Guidelines for Application of OTN TCM

OIF-OTN-TCM-01.0
June 2013

www.oiforum.com1

1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................3
2 SummaryofITUTRecommendationsRegardingTCM........................................................................4
2.1 ITUTRecommendationG.805Genericfunctionalarchitectureoftransportnetworks...........4
2.2 ITUTRecommendationG.872Architectureofopticaltransportnetworks.............................5
2.3 ITUTRecommendationG.709InterfacesfortheOpticalTransportNetwork(OTN)...............6
2.4 ITUTRecommendationG.798Characteristicsofopticaltransportnetworkhierarchy
equipmentfunctionalblocks...................................................................................................................7
2.5 ITUTRecommendationG.798.1TypesandcharacteristicsofOTNEquipment.......................7
2.6 ITUTRecommendationG.7710Commonequipmentmanagementfunctionrequirements..7
2.7 ITUTRecommendationG.7714.1ProtocolforautomaticdiscoveryinSDHandOTN
networks..................................................................................................................................................8
2.8 ITUTRecommendationsG.873.1OTNLinearProtectionandG.873.2ODUkSharedRing
Protection...............................................................................................................................................8
3 TerminologyandDefinitionsforOTNTCM...........................................................................................8
3.1 ITUTRec.G.798TCMModes.......................................................................................................8
3.2 TCMFunctionalBlocks..................................................................................................................8
4 TCMRoles...........................................................................................................................................11
4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................11
4.2 ApplicationofTCMstoLinks.......................................................................................................14
4.3 ApplicationofTCMstoAdministrativeDomainConnections....................................................15
4.4 ApplicationofTCMstoEndtoEndServiceConnections...........................................................20
4.5 CustomerTCM............................................................................................................................22
4.6 MaintenanceOperations............................................................................................................22
5 ConfigurationsNotCoveredbyThisWhitepaper...............................................................................25
6 ControlPlaneImpactsofTCM............................................................................................................26
7 Security...............................................................................................................................................26

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1 Introduction
OpticalnetworkingequipmentbasedontheOpticalTransportNetwork(OTN)standardsdefinedbythe
ITUsupports,aspartofitsfunctionality,anextensivesetofconnectionmonitoringfunctionality.Three
distinctsetsofmonitoringoverheadareprovided:thesectionmonitoring(SM)overheadwhich
supportsmonitoringofOTUlayersegments,analogoustoSDHregeneratorsectionmonitoring
functions;thepathmonitoring(PM)overheadwhichsupportsmonitoringofODUlayerendtoend
trails(paths),analogoustoSDHpathmonitoringfunctions;andtandemconnectionmonitoring(TCM)
overheadwhichsupportsmonitoringofarbitrarysubnetworkconnections.Thesemonitoringfunctions
maybeusedtomonitorsegmentsofanendtoendOTNtrail(path)andcanbeusedtosupport
unprotectedorprotectedconnections.

SixlevelsofTCM,eachwithvariousmodesofoperation,areprovidedtoallowforsimultaneoususefor
differentmonitoringapplicationsalonganyeachandeveryindividualODUtrail.Theseapplications
include:segmentprotection,administrativedomainmonitoring,servicemonitoring,faultlocalization,
verificationofdeliveredqualityofservice,delay/latencymeasurementsandadjacencydiscovery.Itis
importanttonotethatforanygivenhierarchyofODUtrails(takeforexampleaGbEservicecarriedover
anODU0trailtunneledoveranODU2servertrailwhichisinturncarriedoveranODU4trailtraversinga
DWDMsystemwith100Gwavelengthsupport),eachindependentODUtrailwithinthathierarchyis
supportedbyanendtoendpathmonitorandalsobyallsixlevelsoftandemconnectionmonitors.
TCMsforoneparticularODUlayertrailwithinthehierarchydonotinterferewithTCMsassignedfor
anotherODUlayertrailwithinthehierarchy.

TCMfunctionsmaybecascadedornestedalonganyparticularODUlayertrail,whichmaypassthrough
multiplenodesandadministrativedomains(anadministrativedomainisanysubnetworkthatis
operationallyadministeredindependentlyofothersubnetworksacrossthenetwork).Thenestedor
cascadedstructureisgenerallyadirectresultofthewaytheadministrativedomainsarenestedor
cascaded.Whencascaded,thesameTCMlevelmaybereusedbetweendifferentnodesalongthesame
endtoendconnection,thatis,alongthesameODUtrail.TCMfunctionsnestedwithinthesameODU
trailmustusedifferentTCMlevelsandthemorenestingthatoccurs,themoreTCMlevelsareutilized.
Itispossible,thoughnothighlylikelyformostODUtrails,thatallTCMlevelsareutilized.Itisimportant
toutilizetheOTUlayersectionmonitor(SM)andODUlayerpathmonitor(PM)wheneverpossibleto
preserveTCMlevelsforotherfunctions.

WhenTCMfunctionsarenestedwithinthesametrail,ifnotassignedandconfiguredcorrectly,the
contentsofaparticularTCMmaybeoverwritten,causingmisinterpretationatthereceivingend.There
arenomechanismsinthecurrentOTNstandardsthatautomaticallyensuresuchmisconfigurationdoes
notoccur.TCMlevelsarenotautomaticallyassignedandconfigured.Thisraisesthefollowing
questions:

WhatTCMlevelandTCMmodeshouldbeusedforaparticularapplication?
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HowistheTCMlevelandmodeassigned?
HowareTCMassignmentconflictsavoided?

AsaresultitiscriticalforTCMtobecarefullyadministeredwithinaparticularnetworkanditsuse
acrossdifferentadministrativedomains(e.g.,differentcarriernetworks)mustcurrentlybenegotiated.
Thisdocumentprovidesbackgroundinformationonthedefinitions,modes,andapplicationsofTCMand
definesguidelinesforinterworkingofTCMinordertoreducetheadministrationassociatedwithTCM
assignmentandconfiguration.TCMassignmentusingarolebasedapproachisproposedwithdefault
assignmentofTCMlevelsandmodes.Thesedefaultswouldbefollowedunlessspecificrequirements
withinaparticularnetworknecessitatedeviationsfromthedefaultvalues.Thisdocumentalsoconsiders
theroleofthecontrolplaneinconfiguringandadministratingTCMlevels.

2 Summary of ITUT Recommendations Regarding TCM

AnumberofITUTRecommendationsprovideinformationregardingTCMdefinitionandoperations.The
followingsectionssummarizetheinformationprovidedinthesevariousITUTRecommendations
regardingTCMfunctions,operations,andapplications.

