Study Report on Possible Simultaneous Support of Higher Level Protocols over WDM Networks

Muhammad Noman Saeed

2003-MSCE (CN)-047 Lecturer Computer Engineering Department Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction To satisfy the severe requirements involved in future communication networks, commercial and research interest in the applicability of wavelength division multiplexing is growing. WDM technology is dawning, and also promising to revolutionize the network industry. As the WDM is merely dependent upon the bits on optical fiber, the only solution to takes full advantage of this emergence technology is to make up this technology supported by the higher level protocols. These higher level protocols originate from SDH (synchronous optical network or SONET), ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) and IP (internet protocol). In this paper, I first present a tutorial on WDM and Higher level protocols, presenting their main features. Then we discuss and investigate how the higher level protocols (SDH/SONET, ATM, IP) may provide the concurrently support to the WDM. Finally I give a sketch of a roadmap for the migration of the different higher level protocol to WDM technology. Background Due to the advantages of the physical properties, optical techniques are of the special interest. WDM presents an optical technique that considerably increases the transfer capacity of an optical fiber [1, 2]. WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) promises to proliferate the bandwidth capacity of optical transmission medium many folds. The principle behind this promise is the transmission of multiple digital signals using several wavelengths so that there is no interference among them. Figure 1 gives a schematic representation of the WDM offers the use of independent wavelength channels.

Objective For the future communication networks, WDM is an attractive technique. As an upshot, communication networks that consist of only the optical devices are not viable. The commercial application of WDM there necessitates an investigation on how the electrical techniques could support this WDM technique. SDH/SONET, ATM and IP are some of those candidates of the electrical techniques that will support the WDM. Hence we may conclude that an evolution toward an all-optical WDM network is likely to occur generally. To adjunct the principle and functionality of WDM, the existing WDM based network usually provide and offer direct support of SDH/SONET protocols only. Figure 2a gives a clear look that the transfer of data with ATM or IP necessitates utilizing the combination of SDH/SONET with WDM. Its mean that every channel in Figure 1 is basically concerned with the transmitting SDH/SONET signals.

Figure 2a. Support of higher-layer protocols in existing WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) Network

Methodology To provide a more flexible use of services with different levels of quality, future WDM- based networks may directly support various existing protocols concurrently [3,4]. This possible simultaneous support of different protocols over WDM is possible by reserving wavelength channel(s) for a specific supporting protocol. Figure 2b roughly indicate how this solution implies in WDM network. To enable a more detailed investigation of the possibilities reflected from Figure 2b, this paper investigate the indicated connections related to the OSI reference model [5]. With respect to the direct support of the IP over WDM, it is additionally examined whether any converging functionality is required or not.

This layer concerned with the final transmission of bits over oprical fibers. Optical Multiplex Section(OMS) o This layers represents the actual utilization of the WDM technique. Optical Channel (OCH) o This layers offering the separated wavelength channels to functions of higher layer protocol. o

Figure 3. Levels of functionality incorporated in WDM To provide services to users, WDM purely concerned the transmission of bits over the optical fiber. Hence all the 3 levels as described earlier and presented in the fig 3. seen as sub layers of the physical layers. In short, the higher layer protocols considered for the originating the routing information so for the full advantage of this technique can only be available if WDM is efficiently supported by the functionality of the higher layers protocols. Requirement for supporting WDM by Higher level protocol The data link layer of OSI responsible for an error-free transfer of data over the physical medium. The following strategies are used for reserving the wavelength channels. Single protocol support Static multi-protocol support Dynamic multi-protocol support The various data link protocols causes the dissimilar intrinsic structure of data signals over optical fiber when they concurrently support the WDM so it is necessary to

Figure 2b. Future Support of higher-layer protocols in existing WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) Network The remaining portion of this research report covers the following portion Functionality of the OSI reference model incorporated with WDM Requirement for supporting WDM by Higher level protocol Functionality of SDH/SONET, ATM and IP Simultaneous support protocol Conclusion Functionality of the OSI reference model incorporated with WDM WDM can be distinguish in the 3 level of functionality which can be depicted in the Figure 3. These 3 level are as follows Optical Transmission Section (OTS)

