Constructing the Channelized Interface

on the Next-Generation SONET/SDH System

Seung-Woo Hong, Byung-Ho Yae
YusongGu GajeongDong 161, TAEJON, 305-350, KOREA
QoS Switch S/W Team, Network Technology Lab., ETRI
{swhong, bhyae}@etri.re.kr
Tel. 042-860-1041, FAX. 042-861-6104

Abstract Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS) has been

discussed for dynamic bandwidth allocation in support of
virtual concatenation. One of the most important
With the explosion of packet applications, there is a objectives of these new technologies is to enable flexible
growing demand for native data transport services for and reliable data transport over SONET/SDH, which is
enterprises across public transport networks. Accordingly referred to as data over SONET/SDH (DoS).
carriers have made an effort to incorporate a variety of DoS is a transport mechanism that provides a means to
enterprise data access network such as LAN, SAN on accommodate various data interfaces (e.g., Ethernet, Fibre
Channel, ESCON/FICON) into SONET/SDH efficiently.
traditional metro and long-haul transport network that is In particular,DSCDoS iSIsOffcivto
Iparil, effective to aOmmoDa
accommodate ethent,
Ethernet,
mainly based on legacy SONET/SDH. Because they could so called Ethernet over SONET/SDH (EoS). On the EoS
expect new revenue by offering both enterprise-centric enabled SONET/SDH system, transport operators may
connectivity services, such as TLS, VLAN, VPN services, as offer both enterprise-centric connectivity services, such as
well as traditional private line services. For these hybrid transparent LAN service (TLS) and virtual LAN services,
as well as traditional bandwidth services, such as private
data/TDM services, the integrated
' control mechanism that
line, whl prsrigteoeain'n
lese lie while
~~~~~~~~leased preserving the operations and
includes both the L2/L3 packet routing and the Li TDM management infrastructure of the existing public networks.
circuit switching is needed. In this article we introduce the In this paper, we suggest the sophisticate hybrid
new data transport mechanism, so called EOS, and describe control method to support data transport services and
the our implementation which include how to create data traditional TDM services. A physical TDM interface may
be subdivided to various circuit channels under circuit
channel on physical SONET/SDH interface and how to map control and the IP interface can be assigned to these
the IP data to SONET/SDH channel. channels for packet forwarding. For examples, operator
Keywords - SONET/SDH, DoS (Data over SONET/SDH), can subdivide STM-16 physical interface into several
sliced channels (such as 155Mbps 16 channels which one
EoS (Ethernet over SONET/SDH), Channelize. has VC-4 or 622Mbps 4 channels which one has VC-3 x
12) and each channel can be handled as a separated IP
interface. This channelized interface will allow service
1. Introduction providers to customize bandwidth to satisfy the needs of
their customers, whether the subscriber needs fractional
SONET/SDH legacy systems were designed primarily 45Mbps VC-3 x 1, 155Mbps STM-1, 180Mbps VC-3 x 4,
for the transport of constant bit rate applications. This is today and can be reconfigured to support the customer's
evident in many characteristics of the transport technology. expanding network tomorrow.
For example, bandwidth is provisioned via a rigid
hierarchy of bit rate signals (STS-3, STS-12, STS-48, etc.). 2. Ethernet over SONET/SDH (EoS)
These legacy TDM networks cannot support the
granularity, scale, low cost and on-demand bandwidth
required by packet applications. Dos is a transport solution that provides a means to
However, with the explosion of datagram applications acmoaevrostp fdt nefcsit
allowed by IP and other packet switch technologies,
solutions for the transport of data over SONET/SDH SONET/SDH. And it is taken much interest to
system were emerged. Generic Framing Procedure accommodate Gigabit Ethernet interface, which is widely
(GFP) has been developed as a new framing for data used as metro solution, so called EoS (Ethernet over
accommodation into SONET/SDH and optical transport SONET/SDH)
network. Virtual concatenation has been standardizedThscatrbifynrouepicpltcnlge,
for flexible bandwidth assignment of SONET/SDH paths. hc r F GnrcFaigPoeue,VA

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(Virtual Concatenation), LCAS (Link Capacity
Adjustment Scheme), for Ethernet over SONET/SDH.