2.1 ITUT Recommendation G.805 Generic functional architecture of

transport networks
ITUTRec.G.805dealswithcommonarchitecturalconceptsoftransportnetworksincludingtandem
connectionmonitoring.Itdefinesatandemconnectionasanarbitraryseriesofcontiguous"link
connections"and/or"subnetworkconnections"whichrepresentsthepartofatrailthatrequires
monitoringindependentlyfromthemonitoringofthecompletetrail.Italsodefinesthefunctions
requiredfortandemconnectionmonitoring.Thesefunctionsinclude(butarenotlimitedto):

Monitoringfunctionsforthetandemconnectionthatareindependentofdefectsanderrorsthat
occurupstreamofthetandemconnection(outsidethetandemconnectionendpoints)
Verificationoftandemconnectionconnectivityandcontinuity
Faultmanagementofthetandemconnectionincludingdetectionandreportingofnearendand
farendfailure/alarmconditions
Performancemanagementofthetandemconnectionincludingdetectionandreportingof
nearendandfarenderrorperformance

Rec.G.805alsodefinesseveralapplicationsfortandemconnectionmonitoringbasedontheconceptof
amonitoringdomain.Threegeneraltandemconnectiondomainapplicationsareidentified:

ProtecteddomainAdomainwheretandemconnectionmonitorsareusedtomonitorthe
status(failurestateanderrorperformance)ofworkingandprotectionconnectionsforthe
purposesofcontrollingprotectionswitchingoperations
ServingoperatoradministrativedomainAdomainwhereatandemconnectionmonitorisused
byaserviceprovider(e.g.,carrierorcarrierscarrier)tomonitorthestatus(failurestateand

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errorperformaance)ofaconnnectiondelivveredtoacu stomer(e.g.,anendcusto
omeroranothher
caarrier)
SeervicerequestingadministtrativedomaiinAdomainnwhereatan ndemconnecttionmonitoris
ussedbyacustomertomon nitorthestatu
us(failurestatteanderrorperformance)ofaconnecction
re
eceivedfromaservicepro
ovider

2.2 ITU
UT Recommmendation G.872 Architectture of opttical transport
ne
etworks
ITUTRec.G.872extendsthearchite ecturalconceeptsprovidedbyRec.G.8005thatareap
pplicabletoop
ptical
transportnetworks.Itdiscussesarcchitecturalconceptsofoptticalchanneldataunit(OD
DU)connectio on
monitorin
ngincludingtaandemconne ectionmonito oring.

ITUTRec.G.872discussestheconcceptofnested dconnectionssuptothemmaximumnum mberoflevelss

definedbytherequirementsofthespecifictechnology(e.g., ITUTRecom mmendationG G.709).Itnotees
thatthen
numberofcon nnectionmon nitoringlevelssthatcanbe usedbyeach
hoperator/usserinvolvedinan
opticalchanneldataun nit(ODU)connnectionmusstbenegotiattedbythepartiesinvolved d.Italsoprovvides
anexamp nneldataunitt(ODU)conneectionwithfiivelevelsofn
pleofatypicalopticalchan nestedconnection
monitorinng(seeFiguree1beloweaachcolorrepresentsadiffferentleveloffnestedmon nitoring).

Figgure1:TCMa
applicationexxample[Note
e:ThisfigureisbasedonIITURec.G.87
72Figure7]

Thisexam
mpleillustrate
esanendtoe
endtrailthatccontainsase rvicerequesttingadministrrativedomain n
extendinggfromacustoomerinterfacceacrossaservingoperatooradministraativedomainprovidingthee
leasedserrvicetoanoth
hercustomerrinterface.W
Withintheleassedserviceseervingoperattoradministraative
domainarethreesepaaratecascadedserviceope eratoradminiistrativedomains,oneofw whichcontain nsa
protectedddomain.Thecustomerm monitorstheq qualityoftheeleasedserviccewhilethelleasedservicee
servingop
peratormonittorsthequalityofserviceprovidedtotthecustomerr.Inaddition,eachservingg
operatordomainismo onitoredindependentlyalo ongwiththe protecteddo omainwithinoneoftheseerving
operatordomains.Inthisexamplee,thesameTC CMlevel(greeen)isreusedbyOperatorrsA,BandCffor
endtoenndmonitoringgoftheirspeccificdomains.
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2.3 ITUT Recommendation G.709 Interfaces for the Optical Transport

Network (OTN)
ITUTRec.G.709definestheoverheadrequiredtosupporttandemconnectionmonitoringfortheOTN.
ThisincludesallTCMbitandbyteassignmentswithintheOTNframestructureandthedefinitionofthe
functionsofthosebitsandbytes.G.709specifiesthatOTNprovidessixfieldsorlevelsofODUkTCM
(referredtoasTCM1,TCM2,TCM6)andthenumberofactiveTCMlevelsalonganODUktrailmay
varybetween0and6(seeFigure2below).Atdomaininterfaces,G.709specifiesthattheprovisioning
ofthemaximumnumberoflevelswhichwillbepassedthroughthedomainispossible(defaultofthree
levels).Thesetandemconnectionsshouldusethelowerlevels(i.e.TCM1,TCM2orTCM3).Levels
beyondthemaximummay/willbeoverwritteninthedomain.

Column
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1 Frame Alignment MFAS SM GCC0 RES RES JC

PM& TCM
2 RES TCM6 TCM5 TCM4 FTFL RES JC
TCM ACT
Row 3 TCM3 TCM2 TCM1 PM EXP RES JC

4 GCC1 GCC2 APS/PCC RES PSI NJO

ACT Activation/deactivation control channel

APS
BDI
Automatic Protection Switching channel
Backward Defect Indication
Tandem Connection Monitor
BEI Backward Error Indication 1 2 3
BIAE Backward Incoming Alignment Error TTI BIP-8
BIP-8 Bit Interleaved Parity level 8
DAPI Destination Access Point Identifier
DMp Delay Measurement path level 0
DMtn Delay Measurement tandem level n SAPI
EXP Experimental
(source)
FTFL Fault Type and Fault Location channel
15
GCC General Communications Channel
IAE Incoming Alignment Error 16 SM BEI/BIAE BDI IAE RES
JC Justification Control DAPI
MFAS Multi-frame Alignment Signal (destination)
31 TCMi BEI/BIAE BDI STAT
NJO Negative Justification Opportunity
PCC Protection Communication Channel 32
PM Path Monitor Operator
PM BEI BDI STAT
PSI Payload Structure Identifier Specific
PT Payload Type 63
RES Reserved
SAPI Source Access Point Identifier
SM Section Monitor Path & Tandem Connection Delay
STAT Status
TCM Tandem Connection Monitor PM&
TCM DMt1 DMt2 DMt3 DMt4 DMt5 DMt6 DMp RES
TTI Trail Trace Identifier

Figure2:LocationoftheTCMoverhead(shownasdarkbluecolor)withintheOTUkframe[Note:This
figureisbasedonITURec.G.709Figure153]

G.709specifiesthattheTCMfunctionsformonitoredconnectionsmaybenested,cascadedorboth.
OverlappingofTCMfunctionsisanadditionalconfigurationsupportedfortestingpurposesonlybut
mustbeoperatedinanonintrusivemodewheremaintenancesignalsarenotgenerated.

