 Rows

4 Columns

N N N N S S P P

P P P P P P P P

V1 (TU-Pointer #1)
Cell #105
Cells #106 #138
V1+V2

144 Bytes (500 ms)

Cell #139
V2 (TU-Pointer #2)
Cell #0

N: New Data Flag (NDF)

- Flag NOT active -> NNNN = 0110
- Flag active -> NNNN = 1001 (Inverted)
S: Size Indication
- For TU-12 SS=10

Cells #1 #33
Cell #34
V3 (TU-Pointer #3)
Cell #35

P: 10-Bit Pointer Value

- Range for TU-12 is 0.139
- Points to that Cell, Where the VC-12 starts
(Location of V5)

Cells #36 #68

V3

Used for justification

- Incase of Negative Pointer Justification,
this Byte is used as Auxiliary-Cell

Cell #69
V4 (TU-Pointer #4)
Cell #70

V4

Reserved (For future Use)

Cells #71 #103

Speed of TU-12: 144 Byte x 8 Bit/500 ms= 2.304 Mbit/s

Cell #104

STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

13

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Tributary unit TU-12

Mapping VC-12 to TU-12

Important Facts:
V1

35 Byte

VC-12

V2

The 10-Bit TU-Pointer points to that cell,

where the V5-Byte Of the VC-12 is located
(Start of VC-12)
The VC-12 can float within the TU-12 since
both may have Different Clock rates

35 Byte

V3
35 Byte

35 Byte

The TU-12 must be locked to the HigherOrder VC (VC-3 or VC-4)

V4

If the incoming VC-12 is too fast, the excess

data is carried By V3. The V5-Byte moves 1
cell up in the TU-12 and the pointer value
decrements by 1
-> Negative Pointer Justification
If the incoming VC-12 is too slow, the byte
immediately after V3 (Cell #35) is used as
Stuff-Byte to stuff the excess transport
capacity of the TU-12. The V5-byte moves 1
cell down in the TU-12 and the pointer value
increments by 1.
-> Positive Pointer Justification

14

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Tributary unit TU-12

V1
Cell #105

Mapping VC-12 to TU-12

Pointer justification on TU-12 level

V1
0 1 1 0 1 0 I D
New Data Flag
Size

Cell #139
V2
Cell #0

Cell #34
V3
Cell #35

Cell #69
V4
Cell #70

Cell #104

Negative Justification Opportunity

(Used to carry Data)

V2
D I D I D I D

Inverted value of all D-Bits (Decrease)

Indicates Negative Justification
Inverted value of all I-Bits (Increase)
Indicates Positive Justification

Positive Justification Opportunity

(Used as Stuff-Byte)
Under normal conditions the pointer is justified by 1 (Increase or Decrease
as soon as the phase different between the VC-12 and TU-12 exceeds
8 Bits (1Byte). This is Indicated by inverting either the I or the D Bits of the
10-Bit Pointer (Majority vote out of 5). If a random change of the pointer value
becomes necessary, this is indicated by activating (inverting) the new Data Flag.

Speed of TU-12:
144 Byte x 8 Bit/500 ms= 2.304 Mbit/s

15

SDH Multiplexing Element

Tributary Unit (TU)

Creation through addition of a pointer to the VC

Slip free transmission of a VC also in case of
plesiochronous behaviour of the network element
The TU definition refers to the VC, the AU to
STM-1
Identical to AU
1

