Applied Telecommunication Systems (EECB433)

Draft Note 7 Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)

By Cheah Cheng Lai

Table of Content
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Introduction SDH Frame Multiplexing Structure Network Elements and Topology Network Resiliency Next Generation SDH

1. Introduction Why SDH?

SDH
Synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) is a newer multiplexing system for fiber optic transmissions that provides increases throughput and bandwidth.
Operate in Synchronous timing by using a master clock The SDH used in North America is called Synchronous Optical Network (SONET). Developed out of a need for standardization within fiber based systems ITU-T G.707, 708 and 709.

Note: All explanation in this lecture note are based on SDH, however, it is applicable for SONET unless otherwise specify.
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Problems with PDH

Max Line Capacity: 565 Mbit/s Multiplexer Mountain
No direct access to individual 2Mbit/s streams (add/drop)
PDH North America

Manual wiring and rewiring needed to make any change to the network configuration Limited supervision capabilities.
Source: Lee 1996

PDH International

SDH a much simpler structure

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Multiplexing Mountain

Multiplexing Hierarchies
PDH
Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy Multiplexes lower bit rate PDH signals together into higher bit rate signals. The transmission can be over optical, microwave and copper. 64 kbit/s, 2 Mbit/s, 8 Mbit/s, 34 Mbit/s, 140 Mbit/s, (565 Mbit/s)

SDH
Synchronous Digital Hierarchy Multiplexes PDH and lower level SDH signals. The transmission are mainly over optical fiber. 155 Mbit/s, 622 Mbit/s, 2500 Mbit/s, 10 Gbit/s

2. SDH Frame

Synchronous Transport Module (STM)

STM-1 is the basic frame of SDH
Each STM-1 frame consists of 2430 bytes Arranged in a two-dimensional frame

STM-1 Frame
bytes

As with PCM, SDH sends 8,000 frame in one second. The data rate for STM-1 = 9 rows x 270 Bytes x 8000 = 155,520,000 b/s (155 Mb/s)
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Overhead
Overhead functionality two types.
operation and maintenance of the SDH signal itself
Provides framing, identification and alarm indication.

error performance indication and data communications channels,

Provide error performance monitoring and an embedded management communication channel.

Section overhead (Only for reference)

regenerator section overhead (RSOH) multiplex section overhead (MSOH). A1 and A2 bytes together contain a frame alignment word.
The frame alignment word is repeated with each frame to maintain alignment and realignement.

When STM-1 signals are multiplexed into an STM-4, then the C1 byte allows each STM-1 to be uniquely identified. The B2 bytes provide an error monitoring capability (D1 to D12) is to provide an embedded data communications link

SDH Protocol Stack

SDH

SONET

Multiplex Section Layer

Regenerator Section Layer

Layering Concept

Building transport (interleaving)

The transmission of digital signals over optical fibre allows for transmission rates far in excess of the 155.52 Mbit/s defined as the aggregate rate for STM-1. STM- 4 622.080 Mbit/s STM-16 2488.32 Mbit/s STM-64 9953.28 Mbit/s
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SDH Hierarchy

STM-0 51.84 Mb/s

x3

STM-1 155.52 Mb/s

x4

STM-4 622.08 Mb/s

x4

STM-16 2.488 Gb/s

x4

STM-64 9.953 Gb/s

STM-N Synchronous Transport Module level N.

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SDH and SONET Rate

SDH Rates STM-0 STM-1 SONET Rates STS-1 STS-3 Speed 51.84 Mb/s 155.52 Mb/s

STM-4
STM-16 STM-64

STS-12
STS-48 STS-192

622.08 Mb/s
2.488 Gb/s 9.953 Gb/s

STS-N Synchronous Transport Signal level N.