G.709alsodescribesthenetworkapplicationssupportedbytheODUkTCMfunctionsandreferences
[ITUTG.805]and[ITUTG.872].Theapplicationsreferencedaretheservicerequestingadministrative
domain(calledopticalUNItoUNItandemconnectionmonitoring),serviceoperatoradministrative
domain(calledopticalNNItoNNItandemconnectionmonitoring),andprotecteddomain(linear
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protection,sharedringprotection,andautomaticrestoration)applications.Inaddition,G.709identifies
theuseofTCMfunctionstosupportfaultlocalizationandservicemaintenancefunctions.

2.4 ITUT Recommendation G.798 Characteristics of optical transport

network hierarchy equipment functional blocks
ITUT Rec. G.798 provides the modelling of the OTN equipment functional blocks including the TCM
functions. The definition of the TCM processing includes defect detection and generation, defect
correlation, consequent actions (e.g., maintenance signal generation), and performance monitoring
functions.G.798alsoprovidesanappendixwithexamplesofTCMapplications.

G.798 models TCM functions through separate termination, adaptation, and control elements. The
terminationandadaptationelementsarefurthersubdividedintoseparateunidirectionalcomponents
dedicated to TCM source and sink operations. The termination elements deal mainly with the
generation and insertion of TCM overhead bits/bytes at the source end of a tandem connection, and
extractionandprocessingoftheTCMoverheadbits/bytesatthesinkendofatandemconnection.The
adaptationelementsdealmainlywiththelayertolayerprocessingrequiredatthesourceandsinkends
of a tandem connection (e.g., detection of incoming alignment errors or insertion of maintenance
signals).

2.5 ITUT Recommendation G.798.1 Types and characteristics of OTN

Equipment
ITUTRec.G.798.1providesanexampleofassignedTCMlevelswithinanetworkanddescribesthe
maintenancesignalinteractions(e.g.,AISpropagation)betweentandemconnectionsthatare
concatenatedinthesamesublayerandbetweentandemconnectionsthatareatdifferentsublayers.
G.798.1alsoprovidesexamplesofINNI,ENNIandUNINportsinwhichthepresenceofTCM
functionalityisillustrated.

2.6 ITUT Recommendation G.7710 Common equipment management

function requirements
ITUTRec.G.7710providesinformationrelatedtomanagementofTCMfunctions(configuration,fault,
performance,etc.)includingTCMactivation.OneoftheaspectsofactivationthatRec.G.7710coversis
theactivationofaTCMfordifferentnestingscenarios.TheseincludeactivatingaTCMthatisnested
withinoneormoreotherTCMlevels,activatingaTCMthathasoneormoreexistingTCMlevelsnested
withinit,andactivatingaTCMthatisacombinationoftheprevioustwocases.Thisdocumentspecifies
thattwoactivationbehaviorsarepossiblefromanNEperspective:

TCMlevelscanbeallocatedflexibly,thatis,inanyorder
TCMlevelscannotbeallocatedflexibly,thatis,theyrequireafixedordering

ThefirstcaserequiresonlythattheTCMbeactivatedatthecorrectlocationwithrespecttoanyexisting
TCMlevels.ThesecondcasemayrequirethatexistingTCMlevelsberearrangedinordertosupporta
newTCMlevel.

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2.7 ITUT Recommendation G.7714.1 Protocol for automatic discovery in

SDH and OTN networks
ITUTRec.G.7714.1describesthemethods,proceduresandtransportplanemechanismsfordiscovering
layeradjacencyforautomaticallyswitchedopticalnetworks(ASON).Section6ofG.7714.1pointsoutthe
useoftheTTIfieldofTCMlevel6asthedefaultmechanismforcarryinglayeradjacencydiscovery
messages.

2.8 ITUT Recommendations G.873.1 OTN Linear Protection and G.873.2

ODUk Shared Ring Protection
ITUTRecs.G.873.1andG.873.2definetheautomaticprotectionswitching(APS)protocoland
protectionswitchingoperationforOTNlinearandringprotectionschemesattheopticalchanneldata
unit(ODUk)level.OneofthekeyschemesprovidedinG.873.1andG.873.2isODUksubnetwork
connectionprotectionwithsublayermonitoring(SNC/S).Inthiscaseprotectionswitchingistriggeredby
signalfailorsignaldegradedefectsdetectedattheODUkTsublayertrail(TCM).AnODUkTsublayertrail
isestablishedforeachworkingandprotectionentity.Protectionswitchingistriggeredonlyondefectsof
theprotecteddomain.TheRecommendationspointoutthatcarehastobetakentomakesurethat
therearenooverlappingdomainsofuseofaTCMlevel(i.e.TCMlevelsshouldonlybeusedinnestedor
concatenatedmodes).

Rec.G.873.2alsosuggeststheuseofTCMlevel6formonitoringanODUkconnectionwhichis
supportedbytwoormoreconcatenatedODUklinkconnections(supportedbybacktobackOTUk
trails).G.873.2specifiesanODUSRP1protectionapplicationwhichusestheTCM6fieldtomonitorthe
status/performanceoftheODUconnectionbetweentwoadjacentODUSRP1nodes.

3 Terminology and Definitions for OTN TCM

3.1 ITUT Rec. G.798 TCM Modes
ITUTRec.G.798definesthreemodesforTCM:

Operationalmode
InOperationalmode,theTCMinformationisextractedfromtheTCMfieldandusedto
triggeractionssuchasalarmgeneration,switchingaction,etc.
Transparentmode
InTransparentmode,theTCMinformationispassedthroughwithoutchange(i.e.,
transparently)andnoprocessingisperformed.
Monitoringmode
InMonitoringmode,TCMinformationisprocessedtorecoverdefectsandstatus
information,butisstillpassedthroughunchangedtosucceedingnodes.

