SONET/SDH Testing Reaches New Level
Increased demand for data and video services continues to put a strain on existing networks, driving the need for higher performance metro and core networks. As a result, the shift from 10 gigabit- to 40 gigabit-enabled networks has accelerated over the last year, and will continue at a strong pace, allowing service providers to ensure their next-generation SONET/SDH networks are scaled to meet these growing bandwidth demands.
This upgrade to 40 Gbit/s transmission creates new challenges for service providers, driving the need for 40 gigabit field test equipment to ensure that new network deployments meet industry standards and offer the required service quality and reliability.
EXFO's FTB-8140 Transport Blazer test module, the industry’s most compact 40/43 gigabit field tester, provides advanced SONET/SDH and OTN test functions in a single module. This module is compatible with the FTB-500 Platform, which also supports 40 Gbit/s physical layer modules such as CD, PMD and OSA, ensuring that field technicians have a truly portable solution that meets every testing requirement.
SONET/SDH Service Turn-Up and Troubleshooting
The FTB-8140 Transport Blazer offers a wide range of SONET/SDH test functions ranging from simple bit error rate (BER) testing to advanced characterization and troubleshooting procedures. These functions include:
- Mixed and bulk payload generation and analysis from 51.84 Mbit/s to 40 Gbit/s
- High-order mappings: STS-1/3c/12c/48c/192c/768c and AU-3/AU-4/AU-4-4c/16c/64c/256c
- Unframed optical signal testing at 40 Gbit/s rate
- Section/RS, Line/MS and high-order (HO) path overhead manipulation and monitoring
- Section/RS, Line/MS and high-order (HO) path alarm/error generation and monitoring
- High-order (HO) pointer generation and monitoring
- K1/K2 OH byte capture
- Performance monitoring: G.821, G.828, G.829, M.2100, M.2101
- Frequency analysis and power measurement
- Frequency offset generation
- Automatic protection switching (APS) and service disruption time (SDT) measurements
- Round-trip delay (RTD) measurements
- Intrusive and transparent Through mode analysis
- Programmable error/alarm injection
- Independent transmitter and receiver testing
- Payload block and replace
Optical Transport Network (OTN) Testing
Prevalent in 10 Gbit/s networks, OTN has become a necessity for 40 Gbit/s transmission due to its forward error correction capabilities; critical for high bandwidth transmission applications. The FTB-8140 Transport Blazer offers optional OTN test capabilities for verifying compliancy with ITU-T G.709 standards. Tests include:
- OTU3 (43 Gbit/s) bit rate (framed and unframed)
- Synchronous mapping of SONET/SDH signals within OTN as well as synchronous/asynchronous demapping
- Forward error correction (FEC) testing—error insertion and monitoring
- Service disruption time (SDT) measurements
- Round-trip delay (RTD) measurements
- OTU, ODU, OPU overhead manipulation and monitoring
- OTU, ODU (including ODU TCM), OPU layer alarms/errors generation and analysis
- OTU, ODU (including ODU TCM) trace messages
- Intrusive and transparent Through mode analysis
- Multiplexing/demultiplexing of ODU1 into ODU3, ODU2 into ODU3 and ODU1 into ODU2 into ODU3 with capability of mapping SONET/SDH or 10 GigE client signals within the ODU1 or ODU2
Unsurpassed Configuration and Operational Flexibility
The FTB-500 platform configuration with eight-slot (GP-408) receptacle provides users with an all-in-one solution supporting a mix of SONET/SDH, OTN, Ethernet, Fibre Channel and optical-layer test modules, making it the industry’s first truly integrated network testing platform. This modularity enables users to upgrade their systems in the field according to their testing needs. This multitechnology test platform is the ideal solution for field, central office and lab applications.
Combining the FTB-8130NGE module with the FTB-8140 provides a multiservice portable test solution that addresses SONET/SDH and OTN testing needs from DS0/E0 to OC-768/STM-256/OTU3 as well as Ethernet testing needs from 10 Mbit/s to 10 GigE LAN/WAN and Fibre Channel 1x/2x/4x/10x.
Combined with EXFO’s optical CD, PMD and OSA modules, the FTB-8140 is a unique portable solution addressing all 40 Gbit/s testing requirements from the physical to the transmission layer.
Product Option Flexibility
The FTB-8140 Transport Blazer provides customers with the flexibility to purchase SONET/SDH-only configurations and upgrade to OTN test functions via software options to meet evolving needs—reducing hardware and/or platform retrofits, and significantly decreasing capital and training expenses.
Remote Management
Through its optional Visual Guardian LiteTM management software, the FTB-8140 Transport Blazer allows you to perform remote testing, monitoring and data analysis via standard Ethernet.
Automated Test Scripting
The FTB-8140 Transport Blazer comes with a built-in macro recorder enabling users to easily record test actions and automatically create test scripts. This functionality also allows them to build standard test routines that can be accessed and run by field technicians with little or no manual intervention.