Pointer

V5

TU-12

VC-12 POH

2 Mbit/s
9

--> C-12

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Tributary unit group TUG-2

Byte interleaved multiplexing of 3 x TU-12

into TUG-2 multiframe

16

TU-12

TU-12

TU-12

9 Rows

4 Columns

4 Columns

4 Columns

Multiplexing

TUG-2

9 Rows

12 Columns

V1, 3
#105, 3

#139,1
V2, 1
#0, 1

#139,2
V2, 2
#0, 2

#139,3
V2, 3
#0, 3

#139, 2
V3, 2
#35, 2

V1,1

V1,2

V2,1

V2,2

3
V1,3

#69, 3
V4, 3
#70, 3

#104, 1

#104, 2

#104, 3

TU-12 #1

TU-12 #2

TU-12 #3

11

12

#139,1 #139,2 #139,3

V2,3

#0,1

#0,2

#0,3

TUG-2 multiframe
V3,1

V3,2

V3,3

#34,1 #34,2 #34,3

#35,1 #35,2 #35,3

#69,1 #69,2 #69,3

V4,1

V4,2

V4,3

#70,1 #70,2 #70,3

125 ms

#69, 2
V4, 2
#70, 2

10

#105,1 #105,2 #105,3

#139, 3
V3, 3
#35, 3

#69, 1
V4, 1
#70, 1

125 ms

#139, 1
V3, 1
#35, 1

Column

125 ms

V1, 2
#105, 2

125 ms

V1, 1
#105, 1

#104,1 #104,2 #104,3

STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

17

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Tributary unit group 2 TUG-3

Byte interleaved multiplexing of 7 x TUG-2

into TUG-3

Mapping of 2Mbps into STM N

7 TUG-2s

Stuffing Bytes

X 7 TUG-2

TUG-3(multiplexing)

TUG 3

84 Columns
86 Columns

18

TUG-2 #1
Column 1
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-2 #2
7

10 11 12 Column 1

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-2 #3
12

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Column 1
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-2 #7
12

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Column 1
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

12

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

NPI
Bit

1--------------------------8

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3

1 0 0 1 X X 1 1
1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-3 STUFF

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19

20 21 22 7623 7724 78 79 80 81 82

83 84 85 86

NPI

Column 1

TUG-3 STUFF

X X X X X X X X

TUG-3

STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

SDH Mapping for 2Mbps

Virtual Container 4 VC-4

Byte interleaved multiplexing of 3 x TUG-3

into VC-4

19

Mapping of 2Mbps into STM N

TUG - 3

TUG - 3

TUG - 3
86 Columns

X 3 TUG3

VC - 4

HOPOH Stuffing Bytes

258 Columns
261 Columns

AU-4

84 85 86

Column 1
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

NPI

84 85 86

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261

TUG-3 # 3 STUFF

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

NPI #3

AUG

TUG-3 # 1 STUFF

NPI #2

TUG-3 # 3 STUFF

NPI #1
VC-4 Stuff

STM-N

3 4

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

TUG-3 # 1 STUFF

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

VC-4 Stuff

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Column 1

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

84 85 86

NPI

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

VC-4 Path OH

NPI

Column
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-3 #3

TUG-3 #2

TUG-3 #1
Column 1

VC-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

20

SDH Multiplexing Elements Tributary Unit Group (TUG)

Multiplexing of several TUs into a VC

Identical to AUG

Administration Unit (AU-4)

21

Mapping of 2Mbps into STM N

VC - 4

9 rows

Pay Load

261 Columns
AU 4 (Adding Pointer)

AU Pointer

Pay Load

4 th Row

9 Columns

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Row 1

#522

#523

#524

#607

#608

Row 2

#609

#610

#611

#694

#695

#696

#697

#698

#781

#782

#1

#2

#85

#86

#87

#88

#89

#172

#173

#174

#175

#176

#259

#260

#261

#262

#263

#346

#347

Row 8

#348

#349

#350

#433

#434

Row 9

#435

#436

#437

#520

#521

AU-4 Pointer

Row 3
Row 4

H1

H2

1*

1*

H3 H3

Row 5
Row 6
Row 7

N N N N S S P P
H1+H2

H3
#0

AU-4
Payload

P P P P P P P P

N: New Data Flag (NDF)

-Flag NOT active -> NNNN = 0110
-Flag active -> NNNN = 1001 (Inverted)

Y-Bytes:

Stuff Byte (Value=93 hex)

-Used as H1 in AU-3 Pointer

1*-Bytes:

Stuff Byte (Value=FF hex)

-Used as H2 in AU-3 Pointer

H3-Bytes:

Used for justification

- Incase of Negative pointer
justification, these bytes are
used as Auxiliary-Cells

S: Size Indication
-Not Specified on AU-4 Level (Dont care
Bits)
P: 10-Bit Pointer Value
-Range for TU-12 is 0.728
-Points to that Cell, Where the VC-4 starts
STM-N

AUG

AU-4

270

269

268

267

266

265

264

Column 1 2

261 Columns

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

22

Administration Unit (AU-4)

Pointer justification of AU-4

Column 1

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17

Row 1

Negative Justification Opportunity

(Used to carry Data)

Row 2
Row 3
Row 4

H1 Y

H2

1*

1* H3

H3

H3

Row 5
Row 6

Positive Justification Opportunity

(Used as Stuff-Byte)

Row 7
Row 8
Row 9

H1
0 1 1 0 1 0
New Data Flag

I D

H2
D I D I D

I D

Size

Inverted value of all D-Bits (Decrease)

Indicates Negative Justification
Inverted value of all I-Bits (Increase)
Indicates Positive Justification

Under normal conditions the pointer is

justified by 1 (Increase or Decrease) as
soon as The phase different between the
VC-4 and AU-4 exceeds (3 Byte). This is
Indicated by inverting either the I- or the
D-Bits of the 10-Bit Pointer (Majority vote
out of 5) If a random change of the
pointer value becomes necessary, this is
indicated by activating (inverting the new
Data Flag

23

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17

270

268

269

Column 1

267

Administrative Unit Group AUG

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3

AU-Pointer(s)

Row 4

Payload

Row 5
Row 6
Row 7
Row 8
Row 9

Capacity of AUG: 1 x AU-4 (European standard)

STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TUG-2

TU-12

VC-12

C-12

2Mbit/s

SDH Multiplexing Elements Administrative Unit Group - AUG

Multiplexing of several AUs into a STM-N

24

261 Bytes

9 Bytes

9 Byte

STM-1

SOH
AU
ADMINISTRATIV
E
UNIT (AU)
POINTERS

POH

C
a

HIGHER
LEVEL VC

TUG
SOH = SECTION OVERHEAD

TU
POINTER

STRUCTURE OF
STM-1 FRAME

VC = VRITUAL CONTAINER
a

POH = PATH OVERHEAD

TU

TUG = TRIBUTARY UNIT GROUP

PATH
OVERHEAD
VC

STUFF AND
JUSTIFICATION
BITS

PLESIOCHRONOU
S
STREAM

STM-1 Mapping for 34Mbps

25

Asynchronous Mapping for 34 MBit/s into C-3

Note: Only 1 of 3 Subframes (3 Rows) are
shown1 2 3
4
5 6 7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14
Block

15 16

17 18 19

Blks 21.40

Blks 41.60

4 Bytes

20

1 Byte
84 Bytes

Byte 1

Byte 2

Byte 3

Byte 4
D: Data-Bits (of 34Mb/s Tributary-Signal

DDD...

R R R R R R C1C2

-Block

DDD...

RRRRRRRR

24 x D

R R R R R R R S1

S2 D D D D D D D

...DDD

...DDD

DDDDDDDD

R: Fixed Stuff Bits

O: Overhead-Bits (For future use)
C1, C2: Justification Indication-Bits
Cx = 0 -> Sx = Data-Bit
Cx = 1 -> Sx = Stuff-Bit
S1, S2: Actual Justification-Bits
Justification is indicated
by C1, C2-Bits
(Majority-Vote out of 5)

RRRRRRRR

Virtual Container (VC-3)