2.1 Generic Framing Procedure (GFP)
GFP is a type of adaptation protocol that maps various
client signals into synchronous SONET/SDH channel.
As shown in [Figure 1], GFP provides the standard
variable length frame to lower layer. And GFP allows the
use of almost any type of transport technology, although
in the standards body, the focus is mostly on
SONET/SDH. To upper layer, GFP may accommodate
various data link application such IP packet, Ethernet
frame, HDLC frame.
_ X2 :, ..
FP cdi -speafi: a ects
_I~I~ ] (lilent-edependen)
GFP mmon astb
StONETSDH path
W(iefififdpe=dent)
| ODUk
Figure 1. GFP Functional Model
There are two mode of GFP, which are frame-mapped
GFP and transparent-mapped GFP, to map client signals
into SONET/SDH payload. These two methods are
designed to be suitable to several new applications and
services.
The transparent-mapped GFP is proper mode for full-
rThepoint-to-point-applicatio, wich uper te forful
,hhstcapacity
iapci reoto
the local physical interface entirely. Adaptation is
accomplished by mapping client bytes stream into large
fixed size GFP frames at the high rate of speed. This
mode is intended for applications that seek to emulate a
native physical interface with very strict packet delay, loss,
and throughput requirements. One example of this mode
is storage area network (SAN) over WAN such as FICON,
ESCON.
The frame-mapped GFP mode is a more flexible
adaptation mode that is suitable for either full-rate or sub-
rate point-to-point and multi-point application.its.
Adaptation is executed by loading the upper-level
protocol data units (PDUs), such as Point-to-Point
Prtcl PP fae, EE80. \4Cfamsit
variable length GFP frame.
ISBN 89-5519-129-4
2.2 Virtual Concatenation (VCAT)
Virtual Concatenation is a mechanism that provides
flexible and effective use of SONET/SDH resources.
The early SONET/SDH that has the defined rigid
bandwidth hierarchy was not fit to data application such
as Ethernet. Virtual concatenation removes this rigidity by
defining more flexible bandwidth. It virtually
concatenates several payloads to provide a payload with
flexible bandwidth, appropriate for data service
accommodation.
For example, consider the case of GbE transport by
SONET/SDH. According to the conventional
SONET/SDH specification, STS-48c SPE/VC4- 1 6c must
be used to transport GbE signals. STS-48c SPE/VC4-
16c capacity is 2.4 Gb/s, however, 1.4 Gb/s capacity is
_ wasted.
_ ZD m But if virtual concatenation is used, 7
_,......
independent STS-3c SPE/VC-4 payloads are virtually
_ concatenated to provide STS-3c-7v/VC-4-7v payload with
path
1.05 Gb/s bandwidth, which is perfectly suitable for GbE
transportation.
There is no need to add virtual concatenation ability to
every node of a SONET/SDH network, but
implementation of virtual concatenation is limited to
multiplexing nodes. In case of
ointion node.mp Gbe o above example, the
STS-3c-7v/VC-4-7v
g
payload, but 7 STS-3c SPE/VC-4s are treated as separate
an ineedn initreit.oe h etnto
ndecmned separtedi7 p ods To costructith
node combined separated 7 payloads to construct the
original STS-3c-7v/VC-4-7v signal using inverse
oiia T-c7/C4-v sga sn nes
multiplexing, and GbE is subsequently de-mapped from it.
Therefore using virtual concatenation, it is possible to
partition SONET/SDH bandwidth into several sub-rates,
each of which is capable of providing different services.
Namely, the STS-48/STM-16 signal can be partitioned
into 600M, which is dedicated to traditional TDM services,
and 1.8G, which is assigned for data service.
2.3 Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS)
Virtual concatenation can be applied to construct
paldswtvriucpcte.Athghhenm r
of concatenated payloads can be determined in advance, it
may be useful to allow the number of concatenated
payloads to be changed dynamically. Using LCAS, it iS
~possible to provide on-demand bandwidth dynamically.