3.2 TCM Functional Blocks

TheRec.G.798TCMfunctionalblocksandtheirbasicfunctionalityareasfollows:

ODUkT/ODUk_A_So:ODUkT/ODUkAdaptationSourceFunction

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StartsaselectedTC CMlevelandcaninitiatemmaintenancessignals(LCK)ifOPERATION NAL

Provid desaccesstoOODUkPM
InsertAPSOverheaadifOPERATIO ONAL
ODUkT/ODUk_
O _A_Sk:TheODUkT/ODUkAdaptationSSinkFunction
EndsaaselectedTCM Mlevelandcaninitiatemaaintenancesiignals(AIS,LC CK)if
OPERAATIONAL
Provid deaccesstoO
ODUkPM
AccesssAPSOverheadifOPERATTIONAL
ODUkT_TT_So
O :ODUkTTrailTermination nSourceFuncction
Compu utestheBIP8
8,addstandem mconnectionnmonitoringoverhead(TC CMOH)if
OPERAATIONAL
InsertssBDI/BEIifOPERATIONALORMONITO R
ODUkT_TT_Sk
O :ODUkTTraillTermination nSinkFunctioon
Compu utesBIP8,colllectsdefectsforPM,and extractsTCM
MOHifOPERA ATIONALor
MONITTOR
ODUkT_TCMC
O :TCMContro olFunction
Responsibleforacttivationandd deactivationoofaTCMtrail,,setsTCMlevvel,andsets
modessforterminattionandadap ptationfunctiionalblocks

Thesefun
nctionsareshowninthefiggurebelow:

Figgure3:G.798
8TCMFunctio
onalBlocks

Thefollow
wingtablesum
mmarizesthe
edifferentcombinationsoofTCMmodeandwhereth
heyareused..

Table1:Co
ombinationso
ofTCMmodeesfromITUTTG.798

Source// Use ODUkkT_TT ODUkT/ODUk

O k_A Functtions
Sink Moode Mode
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Source TCM assigned Operational Operational Originate TCM Trail

Insert TTI, BIP8
Insert BDI, BEI/BIAE, LCK
Insert IAE
Insert APS
Insert and Process DM

Source TCM not Transparent Transparent Transparent Pass Through of

assigned TCMOH

Sink TCM assigned Operational Operational Terminate TCM Trail, Reset

TCMOH
Process BIP8
Extract TTI
Extract BDI, BEI/BIAE
Extract STAT
Return DM to Remote Point
Return BDI, BEI/BIAE to
Remote Point
Extract APS
Insert ODUk LCK
Insert ODUk AIS/SSF
Consequent Action

Sink Shadow Operational Transparent Transparent Pass Through of

TCM assigned TCMOH
Process BIP8
Extract TTI
Extract BDI, BEI/BIAE
Extract STAT
Return DM to Remote Point
Return BDI, BEI/BIAE to
Remote Point

Sink Test Purposes Monitor Operational Terminate TCM Trail, Reset

TCMOH
Process BIP8
Extract TTI
Extract BDI, BEI/BIAE
Extract STAT
Return BDI, BEI/BIAE to
Remote Point
Extract APS
Insert ODUk LCK
Insert ODUk AIS/SSF
Consequent Action

Sink Test Purposes Monitor Monitor (or Transparent Pass Through of

Transparent) TCMOH
Process BIP8
Extract TTI
Extract BDI, BEI/BIAE
Extract STAT
Return BDI, BEI/BIAE to
Remote Point

Sink Transparent Operational For further study

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Sink TCM not Transparent Transparent Transparent Pass Through of

assigned TCMOH

Sink SNC/Ns Non-Intrusive Process BIP8

Protection Monitor Extract TTI
Extract BDI, BEI/BIAE
Extract STAT
Extract APS
Note:AccesstotheAPSbytesisrequiredforbidirectionalprotectionswitching.

4 TCM Roles
4.1 Introduction
ManyoftheITUTRecommendationsaddressvariousTCMapplications.Recs.G.805,G.872,andG.709
provideinformationrelatedtothreebasicapplicationsbasedonpartitioningofthenetworkintospecific
domains:protecteddomains(linear,ring,etc.);servingoperatoradministrativedomains(whichcanbe
nestedorcascaded);andservicerequestingadministrativedomains(associatedwiththecustomer
leasingtheservicefromtheserviceoperators).TheprotectionstandardsdefinetheuseofTCMforlink
monitoringforlinear(Rec.G.873.1)andring(Rec.G.873.2)applications.Rec.G.709includestheuseof
TCMforfaultsectionalizationandisolation,i.e.,maintenancefunctions.Rec.G.7714.1includestheuse
ofTCMforlayeradjacencydiscoveryoperations.

Inadditiontorolesbasedapplications,Rec.G.709includesTCMallocationfromabroadperspectiveby
specifyingwhichsetofTCMlevelsshouldbeassignedtopassthroughadomain(thelowerTCMlevels)
andwhichTCMsshouldbeassignedwithinthedomain(thehigherTCMlevels).Infact,example
multidomainconfigurationssuggest,butdonotrequire,specificlevelsforspecificapplications.In
general,TCMassignmentmusttobenegotiatedwithintheserviceprovidercommunity.Rec.G.873.2,
recommendsaspecificTCMlevel(TCM6)forlinkmonitoringinsupportofringprotection,andRec.
G.7714.1recommendsTCM6forlayeradjacencydiscoveryfunctions.Sosomeprecedenthasbeenset
fortheutilizationofspecificTCMlevelsforspecificapplications,althoughthishasnotbeenbroadly
appliedandnegotiationofTCMlevelsbetweenserviceprovidersisstillnecessaryingeneral.

TheinformationprovidedbytheITUTRecommendationscanbeextendedtoformthebasisof
rolesbasedTCMassignment.Figure4belowillustratesageneralnetworkdiagramwithdomain
partitioningthatincludesvariouskeytopologicalelements.

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Figgure4:GenericNetworkD
Diagramwith
hDomainIdeentification

Thisdiagrramisusedto
oidentifyase
etofroleseacchofwhichcaanbeassigneedaspecificTTCMlevel.Byy
assigningaspecificleveltoaspecifiicrolethepo
ossibilityofauutomaticassiggnmentandcconfigurationof
TCMwithoutcarrierne egotiationofTCMlevelussageforthem ndtoendservviceconnections
majorityofen
maybesu upported.Onnlyinspecialccasesituation
nswouldTCM Mnegotiationnberequired..