Column

Row 1

J1

Row 2

B3

Row 3

C2

Row 4

G1

Row 5

F2

Row 6

H4

Row 7

F3

Row 8

K3

Row 9

N1

85

S-Block

24 x D

84

C-Block

RRRRRRRR

83

R-Block

C3

VC-3 Path Overhead (Lower Order

POH)

Speed of VC-3
85 x 9 Byte x 8 Bit / 125 ms = 48.960
MBit/s
STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TU-3

VC-3

C-3

34M

26

Row 2

H2

Row 3

H3

86

85

84

1
H1

83

Column
Row 1

82

Tributary Unit
Row 4

TU-3
Payload

Fixed Stuff

Row 5
Row 6
Row 7
Row 8
Row 9

TU-3
Pointer

N N N N S S P P
H1+H2

P P P P P P P P

N: New Data Flag (NDF)

-Flag NOT active -> NNNN = 0110
-Flag active -> NNNN = 1001 (Inverted)

H3-Bytes: Used for justification

- Incase of Negative
pointer
S: Size Indication
justification, these bytes
-Not Specified on TU-3 Level (Dont care Bits)
are used as Auxiliary-Cell.
P: 10-Bit Pointer Value
-Range for TU-3 is 0.764
-Points to that Cell, Where the VC-3 starts (Location of J1)

1
H1

Row 2

H2

Row 3

H3

86

Column
Row 1

85

Pointer Justfication on TU-3 Level

Negative Justification Opportunity
(Used to carry Data)

Row 4

Positive Justification Opportunity

(Used as Stuff-Byte)

Fixed Stuff

Row 5
Row 6
Row 7
Row 8
Row 9

0 1

H1
1 0 1

New Data Flag

STM-N

Size

AUG

AU-4

H2
D I D

Under normal conditions the pointer is

justified by 1 (Increase or Decreases
soon as The phase different between the
VC-3 and TU-3 exceeds 1Byte. This is
Indicated by inverting either the I- or the
D-Bits of the 10-Bit Pointer (Majority
vote out of 5)
If a random change of the pointer value
Inverted value of all D-Bits (Decrease)
becomes necessary, this is indicated by
Indicates Negative Justification
activating (inverting the new Data Flag
Inverted value of all I-Bits (Increase)
Indicates Positive Justification

VC-4

TUG-3

TU-3

VC-3

C-3

34M

27

86

85

Column

84

Tributary Unit Group (TUG-3)

Row 1
Row 2
Row 3

TUG-3
Payload

TU-Pointer

Row 4
Row 5
Row 6
Row 7
Row 8
Row 9

Speed of TUG-3
85 x 9 Byte x 8 Bit / 125 ms = 48.960 MBit/s
STM-N

AUG

AU-4

VC-4

TU-3

TUG-3

VC-3

C-3

34M

Byte Interleaved Multiplexing of 3 x TUG-3

(Containing TUG-3s) into VC-4
Column

84 85 86

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

STM-N

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

84 85 86

H1

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

H2
H3

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Column

17 18 19

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

1
H1
H2
H3

84 85 86

20 21 22 23 24251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261

H1 H1 H1
H2 H2 H2
H3 H3 H3

AUG

VC-4

TUG-3 # 3 STUFF

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

TUG-3 # 1 STUFF

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

VC-4 Stuff

Column

VC-4 Stuff

H3

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

H1
H2

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

VC-4 Path OH

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

TUG-3 # 2 STUFF

Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row
Row

TUG-3 #3

TUG-3 #2

TUG-3 #1
Column

AU-4

VC-4

TUG-3

TU-3

VC-3

C-3

34M

28

STM-1 Signal as Transport

Pipe

STM-1 signal can transport

1 x 140 Mbps PDH Signal

3 x 34 Mbps PDH Signals

63 x 2 Mbps PDH Signals

Combinations, eg. 21 x 2 Mbit/s and 2 x 34 Mbit/s

PDH Signals
ATM cells, FDDI, DQDB Protocols, etc.

29