PLC AND SONET/SDH NETWORKS

BRIDGING WITH ETHERNET

ICETE 2004 1st International Conference on E-business and Telecommunication Networks

Amaya Pardo Torbado

apardo@robotiker.es
PLC & SONET/SDH networks bridging with Ethernet

 Introduction.
 Mapping Ethernet in SONET/SDH.
 Ethernet over LAPS.
 Ethernet over GFP.
 Comparison between LAPS & GFP.
 SDH mapping scheme.
 Rate comparison.
 Virtual Concatenation.
 EoS mapper system overview.
 Conclusions.

Pág. 2
 Introduction (I)
SONET/SDH
Switch
Optical
Gateway

Regional/Core SONET/ SDH rings

MV/LV
network (Primary MAN) Optical
MV PLC Gateway
Gateway (Secondary MAN)
CPE
Optical
Gateway Optical MV/LV
Optical Gateway
MV/LV
MV PLC Gateway Gateway
network (Secondary MAN) CPE
(SONET/SDH
rings) MV/LV
MV/LV
Gateway CPE
Gateway
CPE

Aggregation network CPE

CPE
In-home
Typical architecture Home Home
network
to provide End-to- Gateway Gateway

End Ethernet Access network

Home

connectivity over Gateway

PLC Source DS2

Pág. 3
Mapping Ethernet in SONET/SDH (I)

 Ethernet over SONET/SDH (EoS) -> to simplify & reduce cost of

maintaining corporate networks.
 Two new different methods for mapping Ethernet frames over SONET/SDH:
1. Link Access Procedure-SDH (LAPS) -> ITU-T Recom. X.86.“Ethernet over
LAPS”.
2. Generic Framing Procedure (GFP) -> ITU-T Recom. G.7041/Y130. “GFP”.

Pág. 4
Mapping Ethernet in SONET/SDH (II)

 Why encapsulate?:
OTN
SONET
GFP
Ethernet
LAPS
SDH
OTN

1. SDH/SONET is synchronous, continuous byte stream.

2. Ethernet is asynchronous, bursty, variable frames.
3. Encapsulation compensates for idle time between Ethernet bursts.
4. Low cost transport does not generally have OAM.
5. Encapsulation layer provides support functions to enable reliable transport of
low cost services.
Source Agilent Technologies

Pág. 5
Ethernet over LAPS

 LAPS protocol is defined as a type of HDLC, including data link service and
protocol specification which are used to map the network of IP over SDH.
 LAPS allows the encapsulation of IPv6, IPv4, PPP and other upper layer
protocols, and is compatible with PPP over SONET/SDH.

IEEE 802.3 MAC frame

ITU-T Recommendation X.86 Reconciliation sublayer

describes how to adapt Ethernet

frames to LAPS, to be later M II

transported through SDH

networks LAPS

Rate Adaption

SDH

Pág. 6
Ethernet over GFP (I)

 GFP defines a standard framing procedure for octet-aligned, variable-length

payloads (Ethernet, PPP/HDLC, etc.) for subsequent mapping into SONET
synchronous payload envelopes.
 GFP defines both common and client specific aspects:
1. Common aspects (apply to all GFP adapted traffic irrespective of the
payload being transported) -> basic functions: PDU delineation, scrambling
and performance monitoring.
2. Client specific -> payload dependent aspects: the mapping of client signal
into GFP.
Ethernet IP/PPP Other client signals

GFP – Client Specific Aspects

GFP - Common Aspects
Transport Path: SDH, SONET, OTN
Source Agilent Technologies

Pág. 7
Ethernet over GFP (II)

Example of GFP-F C2
Ethernet Pointers H4 SDH/SONET
encapsulation Frame

POH
Payload

Payload
Header

Header
Core

GFP

FCS
GFP-F
Frame
Destination

VLAN Tag
Preamble

Address
Address

Length/
Source

Ethernet
Type

Data
SFD

FCS
Frame
Source Agilent Technologies

Pág. 8
Comparison between LAPS & GFP

Feature GFP HDLC ATM Proprietary

Flexibility

Bandwidth efficiency
Single mechanism for multi-
protocol encapsulation
Inter-operability

Good Reasonable Poor

Source Agilent Technologies

Pág. 9
SDH mapping scheme (I)
 Once the LAPS or GFP frame has been created, it must be mapped into a
SONET/SDH structure for its transport across the network.
 [ Tributary channel ]-n -> C-n (Container for tributary channels of
Plesiocronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH)).
Container Container
Stuffing bytes
Data to transmit
Data to transmit
in container

 C-n + POH (Path Over Head) = VC-n (Virtual Container).