Figure4showsanetworkmadeupofOTNnode es(networke lements)inteerconnectedb bynodetono ode

links.ThissdiagramisssimilartoFigu
ure1whichw wasbasedon informationffromRec.G.8 872lessthe
customer networkporrtion,sinceth hispaperisinttendedtomaainlyaddressserviceproviideraspects.
However,therearesomekeydifferrences.Anod deintheconttextofthisw
whitepaperreepresentsanO OTN
networke elementthatsourcesandtterminatesatandemconnnectionmonitoringlevel,n notnecessariily
anyOTNn networkelem ment,sinceth hiswhitepape erisdealingw
withtheappliicationofTCM
Mfunctions.
Nodesintthiscontextw willtypicallyp
provideODUswitchingfunnctionality,bu utmaynotinnallcases.OTTN
networke elementsthattarenotcapaableofOTNsswitchingfuncctionality,succhasOTUkreegeneratorso or
multiplexers,orOTNcapableDWDM Mequipmentt,oftenexist betweentheeswitchingno odeswherein n
mostcase estheconnecctionsbetwee enthoseelem mentsmaybeemanagedthroughtheuseeofOTUsecttion
monitoro orinsomecassesODUkpatthmonitoringgfunctionsthhuspreservinggTCMlevelsforotherusees.
Suchnetw workelementtswouldnotb beconsidered dnodesinth econtextoftthiswhitepaper.Alinkinnthis
contextge enerallyrepre esentsanOD DUklinkconne ectionbetwe enOTNnodeesthatutilizessaTCMfor
connectio onmonitoringg,notanOTU Uklayerlinkco
onnection(nootethattheO ODUklinkcon nnectionmayybe
eitherahigherordero orlowerorderODUkasdefinedbyITUsstandards).

Linksbetw
weennodesccontainedwitthinaparticularadministraativedomain(e.g.,serviceeprovider
peratoradministrativedom
network),,orservingop mainfromReec.G.805,areereferredtoaasintradomaain

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links(IaDL),whilelinksthatinterconnectnodesindifferentadministrativedomainsaretermed
interdomainlinks(IrDL).Linksbetweennodes,eitherIaDLorIrDLlinks,maybeunprotectedor
protected.Protectedlinksexistwithinaprotectiondomain.

Anendtoendnetworkthatprovidesservicetoanendcustomerismadeupofoneormore
administrativedomains1.Eachadministrativedomaincanprovideconnectivityacrossitsnodesandlinks
toallowservicestobeestablishedacrossitsdomain.Theseadministrativedomainconnectionsmaybe
protectedonasegmentbysegmentbasiswhereasegmentcouldtraverseoneormorelinks,orthey
couldbeprotectedonanendtoendbasis.Aprotectiondomainwouldexistforeachprotected
segmentorfortheentireconnectionacrosstheadministrativedomain.

Anendtoendcustomerserviceissupportedacrossthenetworkofoneormoreadministrative
domains.ThisisreferredtoastheservicedomaininFigure3andisequivalenttotheleasedservice
servingoperatoradministrativedomainfromG.872.Thatconnectionmayalsobeunprotectedor
protected,andifprotectedhasanassociatedprotectiondomain.

Thereareseveralcomponentsofthisnetworkthatrequiremonitoring.Theseincludethelinks,either
intraorinterdomainlinks,thedomainconnectionsthattraverseanadministrativedomain,andthe
serviceconnectionsthattraversetheservicedomain.Alsoanylinksorconnectionsthatareprotected
mustbemonitoredtocontrolprotectionswitchingoperations.AllofthesecomponentswithinanOTN
networkcouldutilizeTCMfunctionsandarecandidatesforautomaticTCMassignmentand
configuration.

WithrespecttoOTNprotectionmechanisms,manyformsofOTNprotectioncurrentlyexist.These
include

SNC/IwhereanOTUkSMthatinherentlyterminatesanOTUktrailisusedtocontrol
protectionoperationsfortheunderlyingODUkconnection
CLSNCG/IwhereanODUkPMthatinherentlyterminatesahigherorderODUktrailisusedto
controlprotectionoperationsfortheunderlyinggroupofmultiplexedODUjconnections
SNC/SwhereaODUkTCMthatterminatesanODUktandemconnectionisusedtocontrol
protectionofallunderlyingODUconnections
SNC/NswhereaTCMisusedtononintrusivelymonitoredanassociatedODUconnectionand
controlprotectionoperations
SNC/NewhereaPMisusedtononintrusivelymonitoredanassociatedODUconnectionand
controlprotectionoperations

ThiswhitepaperwilladdressonlytheSNC/SandSNC/Nsprotectionmechanismsastheyaretheonly
onesapplicabletoTCMassignment.Theothermechanisms,SNC/I,CLSNCG/I,andSNC/Necanbe
utilizedwhereapplicableandmaypreserveTCMlevelsforotherapplications.

1
Aparticularserviceprovidernetworkmayitselfconsistofmultipleadministrativedomains.

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Itisimportanttonotethatthiswhitepaperattemptstopresentsguidelinesfortheautomatic
assignmentofTCMlevelstospecificroles.Thisisintendedtocoverthemajorityofapplications
commonlyfoundinOTNtransportandswitchingnetwork.Itisnotintendedtobeallinclusive,thatis,
tocoverallpossibleconfigurations.Networktopologiesthatcannotbesupportedbytherecommended
assignmentsmayalwayshaveTCMsassignedinamannersupportingtheparticularapplication.Itis
alsoimportanttorecognizethatinthecontextofthiswhitepaperlinksmayrunatanyapplicablerate,
dependingontheunderlyingphysicaltransportmechanismsupportingthelink,whilethedomainand
serviceconnectionsaregenerallyintendedtorepresentconnectionsattherequiredratetosupportthe
endtoendservice,forexample,aGbEservicecarriedonanODU0endtoendthroughmultiple
domains.Itisnotrequired,however,thatalldomainsoperateattheservicerate.Forexample,a
carriermayleaseahighcapacityconnectionODU2connectionacrossanothercarrierdomainforthe
purposeoftransportingmanyODU0servicecontainers.Inthecontextofthiswhitepaperthehigh
capacityODU2connectionwouldrepresentandendtoendservicefromthecarrierscarrierperspective
andwouldbesubjecttotheTCMassignmentsdescribedbutfortheODU2connection.Whereasthe
ODU0connectionwouldbetreatedasanendtoendconnectionfromtheperspectiveofthecarrier
providingtheGbEservicetransportandalsobesubjecttotheTCMassignmentdefinedinthiswhite
paperbutnowfortheODU0connection.

4.2 Application of TCMs to Links

4.2.1 Link Monitoring
Inthisrole,TCMsupportsthefollowingfunctions:

Linkfailure/degradedetection(withorwithoutOTUkregenerators)
Faultsectionalization
LinklevelAPS(lineswitchingequivalent)
Linklayeradjacencydiscovery

RecommendedTCMmodeandlevelassignment:OperationalmodeTCM6

ThisTCMlevelcouldbeautomaticallyassignedandconfiguredatlinkinterfaceprovisioningtime.Both
unprotectedandprotectedconfigurationscanbesupported.NotethatitispossibleforanOTUk
regeneratortobepresentwithinthemonitoredlinkshowninFigure5.