- 2129 - Feb. 20-22, 2006 ICA0T2006
In LCAS, signaling messages are exchanged between the
two VC endpoints to determine the number of-m IR Laeyr
concatenated payloads. For instances, assume STS-5v
SPE/VC-3-5v (250 Mb/s payload capacity) is currently Etheret Uhk
used. According to user requirements, the number of hat Net ___k
concatenated payloads, currently five, could be increased iEtherhet Lae-j-C
to obtain STS-6v SPE/VC-3-6v, or reduced to obtain STS-
4v SPE/VC-3-4v. Therefore, LCAS allow assign and
utilize bandwidth more efficiently and flexibly. ---DM-ay-r
| .:l I / C S~~~~ONETIKSD[S

HYb[thid
Ethernet & Legacy !DM
3. Transport Layered Hierarchy

Through EoS technologies such as GFP, VCAT, LCAS, Figure 2. L1/L2 Hybrid Layer Model
it is able to give a new data service as well as traditional
voice service with SONET/SDH equipments. And now,
integrated service management mechanism is needed to 3.2 Bandwidth channelizing for Hybrid transport
control both the layer 1 (TDM) and the Layer 2/3
(Ethernet/IP). As mentioned chapter 2.2, virtual concatenation allows
This chapter shows several considerable items to the SONET/SDH physical bandwidth to be tuned in small
forward data on TDM transport networks. increments on demand, so virtually concatenated channels
are more easily routed through a network and eliminate
3.1 L1/L2/L3 Layered Network View on EOS rigid conventional bandwidth. [Figure 3] shows that the
EoS channelizing increases bandwidth efficiency from
As EoS is introduced in a SONET/SDH transport 67%, in case use of conventional, to almost 100 00 usage.
network, SONET/SDH nodes should handle both layer
1(TDM) and layer 2 (Ethernet) simultaneously, and if the _ n
node have a routing functions, it also acts as L (IP) router. ATM v 5T 1-
So the EoS enabled network element can reside in layer 1I1 <4 S I
through layer 3. [Figure 2] shows this layered
TDM/Ethernet/IP transport network. At the layer I of Increase 100
the layered hierarchy, there exist legacy SONET/SDH
ADM and BXC, which supports traditional TDM services
such as voice and private lines.
The hybrid Ethernet & TDM switch element, which is Figure 3. EoS channelizing efficiency
logically located in both LI and L2, incorporates Ethernet
functions such as IEEE 802.3-based connectivity, IEEE [Figure 4] is the example of more flexible bandwidth
802. 1D/w bridging, and IEEE 802. 1Q/p based VLAN as usage for hybrid TDM and data packet service.
well as traditional TDM functions such as TSI (Time Slot
Interchange), ADM (Add/Drop/Multiplex).
Generally TDM LI function is concerned about time TDM
Service
_ 5X
slot cross connects circuit switching, and data L2/L3 VC-3
( C (50M) | STM-1 6l
function is data switching/routing action. Therefore in (2.4G)
case of hybrid Ethernet & TDM element, it is necessary to C-
define another function which arbitrates the difference Service VC34//
between circuit switching and packet switching.

Figure 4. LoS bandwidth usage example

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 4. Implementing the Channelize Interface

In this chapter, we describe the case of our

implementation which includes how to make channel with
variable size of bandwidth and how to forward IP data VCG 2
(looM) (VCG
VCG 2 VCG N-1
(lOOM)
VCG N
(lOOM)
into created SONET/SDH channel.
Our physical SONET/SDH interface type is STS-48c Timesot v V V V V V
SPE/VC4-16c, the capacity of the interface 2.4Gb/s and LINE
(MS Section)

channels can be configured with the granularity of VC- LINE(Working) Line(Protection)

STM-16 (2.5G)
3(STS-1). As the bandwidth of VC-3 is about 5OMb/s,
exact its bandwidth is 46.9Mb/s, channel bandwidth is
defined as n x 50Mb/s. [Figure 6] shows the relation Figure 6. EoS channels for packet service
among STM- 16 physical link, activated channels, and
member VC-3 timeslot list which is belong to one of Syntax to configure the packet interface like as blow,
channels.