 VC-n + Pointer in the begining of POH = AU-n (Administrative Unit) or TU-n
(Tributary Unit).
 ∑ (TU-n) = TUG-n (Tributary Unit Group).
 ∑ (AU-n) = AUG-n (Administrative Unit Group).
 AUG-n + SOH (Section Over Head) = STM-N (Synchronous Transport
Module).
Pág. 10
 SDH mapping scheme (II)

Initial
More mapping
Contiguous
Multiplexing
Concatenation
x1 x1
STM-256 AUG-256 AU-4-256c VC-4-256c C-4-256c

x4
x1 x1
STM-64 AUG-64 AU-4-64c VC-4-64c C-4-64c

x4
x1 x1
STM-16 AUG-16 AU-4-16c VC-4-16c C-4-16c

x4
x1 x1
STM-4 AUG-4 AU-4-4c VC-4-4c C-4-4c

x4
x1
x1
STM-1 AUG-1 AU-4 VC-4 C-4
x1
x3 TUG-3 TU-3 VC-3
x3
x1 x7
C-3
STM-0 AU-3 VC-3
x7
x1
TUG-2 TU-2 VC-2 C-2

pointer processing x3

multiplexing TU-12 VC-12 C-12

aligning SDH mapping x4

TU-11 VC-11 C-11

mapping

Source Lucent Technologies

11 Pág. 11
 SDH mapping scheme (III)

x1 x1
OC-768 STS-768 STS-786c STS-768c SPE C-4-256c

x4
x1 x1
OC-192 STS-192 STS-192c STS-192c SPE C-4-64c

x4
x1 x1
OC-48 STS-48 STS-48c STS-48c SPE C-4-16c

x4
x1 x1
OC-12 STS-12 STS-12c STS-12c SPE C-4-4c

x4
x1
x1
OC-3 STS-3 STS-3c STS-3c SPE C-4
x1
x3 VTG-3 TU-3 VC-3
x3
x1 x7
C-3
OC-1 STS-1 STS-1 SPE

x7
x1
VTG-2 VT-6 VT-6 SPE C-2

pointer processing x3

multiplexing VT-2 VT-2 SPE C-12

aligning SONET mapping x4

VT-1.5 VT-1.5 SPE C-11

mapping

12 Pág. 12
 SDH mapping scheme (IV)

 Contiguous Concatenation -> Example of a VC-4-Xc:

1. Provides a payload area of X C-4.
2. Has one common set of POH, in the first column, used for whole VC-4-Xc.
3. Columns #2 to #X are fixed stuff.
VC-4-Xc
1 J1
B3
C2
G1
fixed
F2 C-4-Xc
stuff
H4
F3
K3
9 N1
125 µs

1
X-1 X ∗ 260

X ∗ 261

Source Lucent Technologies

13 Pág. 13
 Rate comparison (I)

 SDH container size/bit-rates vs. Data bit-rates:

SDH - TDM Data

C-11 1.600 Mbit/s 10 Mbit/s Ethernet
C-12 2.176 Mbit/s 25 Mbit/s ATM
C-2 6.784 Mbit/s 100 Mbit/s Fast Ethernet
C-3 49.536 Mbit/s 200 Mbit/s ESCON
C-4 149.760 Mbit/s 400 Mbit/s
Fibre Channel
C-4-4c 599.040 Mbit/s 800 Mbit/s
C-4-16c 2,396.160 Mbit/s 1 Gbit/s Gigabit Ethernet
C-4-64c 9,584.640 Mbit/s 10 Gbit/s 10 Gb Ethernet
C-4-256c 38,338.560 Mbit/s

Source Lucent Technologies

14 Pág. 14
 Rate comparison (II)

 Transport efficiencies:
Data SDH Efficiency
Ethernet 10 Mbit/s C-3 20%
ATM 25 Mbit/s C-3 50%
Fast Ethernet 100 Mbit/s C-4 67%
ESCON 200 Mbit/s C-4-4c 33%
400 Mbit/s C-4-4c 67%
Fibre Channel
800 Mbit/s C-4-16c 33%
Gigabit Ethernet 1 Gbit/s C-4-16c 42%
10 Gb Ethernet 10 Gbit/s C-4-64c 100%

SOLUTION

Source Lucent Technologies

15 Pág. 15
 Virtual Concatenation (I)

 Virtual Concatenation (VCAT) -> New mechanism that provides fine

granularity to transport data traffic (Ethernet, ATM, IP, etc.) through
SONET/SDH networks.
 Why:
1. To transport contiguous concatenated signals in a network with network
elements (NE) that do not support VC-n-Xc.
2. To provide a better bandwidth granularity to transport the new services with
non-SDH bit rates.
 Pre-requisites:
1. No requirements on existing NE that transit VC-ns part of a Virtual
Concatenation Group (VCG or VC-n-Xv).
2. No strict routing constraints for operators by compensating the differential
delay caused by difference in optical path length.
Source Lucent Technologies

16 Pág. 16
 Virtual Concatenation (II)

 Mapping of C-n-Xc into X * VC-n -> a VC-n-Xv:

1 X X∗m
1

C-n-Xc

125 µs
9

1 m+1
1
1 m+1
1
overhead

VC-n-Xv
overhead

VC-n#X
9 125 µs

VC-n#1
9 125 µs

Source Lucent Technologies

17 Pág. 17
 Virtual Concatenation (III)
 Provides additional transport sizes:

Container X In steps of Up to
C-11-Xv 1 - 63 1.6 Mbit/s 100.8 Mbit/s
C-12-Xv 1 - 63 2.0 Mbit/s 137.1 Mbit/s
C-3-Xv 1 - 256 49 Mbit/s 12.7 Gbit/s
C-4-Xv 1 - 256 150 Mbit/s 38.3 Gbit/s

Source Lucent Technologies

18 Pág. 18
 Virtual Concatenation (IV)

 Transport efficiencies:

Data SDH Efficiency

Ethernet 10 Mbit/s C-12-5v 92%
ATM 25 Mbit/s C-12-12v 98%
C-12-46v 100%
Fast Ethernet 100 Mbit/s
C-3-2v 100%
ESCON 200 Mbit/s C-3-4v 100%
400 Mbit/s C-3-8v 100%
Fibre Channel
800 Mbit/s C-4-6v 89%
Gigabit Ethernet 1 Gbit/s C-4-7v 95%
10 Gb Ethernet 10 Gbit/s C-4-64v 100%

Source Lucent Technologies

19 Pág. 19
 Virtual Concatenation (V)

 Points for improvement:

1. If one of the VC-n of a Virtual Concatenation Group VC-n-Xv fails, the whole
VCG fails.
2. Data transport can have a variable requirement for bandwidth regarding the
time of the day, or the day of the week.

SOLUTION

New methodology for changing the payload allocated to virtually

concatenated Syncronous Payload Envelope (SPE) -> accommodate the
SPEs (adding or removing tributaries) to all situations (increases or
decreases in capacity requirements, link failure…) Source Lucent Technologies

20 Pág. 20
EoS mapper system overview (I)

 Robotiker has developed a system to transfer voice (T1 and/or E1) and
Ethernet data (10Mbps and 100Mbps) over an OC-3 (SONET) or STM-1
(SDH) link.
Ethernet (10-100 Mbps)
ADM
Existing
SONET/SDH
ring

Voice (T1-E1)

EoS Mapper

 System’s interfaces -> 1 OC-3/STM-1 optical interface, 8 10Mbps/100Mbps

Ethernet ports, and up to 28 T1s and 16 E1s.
 SONET/SDH overhead terminator, T1 and E1 mappers, framers and
Ethernet MAC and PHY are based on Commercial Application Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs).
Pág. 21
EoS mapper system overview (II)

 Innovation -> VCAT to map Ethernet data using LAPS/GFP encapsulation.

 Ethernet over LAPS or GFP framing and the subsequent SONET/SDH

mapping is performed by a FPGA with 4 mapping modes (low order VCAT,
high order VCAT, CCAT and without concatenation).

Pág. 22
EoS mapper system overview (III)

EoS
EoS MAPPER
MAPPER

SONET/SDH
RING

Pág. 23
Conclusions (I)

 PLC networks -> good alternative within the home, access and aggregation
networks.
 End-to-End Ethernet connectivity -> need to interconnect metro and
regional networks through SONET/SDH networks.
 Alternatives for “Ethernet encapsulation”: HDLC world (LAPS) & GFP.
 SONET/SDH + VCAT -> eliminate the bandwidth waste that results from a
mismatch between the granularity required for Ethernet data transport and
the bandwidth offered by traditional TDM structures.
 SONET/SDH + VCAT+ LCAS -> step forward.
 Solution presented -> reduce CAPEX and OPEX & provide a solution for
efficient low cost high speed Ethernet transmissions.

Pág. 24
Conclusions (II)

 OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance for new generation

PLC integrated network) is a project funded by the European
Commission.
 Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).
 IST (Information Society Technologies) Priority for 2002-2006.
 Significant contribution within the IST area “Broadband for All”.
 Objective -> optimize the interconnection of the PLC access network
to the backbone network to improve competitiveness of PLC to other
broadband access technologies.
 Robotiker takes part in OPERA.
 www.ist-opera.org
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Pág. 26
 ROBOTIKER-TELECOM
Parque Tecnológico de Zamudio, Edificio 202
48170 Zamudio (SPAIN)

Carolina Pérez e-mail: carolina@robotiker.es

Enrique Areizaga e-mail: enrique@robotiker.es
Daniel Múgica e-mail: dani@robotiker.es
Elena Terradillos e-mail: elenat@robotiker.es
Amaya Pardo e-mail: apardo@robotiker.es

Pág. 27
Ethernet over GFP (II)

Example of GFP-F C2
Ethernet Pointers H4 SDH/SONET
encapsulation Frame

POH
Payload

Payload
Header

Header
Core

GFP

FCS
GFP-F
Frame
Destination

VLAN Tag
Preamble

Address
Address

Length/
Source

Ethernet
Type

Data
SFD

FCS
Frame
Source Agilent Technologies

Pág. 28