UnprotectedLinkMonitoringPoints:

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Figure5:GenericDiagramofanUnprotectedLinkMonitoredusingTCM6.

4.2.2 Link Level APS

ForlinkmonitoringonlySNC/Sprotectionshouldbeimplemented.ThoughSNC/Nslinkprotectioncould
beimplemented,itisnotrecommended.SNC/Nsconfigurationscannotsupportlayeradjacency
discoveryofworkingandprotectlinkssinceonlyanonintrusivemonitorispresentonthelinksideof
theswitch(thenonintrusivemonitorhasnoabilitytoinsertdiscoveryinformation).

SNC/SProtectedLinkMonitoringPoints:

Figure6:GenericDiagramofanSNC/SProtectedLinkusingTCM6.

4.2.3 Layer Adjacency Discovery

ITUTRec.G.7714.1specifiesaspecificdiscoverymessageformatutilizingtheSAPIfieldoftheTTIbyte
ofTCM6forthisfunction.

4.3 Application of TCMs to Administrative Domain Connections

4.3.1 EndtoEnd Domain Connection Monitoring
Inthisrole,TCMsupportsthefollowingfunctions:

Domainfailure/degradedetection
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Faultsectionalization
Domainsignalqualitymonitoring

RecommendedTCMmodeandlevelassignment:OperationalmodeTCM4

UnprotectedEndtoEndDomainConnectionMonitoringPoints:

Inthisconfiguration,theTCMisterminatedatthedomainboundary.Thisterminationisalways
requiredregardlessofhowprotectionisconfiguredwithinoracrossthedomaininordertoprovidethe
properendtoenddomainmonitoring.NotethatprotectiondomainsusingTCM5andlinkmonitoring
usingTCM6maybenestedwithinthedomainboundaries.

Domain Boundary
Domain Boundary
TCM4

TCM4
End-to-End Domain SNC

Figure7:GenericDiagramofEndtoEndDomainConnectionMonitoringusingTCM4.

4.3.2 SNC Protection for Administrative Domain Connections

Protectionmayberequiredonsubnetworkconnectionswithinanadministrativedomain.These
subnetworkconnectionsmaytraverseaportionofthedomainortraversethedomainendtoend.
Protectedsubnetworkconnectionsthattraverseonlyaportionofthedomainmaybecascaded.Each
subnetworkconnectionmaybeindependentlyprotected.

Inthisrole,TCMsupportsthefollowingprotectionconfigurations:

SNC/Sprotection:supportsboundedprotectiondomainswithoutsympathetic2switching
(protectiondomainisboundedbytheTCM)

2
Sympatheticswitchingisthetermusedheretoidentifyprotectionswitchingactivitycausedbyfailure
propagationintotheintendedprotectiondomainfromoutsidetheintendedprotectiondomain.Thismayoccur
forprotectionconfigurationsutilizingnonintrusivemonitoringwhenthemonitoringterminationislocatedina
networkelementotherthantheonesupportingthenonintrusivemonitoringandtheprotectionswitching
functions.ThisconfigurationisillustratedinFigure1110ofITURecommendationG.808.1.

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SNC/Nsprotection:supportsunboundedprotectiondomainsthatmayexhibitsympathetic
switching(protectiondomainboundariesarenotboundedbytheTCMbutbynonintrusive
monitors)

RecommendedTCMmodeandlevelassignment:OperationalmodeTCM5andTCM4nonintrusive
monitorforendtoenddomainconnectionprotectionusingSNC/Ns

SNC/SProtectedDomainConnectionMonitoringPoints:

InthisconfigurationtheTCMsareterminatedonthenetworksideoftheswitchfunction.Notethat
nestedlinkmonitorsmayexistonanynodetonodelinks(asdefinedintheLinkMonitoringsection).
TheprotectionswitchingdomainisboundedbytheTCMterminationssofailuresoutsidetheprotection
domainhavenoeffectonprotectionswitchingoperation.

Figure8:GenericDiagramofanSNC/SProtectedDomainConnectionusingTCM5.

ThisisthepreferredschemeforallintradomainSNCPconfigurations(subnetworkconnectionswithina
domainthatdonottraversethedomainendtoend)andmayalsobeusedforendtoenddomain
connections.

SNC/NsProtectedDomainConnectionMonitoringPointsforDomainConnections:

InthisconfigurationtheTCMsareterminatedoutsidetheprotectiondomainandnonintrusive
monitorsareprovidedtocontroltheswitchfunction.Notethatnestedlinkmonitorsmayexistonany
nodetonodelinks(asdefinedintheLinkMonitoringsection).Theprotectionswitchingdomainisnot
boundedbytheterminatedTCMbutbythenonintrusivemonitors,thereforeitispossibleforupstream
defectstocausefaultpropagationintobothworkingandprotectsubnetworkconnections,whichmay
resultinsympatheticswitchingoperation(switchingduetofaultsoutsidetheprotectiondomain).For
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thisreasons,useoftheSNC/NsprotectionmechanismisonlyrecommendedwhentheTCMtermination
occurswithinthesameequipmentasthenonintrusivemonitoringfunction3.Thislimitsthepossibility
ofupstreamfaultpropagationintotheprotectiondomain.

Figure9:GenericDiagramofanSNC/NsProtectedDomainConnectionusingTCM5.

WhenSNC/NsprotectedintradomainSNCsarecascaded,itmaybepossibleforTCMstooverlapas
illustratedinFigure10.ThepresenceofoverlapisdependentontheprotectionandTCM
implementation.BecauseG.709definesoverlappingTCMoperationfortestpurposesonly,itisnot
recommendedtousecascadedSNC/NsinoperationalnetworkswhenthisresultsinoverlappedTCMs.

3
InthecasethenonintrusivemonitorisnotlocatedinthesameNEastheTermination(givingasimilar
architectureasinSDHimplementations)thesympatheticswitchingcanbeavoidedbyanappropriateholdoff
timer.

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Figure10:OverlappingTCMswithBacktoBackSNC/NsProtection

SNC/NsProtectedDomainConnectionMonitoringPointsusingTCM4forEndtoEndDomain
Connections:

Inthisconfiguration,TCM4maybeusedtosupportendtoenddomainconnectionprotectionaswellas
theendtoenddomainconnectionmonitoring.SNC/Nsprotectionisappropriateinthisapplication
sincethedomainterminationandthenonintrusivemonitorswouldbelocatedwithinthesamenode.