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STM-n Frame
The SDH frame is called Synchronous Transport Module level n (STM-n). 8000 STM-n is transmitter per second, i.e. 125 s / frame.
bytes

Source: Lee 1996

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3. Multiplexing Structure

SDH Multiplexing Structure

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Justification to cater for the slightly different timing of PDH payload

(E4)
(T3) (E3) (T2) (E1) (T1)

Source: Ericsson presentation slides

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Mapping - Path Overhead (POH) is Added

Source: Ericsson presentation slides

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POINTER ADJUSTMENT
Pointers are used to indicate the beginning of the payload in the SDH frame

There are two types of pointer, AU and TU pointer

AU pointers for higher order VCs (VC4 &VC3) TU pointers for lower order VCs (VC12)

Has two basic function :

- Minimisation of multiplexing delay. - Justification of frequency difference between a frame and a payload.

Aligning
The process of loading a VC onto a TU, along with the frame offset information. The frame offset is due to the clock discrepancy between the VC and the corresponding TU.
TU TU

pointer
VC

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Tributary Unit (TU)

Tributary T1 E1 T2 E3/T3 E4 Tributary Rate 1.544 Mbps 2.048 Mbps 6.312 Mbps 34.368/44.736 Mbps 139.264 Mbps Justification C11 C12 C2 C3 C4 Mapping VC-11 VC-12 VC-2 VC-3 VC-4 Aligning TU-11 TU-12 TU-2 TU-3 AU-4 TU Rate 1.728 Mbps 2.304 Mbps 6.912 Mbps 48.96 Mbps 150.336 Mbps TU Size 9 rows 3 columns 9 rows 4 columns 9 rows 12 columns 9 rows 85 columns 9 rows 261 columns

The STM-1 Frame

Note: V5 is the starting position of lower order VCs.

The VC-4 is floating inside the STM-1. The AU pointer always points to the position where VC-4 starts.
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Multiplexing Structure (ITU-T G.707)

Source: G.707 2003

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Multiplexing Structure

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4. Network Elements and Topology

Network Elements (1/2)

Terminal multiplexer (TM) Regenerator
(de-)multiplexes between multiple low-speed signals and a high-speed signal. Terminates, regenerate and transmits SDH signal.

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Network Elements (2/2)

Add-Drop Multiplexer (ADM)
De-multiplexes and terminates any number of PDH and SDH signals, m>n Multiplexes and adds new PDH and SDH signals Convert to SDH optical signal and transmits out

Digital cross-connect (DCS)

accesses the STM-N signals, and switches (cross-connect) at the lower level.

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Linear (Point-to-Point) Topology

E1 E1

E1
E3 STM-1

STM-N

E1

TM

TM

E3 STM-1

E1 E1 STM-N STM-N Regenerator TM

E1 E1 E3 STM-1

E3
STM-1

TM

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Bus Topology

E1 E1 E3 STM-1 STM-N STM-N STM-N

E1

E1

TM

ADM

ADM

TM

E3 STM-1

E1 E1

E3

E1

STM-1

E1

E3

STM-1

ADM is needed for bus topology.

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Ring Topology
ADM is also needed for ring topology.
E1 E1 E3 STM-1

ADM

E1 E1 E3 STM-1

ADM

ADM

E1 E1 E3 STM-1

ADM

E1 E1

E3

STM-1
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Mesh Topology

DCS

DCS

ADM

ADM

DCS

ADM

DCS are used for forming mesh topology. Note: the tributaries are not shown in this diagram
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5. SDH Resiliency Automatic Protection Switching (APS)

Span (Point-to-Point) Switching

Point-to-point protection between two nodes. This can be either 1:1 or 1:N.

Optical fiber
Fiber break Working route Protection route

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1:1 Protection Switching

The far end is receiving both signals from working and protection facilities. Examples of the failure condition are lost of frame (LOF) or a signal degrade. Switching can be either revertive or non-revertive.
Source: Tektronix 2001 38

1:N Protection Switching

In 1:N protection architecture, all communication from the Near End to the Far End is carried out over the APS channel, using the K1 and K2 bytes. All switching is revertive; that is, the traffic reverts to the working facility as soon as the failure has been corrected.
Source: Tektronix 2001 39

Ring Switching
Point-to-point protection between two nodes. This can be either 1:1 or 1:N.