-intferf;acf:s interfae-name
unit logical-unit-numnber f
STM-16 vianid <l-4O95B>
(2.5G) l2vp3n r
farmlly mnett
e a

1 2e) MAX=48 arp <address>

VCG #1 VCG #2 VCG #N-1 VCG #N
(50M) (loOM) (looM) (lOOM }

eo-0/1 {
VC-3
VC-3 VC-3 VC-3 VC-3 VC-3 VC-3 VC-3 encapsulation vlan-ccc;

unit 0 {
family inet {
addraess 1.1.1.1/24;
Figure 5. EoS bandwidth usage example }
unit1I {
If operatorwould like to create lOOM channel, which is
operator
1hvlan-id
c~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ h123;
~ ~rhtrane
100;
almost same as lOOM Ethernet, it can be activated by nd-et {
fami
aiddress 1.2.1.1/124;
specifying the channel id with VC-3 timeslot number list.
The syntax of interface channelizing is described in below }
box, and CLI command of above example is,
set interface eo-O/10/O eos option vcg I timeslots :1:2 [Figure 7] shows control flow of packet process to
forward the incoming Ethernet packet from 1 Gb/s
interfaces interface-name { Ethernet interface to outgoing SONET/SDH channel
eos options {
vcg <148> { interface.
timeslots <range 1-48>

Fowarding Table
Liokup Card Out, Port Out, Channel Out

As can see in [Figure 6], actually interface channelizing itr MA IF

commands activate the channels by control the TDM Pce

circuit switch to connect the specified VC-3 timeslot to Switch 10

canvforward theEthernetpacket intoone of channels.w_t

packet IP interface to forward it into newly create channel, Channel Mapper

this will create appropriate forwarding table and packet
switch can forward the Ethernet packet. Figure 7. Architecture of hybrid switch for LoS

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 Incoming Ethernet packet is processed in packet switch
which first examine the MAC header and lookup the
forwarding table with the destination IP address if there
isn't any error in M\AC and IP header. As the forwarding
table have the forwarding information that include the
output line card, output port, and also output channel,
packet switch sends the packet to the proper out interface.
The solution to adjust the difference between TDM
switch and packet switch is the channel header and the
channel mapper. The packet switch inserts channel
header with channel tag and send to the channel mapper,
the channel mapper investigates the channel tag and
remove the tag after it decides the target SONET/SDH
channel that the packet should be injected.
5. Conclusion
Ethernet over SONET/SDH using GFP, VCAT and
LCAS enables carriers to incorporate new data
connectivity service with legacy SONET/SDH systems
that can be called a mature and stable transport technology.
Although data can be transported across existing
SONET/SDH network, demerit of expensive charges is
remains as before, because resource of SONET/SDH
determined by time-division-multiplexing manner is
limited.
In this article, we describe the sharing method of
limited TDM resources by increasing the flexibility of
SONET/SDH with the interface channelizing as well as
applying the packet statistical multiplexing manner into
TDM systems. We expect it to be help to develop new
value added data transport service such as Ethernet private
line, transparent virtual LAN, and best-effort internet
access service.
ISBN 89-5519-129-4 - 2132 -
REFERENCES
[1] ITU-T Rec. G.7041, "Generic Framing Procedure
(GFP)", Oct. 2001
[2] ITU-T Rec. G.7042, Link Capacity Adjustment
Scheme (LCAS) for Virtual Concatenation", Oct. 2000
[3] ITU-T Rec. G.707, "Network Node Interface for the
Synchronous Digital hierarchy", Oct.2000
[4] ITU-T Rec. G.803, "Architectures of Transport
Networks based on The Synchronous Digital
Hierarchy", 1993
[5] IEEE 802.3 "Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Access Method and
Physical Layer Specification", 2002
[6] IEEE 802.1Q "IEEE Standard for Local and
Metropolitan Area Network: Virtual Bridged Local
Area Networks," 1998
[7] IEEE Communications Magazine, "Hybrid Transport
Solution for TDMIData Networking Services", May
2002
[8] IEEE Communication Magazine, "New Transport
Services for Next-Generation SONET/SDH Systems",
May 2002
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