SYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL

HEIRARCHY

It is an international standard networking

principle and a multiplexing method.

The name of hierarchy has been taken from the

multiplexing method which is
synchronous by
nature.

The evolution of this system will assist in

improving the economy of operability and
reliability of a digital network

The first attempt to formulate standards for Optical

Transmission started in U.S.A. as SONET
(Synchronous Optical Network).

Historical Overview

In February 1988, an agreement was reached at

CCITT (now ITU-TS) study group XVIII in Seoul, on
set of recommendations, for a synchronous digital
hierarchy representing a single world wide
standard for transporting the digital signal.

These recommendations G-707, G-708, G-709

cover
the functional characteristic of the network
node
interface, i.e. the bit rates and format of the
signal passing over the Network Node Interface
(NNI).

For smooth transformation from existing PDH, it

has to accommodate the three different country
standards of PDH developed over a time period.

 The different standards of PDH are given in

Fig.1.

Historical Overview Contd.

The aim of these standards was to simplify

interconnection between network operators by
allowing inter-connection of equipment from
different vendors to the extent that compatibility
could be achieved.

It was achieved by SDH in 1990, when the

CCITT accepted the recommendations for
physical layer network interface.

The SONET hierarchy from 52 Mbit per second

rate onwards was accepted for SDH hierarchy
(Fig.1).

Advantages of SDH over PDH

PDH is not synchronous one. Different tributaries
have different bit rates, where as SDH is a globally
synchronised one.
Even though the band width of O.F Cable is infinite,
the maximum bit rate possible with PDH is 565 Mbps
only, where as with SDH one can go more than 40
Gbps.
SDH has self healing ring facility.
Capable of operating in a multi-vendor and multioperator environment.
Fully managed with NMS.
SDH is capable of handling ATM/ Frame
relay/Ethernet formats.
Capable of transporting existing PDH signals.

Principles of SDH

SDH defines a number of Containers, each

corresponding to an existing plesiochronous rate.

Each container has a Path Overhead added to it

POH provides network management capability.

Container plus POH form a Virtual Container.

All equipment is synchronised to a national clock.

Delays associated with a transmission link may

vary
slightly with timecausing location of VC
within the STM1 frame to move.

Principles of SDH Contd..

Variations accommodated by use of a Pointer

points to beginning of VC.

Pointer may be incremented or decremented

G.709 defines different combinations of VCs which

can be accommodated in the payload of an
STM1 frame.

When STM1 payload is full, more network

management capability is added to form the
Section
Overhead.

SOH remains with payload for the fibre section

between synchronous multiplexers.

SOH bytes provide communication channels to

cater for OA&M facilities.

user channels.
protection switching.
section performance
frame alignment
other functions

STM-1 Frame
270 Columns
RSOH
Pointer
9Rows
MSOH
9

P
O
H
1

Container
260

STM-1 bit rate 155.52 Mbps

STM-N bit rate 155.52*N Mbps

STM-1 bit rate 155.52 Mbps

STM-4 bit rate 155.52* 4 = 622.04Mbps
STM-16 bit rate 2.5 Gbps Approximately.
STM-64 bit rate 10 Gbps Approximately
STM-256 bit rate 40 Gbps Approximately

Compatibility of SDH with PDH

63* 2 Mbps
OR

3* 34 Mbps
OR

1* 140 Mbps

STM-1 System

STM-1

Network Elements in SDH

Terminal Multiplexers
Terminal multiplexers are used to combine plesiochronous
and synchronous input signals into higher bit rate STMN
signals as shown in Fig.13 below.
On the tributary side, all current plesiochronous bit rates
can be accommodated. On the aggregate, or line side we
have higher bit rate STMN signals.

Add/Drop Multiplexer (ADM)

Plesiochronous and lower bit rate synchronous signals can
be extracted from or inserted into high speed SDH bit
streams by means of ADMs.
This feature makes it possible to set up ring structures,
which have the advantage that automatic backup path
switching is possible using elements in the ring in the event
of a fault

Digital CrossConnects (DXC)

Cross connection is a synchronous network involves setting
up semipermanent interconnections between different
channels enabling routing to be performed down to a VC
level.
This network element can have widest range of functions
such as mapping of PDH tributary signals into virtual
containers and switching of various containers up to and
including VC4.

Regenerators
Regenerators, as the name implies, have the job of
regenerating the clock and amplitude of the incoming data
signals that have been attenuated and distorted by
dispersion.

They derive their clock signals from the incoming data

stream. Messages are received by extracting various 64
kbit/s channels (e.g. service channels E1, F1, etc. in
RSOH) and also can be output using these channels.