Optical fiber Fiber break

Working route Protection route

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Bidirectional Line Switching Ring (BLSR) Normal Operation

Optical fiber

Fiber break Working route Protection route

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BLSR Fiber Break

Optical fiber Fiber break Working route Protection route

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BLSR Node Failure

Optical fiber Node failure Working route Protection route

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Path Switching
Optical fiber

DCS

DCS

ADM

Fiber break
Working path Protection path

ADM

DCS

ADM

Diverse route over multiple sections. Implemented by a network management system (NMS).
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Satun
33.431km
25km K. Perlis 34.460km Langkawi 101.951km 141.896km Kangar Jitra Kota Bharu

Tak Bai

67.332km 118.645km Kuala Muda Pasir Puteh

K. Terengganu SEBERANG PRAI 170km

A Fiber Network in Malaysia

87.316km Kuala Dungun

FLAG SEA-ME-WE
30.382km

Pulau Pinang

24.450km 162.945km

31.570km K. Kurau

135.982km

165.022km

APCN 2

IPOH
Lumut KUANTAN
116.790km

229.107km
T. Karang 130.550km

GLENMARIE

Rompin
124.011km 46.219km 94.391km HONG KONG JAPAN USA

Port Klang
UPM 182.359km 101.484km

Mersing
Tg. Sekakap

Port Dickson
LEGEND: 75.116km

20.890km Melaka

TRUNK LOCAL SWITH

199.152km

125.536km

AUSTRALIA INDONESIA

47.593km
INTERNATIONAL SWITCH Muar

LAND BASED LAND BASED

SUBMARINE BASED NETWORK INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE NETWORK EARTH STATION

57.579km Tg. Seginting 72.163km

Pontian Kechil

J.BHARU

Desaru

13.316km

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Singapore

Summary - Benefit of SDH

Capacity
Fibre transmission up to 10 Gbit/s (i.e. STM-64) Ability to transport both plesiochronous and synchronous tributaries Low rate tributaries visible within the high speed signal. Availability (e.g. 99.999%) Advanced protection methods Network level re-routing Faster provisioning, remotely from NMC Built in capacity for remote monitoring of network performance End to end supervision of circuits Flexible re-routing of circuits in software

Manageability

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6. Next Generation SDH (NG SDH)

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Packet Over SDH Legacy Approach

IP packets
framed using packet over SDH (POS) and placed into the SDH payload area.

Multimedia traffic with stringent quality of service (QoS) requirements

ATM cells are placed into the SDH interface according to standardized optical interfaces

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Driving Force

New services and applications based on internet, mobile, multimedia, DVB, SAN, Ethernet or VPN, are demanding long haul transport. State of the art: 1. Ethernet, are in an early stage of development for efficient optical transport. 2. Most have their transport infrastructure entirely based on SDH/SONET. 3. There is a lot of experience in managing SDH/SONET. No other technology than SDH/SONET has this maturity grade at the optical physical layer.

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Ethernet vs SONET/SDH

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NG SDH

NG SDH enables operator to provide more data transport services while increasing the efficiency of the installed SDH based, by adding just the new multiservice switching platform (MSSP) edge nodes.
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Next Generation SDH: Packet Friendly

SDH has also evolved to more efficiently adapt statistical multiplexing traffic based on data packets.
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Key Techniques for NG SDH

GFP (Generic Framing Protocol) is robust and standardized encapsulation procedure for the transport of packetised data on SDH. VCAT (Virtual Concatenation) is a mechanism which assigns granular bandwidth sizes rather than the exponential provision of the Contiguous Concatenation. Therefore VCAT is more flexible and efficient. LCAS (Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme) LCAS can modify dynamically the allocated VCAT bandwidth by adding/removing members of a pipe in use. LCAS is being used also to implement diversity for traffic resilience.
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SDH Payload Sizes for transporting data

Beside PDH payload, the SDH can be used for transporting data payload.
The justification bits are not required, the whole container can be used transporting data payload.