prevent discrepancies which can effect for performing network management. In case of the different data link protocols special precautions are involved to enable dealing with the different ways in which potential supporting protocols encapsulate management information. Functionality of SDH/SONET, ATM & IP This portion of the research report discussed on how multiple protocols may individually support WDM in accordance of fig 2b. SDH/SONET over WDM SDH/SONET founded over the technique of time division multiplexing and it commonly applied in existing communication network. The functionalities can be depicts from Fig. 4 and can defined the functions of WDM as represented in Fig 3. Figure 5.SDH/SONET supporting WDM ATM over WDM ATM presents a limited set of multipurpose protocols that provide a wide range of services with the different levels of QOS. ATM enables the implementations of broadband integrated service digital networks (B-ISDN). For th comparison of the support of ATM over WDM as proposed in fig 2b we involved the B-ISDN reference model for the use of optical transmission media. Fig 6 shows the eight levels of functionality defined by ATM.

Figure 4. Levels of functionality defined for SDH/SONET If we compare the Fig 3 & Fig 4 then we can get results in the conclusion that both SDH/SONET and WDM specify functionalities for the physical layers of the OSI reference model. Hence due to the multiplexing in the time and optical domain a very efficient use of optical fibers becomes feasible when combining SDH/SONET with WDM according to figure 5. However there are some difficulties with respect to the requirements discussed in the earlier section.

Figure6. Eight levels of functionality defined for ATM according to the B-ISDN model

The Fig 3 and Fig 6 results in the conclusion that both of the ATM and WDM specify functionalities for the physical layers of the OSI reference model. So the direct support of ATM over WDM can be represented by the Fig 7.

using the data link layer function defined for FDDI use. But as the FDDI is only for the ring-topology so we can move to other options one of which is SLIP and other is PPP. If we can assume the circuit based routing principle PPP presents an option with flexible data like functions, so taking this advantage into account I can suggest the use of PPP to bridge the gap between IP and WDM as presented in figure 9.

Figure 7. Direct support of ATM functionality over WDM IP over WDM IP is an important protocol for computer networks that provides connection-less transmission. IP is specified as the key protocol of the TCP/IP and OSI protocol suit see Fig 8, so we investigate both of these protocol suit while comparing the support of IP over WDM.

Figure 9. IP over WDM using PPP Simultaneous Protocol Support over WDM SDH/SONET, ATM or IP are more or less specialized in servicing specific kinds of network so if they combine in a single WDM based network then we enable to provide an even wider range of quality levels. As discussed in the last section combining the function for providing services to users of the individual protocols with WDM is achievable. For any solution thats integrate the higher level protocols (SDH/SONET, ATM, IP) in a single WDM network following three properties must be satisfied. 1. Processes of higher layer protocols should be managed with their management functions 2. Only management functions defined for WDM should manage WDM processes. 3. Information for managing WDM processes should be exchange via one

Figure 8. Functionality of the TCP/IP reference Model Now considering the Fig 3 and Fig 8, we calculated that there is a gap between the Network layer on which an IP is working with the physical layer functions. To overcome this problem a first solution is

selected data signal to ensure unambiguous network management. The first two properties are easily satisfied when combining the SDH/SONET,ATM and IP protocols as proposed in the last section and can be predicted by the figure 10 (on last page). While the 3rd property satisfy by applying the following two variants for integrating the higher level protocols with the WDM. These variants are as follows, 1. Designating one higher layer protocol to transfer all information for managing WDM processes. 2. Involves a separate implementation of the function of all layers of the OSI reference model.

[4] O. Gerstel, P. Lin, G, Sasaki, Combined WDM and SONET Network design. IEEE March 1999 [5] K. Sato, Optical path layer technologies to enhance B-ISDN performance. IEEE May 1999

Conclusion The gradual evolution of todays SONET technology into WDM systems is mandatory. But in the same time the question is how long this evolution can last also to overcome the difficulties in this emergence the study report will provides different solutions which ensure that the information for managing WDM devices has only a single origin. In this paper it is investigated how the higher layer protocol may give a simultaneous support for WDM network which enables WDM network to provide a wide range of services to users with different levels of quality. References [1] C.A. Brackett, Dense wavelength division multiplexing: Principles and application. IEEE August 1990 [2] R. Ramaswami, Multiwavelength lightwave networks for computer communication. IEEE Feb 1993 [3] D. Cavendish, Evolution of optical transport technologies from SONET/SDH to WDM. IEEE June 2000

Figure 10. Concurrent support of SDH/SONET, ATM, IP over WDM