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Figure11:GenericDiagramofanSNC/NsProtectedEndtoEndDomainConnectionusingTCM4

4.4 Application of TCMs to EndtoEnd Service Connections

4.4.1 EndtoEnd Service Connection Monitoring
Inthisrole,TCMsupportsthefollowingfunctions:

Servicefailure/degradedetection
Servicesignalqualitymonitoring
SLAverification(mayfunctionastheDomainMonitorforasingledomainserviceconnection)

RecommendedTCMmodeandlevelassignment:OperationalmodeTCM2

UnprotectedEndtoEndServiceConnectionMonitoringPoints:

Inthisconfiguration,theTCMisterminatedattheserviceboundary.Thisterminationisalwaysrequired
regardlessofhowprotectionisconfiguredinordertoprovidetheproperservicemonitoring.Notethat
administrativedomainsusingTCM4,protectiondomainsusingTCM5andlinkmonitoringusingTCM6
maybenestedwithintheserviceboundaries.Itshouldbenotedthattherearecaseswhereaservice
connectiontraversesonlyasingleadministrativedomain.Inthesecasesthereisnorealneedtosetup
separateendtoenddomainconnectionmonitoringandendtoendserviceconnectionmonitoring
functions.Inthesecasesitisrecommendedtoutilizetheendtoendserviceconnectionmonitorfor
bothfunctionsthuspreservingtheintermediateTCMlevelsforotherapplications.

End-to-End Service SNC

Figure12:GenericDiagramofEndtoEndServiceConnectionMonitoringusingTCM2.

4.4.2 SNC Protection for EndtoEnd Service Connections

Protectionmayberequiredonendtoendservicesubnetworkconnections.Eachendtoend
subnetworkconnectionmaybeindependentlyprotected.
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Inthisrole,TCMsupportsthefollowingprotectionconfigurations:

SNC/Sprotection:supportsboundedprotectiondomainswithoutsympatheticswitching
(protectiondomainisboundedbytheTCM)
SNC/Nsprotection:supportsunboundedprotectiondomainsthatmayexhibitsympathetic
switching(protectiondomainboundariesarenotboundedbytheTCMbutbynonintrusive
monitors)

RecommendedTCMmodeandlevelassignment:OperationalmodeTCM3forSNC/SandTCM2for
SNC/Ns

SNC/SProtectedEndtoEndServiceConnectionMonitoringPoints:

InthisconfigurationtheTCMsareterminatedonthenetworksideoftheswitchfunction.The
protectionswitchingdomainisboundedbytheTCMterminationssofailuresoutsidetheprotection
domainhavenoeffectonprotectionswitchingoperation.

Figure13:GenericDiagramofanSNC/SProtectedServiceConnectionusingTCM3.

SNC/NsProtectedEndtoEndServiceConnectionMonitoringPointsusingTCM2:

Inthisconfiguration,TCM2isreusedtosupportendtoendserviceprotection.Thisisthepreferred
configurationforSNC/NsprotectedserviceconnectionsasitpreservesTCM3forotheruses.SNC/Ns
protectionisappropriateinthisapplicationsincetheserviceterminationandthenonintrusivemonitors
wouldbelocatedwithinthesamenode.

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Protection Domain

Work
Service Boundary

Service Boundary
TCM2

TCM2
TCM2

TCM2
TCM2

TCM2
Prot

Non-intrusive
Monitors

Service Domain SNC

Figure14:GenericDiagramofanSNC/NsProtectedEndtoEndServiceConnectionusingTCM2

4.5 Customer TCM

Inthisrole,TCMsupportsthefollowingfunctions:

Serviceproviderservicequalityverification

RecommendedTCMmodeandlevelassignment:OperationalmodeTCM1

Inthisrole,aTCMisreservedforendtoendcustomeruse.Thiscorrespondstotheservicerequesting
administrativedomainfromRec.G.872.AserviceprovidermayutilizethisTCMlevelwhenthemapping
oftheclientsignal(e.g.,Ethernetclient,SONET/SDHclient,etc.)intoanODUkisprovidedbytheservice
providerequipment.

4.6 Maintenance Operations

TheTCMassignmentsfortherolesdescribedintheprevioussectionsprovidethemeansformonitoring
variousconnectionlevelstodetermineconnectionquality,todetectconnectionfailure,andtodrive
protectionswitchingoperations.Thesemonitorsalsosupporttheprocessofdefectandfault
sectionalization/localizationbybeingabletodeterminethedomainorlinkinwhichthedefectorfailure
hasoccurred.Bythemselvestheymaynotbesufficientforisolatingadefectorfailuretoaspecific
facility(e.g.,fiberopticspan)orequipment(i.e.,specificnetworkelement).Additionalmonitoringmay
berequiredtoperformtheseoperations.Insomecases,useoftheOTUlayersectionmonitormaybe
sufficient,butthatmaynotaddressallcases.Whenrequiredadditionaltandemconnectionmonitors
maybeassignedonanasneededbasistosupportdefectandfaultisolationofanyarbitraryconnection
withinadomainorlink.

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OneoftheissueswiththeuseofTCMforarbitraryconnectionmonitoringtosupportadditional
maintenanceoperationsisthedeterminationoftheTCMleveltobeusedforthesefunctions.Ascanbe
seenfromtherolesbasedTCMassignmentsdescribedintheprevioussections,manyorevenallofthe
TCMlevelsmayalreadybeinuseforspecificroles.InsertionofamaintenanceTCMlevelatanimproper
pointcouldcauseconflictwithotherTCMsalreadyassigned.EvenifaTCMlevelisavailable,
maintenancepersonnelwouldberequiredtodeterminewhichTCMlevelsarealreadyinuse,including
thoseoutsidethedomainofinterest,inordertomaketheproperlevelselection.Inmultidomain
environmentsthismayoftenbedifficultandtimeconsuming.

AsecondissuethatmayariseistheactualabilitytoactivatethechosenTCMlevelatthedesiredpoint
withinthenetwork.Aswasdescribedinsection2.6,ITURecommendationG.7710definestwopossible
implementationsforTCMassignment:assignmentofTCMlevelsinanyorder,orstrictorderingofTCM
levelswithinanetworkelement(e.g.,level6nestedwithinlevel5,level5nestedwithinlevel4,etc.).
ThismeansthatifaTCMlevelisavailableforuse,dependingonthepointofinsertionandthenetwork
elementcapability,itmaynotbepossibletoactuallyutilizedthelevelwhereintended.