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Contiguous and Virtual Concatenation

Contiguous concatenation, which creates big containers that cannot split into smaller pieces during transmission. For this, each NE must have a concatenation functionality. Virtual concatenation, which transports the individual VCs and aggregates them at the end point of the transmission path. For this, concatenation functionality is only needed at the path termination equipment.
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Notations

56

57

VCAT Efficiency
Comparison between contiguous and virtual concatenation efficiency.

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Bandwidth Provisioning - Today

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LCAS Add Bandwidth Hitless

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However about Future?

Meeting Higher Capacity Requirement

To meet the ever growing demand for network capacity
Increase Data Rate
Limited range up to 10 Gb/s or 40 Gb/s are commercially available. Higher bit rates require more frequent signal regeneration.

Lay more fibers

Expensive, time delay, more regenerators needed per fiber pair.

Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

A technology which allows network operators to carry more information over existing optical fiber networks by combining multiple optical signals for transmission over the same optical fiber.

WDM
Transmission of Multiple Optical Signals (i.e. wavelengths) in the same optical fibre

A single core of optical fiber

Optical Transport Network (OTN)

Standardized by ITU-T G.709. Created with the intention of combining the benefits of SONET/SDH technology with the bandwidth expansion capabilities offered by dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) technology.

Source: Gorshe 2009

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Question?
Q1. Referring to the SDH multiplexing structure below (slide 15). A STM-1 can transport how many
T1 Answer: 84 E1 Answer: 63 E3 Answer: 3

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Q2 & Q3
Q2) Show two paths that an E3 can be multiplexed to become a STM-1. Answer: Path 1: E3 -> C-3 -> VC-3 -> AU-3 -> AUG-1 -> STM-1. Path 2: E3 -> C-3 -> VC-3 -> TU-3 -> TUG-3 -> VC-4 -> AU-4 -> AUG-1 -> STM-1 Q3) Which path is more efficient? Answer: Path 1

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Q4
Q4) Exchange A and B are connected by 100 E1 of the interoffice trunks. Propose a suitable SDH system to overcome the wiring nightmare and draw the proposed system architecture.
100 x E1

Exchange A

Exchange B

Answer: STM-4
Terminal Multiplexer Terminal Multiplexer

Exchange A
100 E1

STM-4
100 E1

Exchange B

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Q5 & Q6
Q5. Suggest a virtual concatenation approach for the configuration below. Answer: VC-4-2v
Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) Network

MSSP Node A 250 Mbps

MSSP Node B 250 Mbps

Router 1 Kuala Lumpur

Router 2 Kuantan

Q6. How much bandwidth saving compared to fixed concatenation? Answer: 2 x VC-4 = 280 Mb/s

Reference
[Cavendish 2002] New Transport Services for Next-Generation SONET/SDH Systems, Dirceu Cavendish, Kurenai Murakami, Su-Hun Yun, Osamu Matsuda, Motoo Nishihara, IEEE Communications Magazine, May 2002, pp. 80-87. [Lee 1996] Broadband Telecommunications Technology, Second Edition, Byeong Gi Lee, Minho Kang and Johnhee Lee, Artech House 1996. [G.707 2003] ITU-T Recommendation G.707/Y.1322, Network Node Interface for Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), 12/2003. Available: http://www.itu.int/publications/sector.aspx?lang=en&sector=2 [Tektronix 2001] SDH Telecommunications Standard Primer, Tektronix Application Note, 2001. Available: http://www.tek.com/Measurement/App_Notes/sdhprimer/

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Thank you