AnalternativetotheassignmentofaTCMlevelformaintenancefunctionsisthereuseoftheexisting
TCMlevels,definedfortherolesdescribedintheprevioussection,toprovideadditionalmaintenance
support,particularlywithregardtodefectorfaultsectionalization/localization.Asdescribedinsection
3,tandemconnectionmonitorssupportseveralmodesofoperation.OneofthosemodesistheMonitor
Modewhichisapplicabletotrailterminationsinkandadaptationsinkfunctions.Atrailterminationsink
function,whenoperatedinMonitorMode,providesthesamebehaviorasatrailterminationsinkin
OperationalMode.However,anadaptationsinkoperatinginMonitorMode,unlikeoneinOperational
Mode,passesTCMoverheadtransparentlyanddoesnottakeanyconsequentactionsupondetectionof
terminationdefects.ThismeansthataTCMsinkfunction(bothtrailterminationandadaptation)
operatinginMonitorModeandatthesamelevelastheTCMlevelalreadybeingutilizedforaparticular
endtoendconnectionmonitoringrole,coupledwithatTransparentTCMsourcefunction(bothtrail
terminationandadaptation),maybeinsertedatanypointalongtheendtoendconnectiontomonitor
theconnectionuptotheinsertionpoint.ByinsertingtheMonitorModeTCMatsuccessivedownstream
monitoringpoints,itispossibletolocatethesourceofadefectorfaultalongtheconnection.This
processdoesnotutilizeanyadditionalTCMlevels,thereforeneversuffersfromTCMlevelconflicts,and
onlyrequiresthatmaintenancepersonnelunderstandwhichTCMlevelisbeingusedfortheparticular
connectiontheyintendtomonitor.

TheprocessdescribedabovewouldgenerallyrequirethatMonitorModeTCMsbeinsertedinboth
directionsofaconnection(toaddressunidirectionaldefectsandfaultsineitherdirection),andrequires
thatdataprovidedbytheMonitorModeTCMsinkfunction(BIPerrors,faultdetection,etc.)bedirectly
accessibleinordertodeterminethelocationofthedefectorfault.Insomecasesitmaybedesirableto
monitorbothdirectionsofaconnectionsimultaneously.Inthiscase,couplingaMonitorModeTCM
sinkwithanOperationalModeTCMsource,andinsertingthatatintermediatepointsalongthe
connection,notonlyallowsbothdirectionsuptotheinsertionpointtobeindependentlymonitored,

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butallowsthemonitoringdataforbothdirectionstobeaccessibleattheoriginalTCMendpointusing
thesingleendedmaintenancefunctions(BDI/BEI)providedbytheTCMs.

Figure15belowillustratestheprocessofsuccessiveinsertionofabidirectionalMonitorModeTCMfor
sectionalization/localizationofdefects/failuresalonganinterdomainorintradomainlinkconnection.
Figure16illustratestheprocessofsuccessiveinsertionofabidirectionalMonitorModeTCMfor
sectionalization/localizationofdefects/failuresalonganadministrativedomainconnection.

Figure15:BidirectionalFaultLocalizationProcessofaLinkUsingMonitorModeTCMs

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Figure16:BidirectionalFaultLocalizationProcessofanAdministrativeDomainConnectionUsing
MonitorModeTCMs

5 Configurations Not Covered by This Whitepaper

TheintentionsofthiswhitepaperaretopresentarecommendedsetofguidelinesforTCMutilization
andtheassignmentofdefaultTCMlevelstocoverthemajorityofapplicationconfigurationsrequiredby
networkproviders.ItisexpectedthatforamajorityofconfigurationsthedefaultusageofTCMlevels
willbesufficientandprovideserviceprovidersandequipmentvendorswithacommonunderstanding
whensettingdefaultTCMlevels.However,notallpossiblenetworkconfigurationsmaybeaddressedin
thisdocument.Configurationsthatarenotaddressedarecandidatesforfuturestudy.

ThefollowingaresomeexampleswherethedefaultTCMmodesdefinedabovemaynotbeapplicable
(notethatthislistisnotintendedtobeexhaustiveandmaybeexpandedinthefuture):

(1) ShadowTCMassignedmodeasdescribedinSection3.2Table1:InthismodetheTCM
terminationdoesnotresettheTCMoverheadbytesatthedestinationendoftheTCM(i.e.
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theTCMshadowdatacontinuestopropagateandismonitoredfurtherdownstream).Thisis
useful,inthecasewhereanendtoendserviceproviderneedsaccesstoalltheTCMdataat
thevariousmonitoringpointswithinthenetwork,e.g.,inanunderseanetwork
configuration.Ingeneralthisisnotadesirablemodeofoperationbecauseitendsupusing
uptheTCMlevelsquickly(i.e.theTCMlevelscannolongerbeconcatenated),butfor
specificsystemsthismaybenecessary.
(2) Twoormorenestedoperatordomainswithinaserviceprovidersnetwork:SinceTCMlevel
4isthesuggestedendtoenddomainoperation,TCM4ofanesteddomaincouldbe
overwritten.

Forthese,andothersimilarcases,manualTCMconfigurationisrequiredbymeansofnegotiationof
TCMusagebetweenthemultiplecarriersandvendors.

6 Control Plane Impacts of TCM

TheapplicationofcontrolplanetothecontrolofTCMconfigurationandmodificationisforfurther
study.

7 Security
AsTCMintroducesnewcapabilitiesintothetransportnetwork,itisappropriatetoconsiderwhether
anynewsecurityrisksareintroduced.TCMisapartoftheOTNheaderinformation.Itshouldbenoted
thatTCMisnotusedasacontrolchannelforexchangeofsignalingmessages,asisprovidedbytheGCC
fieldsinOTN.AsshowninFigure2,TCMconsistsofasetofsubfieldswithspecificpurposes,similarto
otherheaderfieldssuchasframealignment,APS,etc.

InterferencewithTCMrequiresdirectaccesstothebitstreamoraccesstoTCMcontrolviathe
managementinterfaceintothenetworkelement.Thepotentialimpactsoftamperingor
misconfigurationofTCMinclude:

Inadvertentorimproperfailingofaconnection(ormaskingoffailure)

Inadvertentorimproperfailureactionsuchasprotectionswitching(orpreventionofsuch
action)

Incorrectfaultlocalizationorattribution

ItshouldbenotedthattamperingwithTCMwouldnotbyitselfintroducethepotentialformisroutingof
datatoadifferentdestinationthanintended.TCMdoesnotintroducenewvulnerabilitytothreats,as
accesstothebitstreamandmanagementinterfaceareexistingthreats.Securingofthemanagement
interfaceisageneralproblemthatisaddressedbyOIFImplementationAgreements[OIFSMI03.0].

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