Synchronous Optical Networking Introduction

Synchronous Optical Networking is usually called SONET for short. The SONET standards were coded in the mid-1980s to consider benefit of low-cost fiber optic transmission. It defines a hierarchy of data rates, formats for framing and multiplexing the payload data, as well as optical signal specifications (wavelength and dispersion), allowing multi-vendor interoperability.

SONET may also be referred to as “T-1 on steroids”. Can you explain that? As you may know, the digital hierarchy (DS-0, DS-1, DS-2, DS-3 and much more) was created to provide cost-effective multiplexed transport for voice and data traffic from one location inside a network to a separate.

SONET and SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) are two equivalent multiplexing protocols for transferring multiple digital bit streams using lasers or LEDs (light-emitting diodes) over the same optical fiber. They were made to replace PDH (Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) system to get rid of the synchronization issues that PDH Multiplexer had. SONET is synchronous, which means that each connection achieves a continuing bit rate and delay. For example, SDH or SONET might be utilized to allow several Internet Service Providers to talk about exactly the same optical fiber, without being affected by each others traffic load, and without having to be able to temporarily borrow released capacity from one another. SONET and SDH are considered to become physical layer protocols since they offer permanent connections and do not involve packet mode communication. Only certain integer multiples of 64kbits/s are possible bit rates.

SONET is really TDM(time division multiplexing) based and this causes it to be readily supported fixed-rate services such as telephony. Its synchronous nature is designed to accept traffic at fixed multiples of the basic rate (64kbit/s), without requiring variable stuff bits or complex rate adaptation.

The SONET data transmission format is based on a 125us frame composed of 810 octets, of which 36 are overhead and 774 are payload data. The fundamental SONET signal, whose electrical and optical versions are referred to as STS-1 and OC-1, respectively, is thus a 51.84Mb/s data streams that readily accommodate TDM channels in multiples of 8 kb/s.

It is important in fiber optic network that SONET can be used to encapsulate PDH and other earlier digital transmission standards. It is also used directly to support either an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) or packet over SONET/SDH (POS) networking. So SONET/SDH is actually a generic all-purpose transport container for moving both voice and knowledge traffic. They in themselves aren’t communications protocols.

SONET brings by using it a subset of benefits that make it differentiate themselves from competitive technologies. These include mid-span meet, improved operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P), support for multipoint circuit configurations, non-intrusive facility monitoring, and the capability to deploy a variety of new releases.

Improved OAM&P is among the greatest contributions that SONET brings to the networking field. Element and network monitoring, management, and maintenance has always been something of the catch-as-catch-can effort due to the complexity and diversity of elements inside a typical service provider’s network. SONET overhead includes error-checking ability, bytes for network survivability, and a diverse set of clearly defined management messages.

Related Article: How Much Do You Know About SONET/SDH SFP Module?

What Are Optical Multiplexers?

An optical multiplexer, basically, a device, an input can be routed to the many different output, usually is 16. It utilizes fibr optic technology, is usually controlled by use of software and a totator block, and has an optical path that is actually coupled through several COL-UV/VIS collimating lenses. So, this is basically what a fiber optic multiplexer is…but what exactly do these devices do, and what are they used for? Well, that is a good question, and here is some information that might help you. Although it is hard to tell you all about optical multiplexer in an article, here are some things that may help you better understand the complex operation of equipment.

1 Channel Video to Fiber SM FC 20km Optical Video Multiplexer

Basically, optical multiplexer using one side of a fiber optic cable, so a lot of things can send information in the same line. It is like a giant multiple input connector that allow several signal input, and then send a fiber optic cable. This information travels along this wire until, it comes into contact with a demultiplexer, which is like another attachment at the end of the cable that again splits up the signals and sends them on their way.

One of the most obvious uses for a optical multiplexer is the fact that it saves a lot money. Therefore, by placing one end of the multiplexer, a signal separator in another company can save a lot of money in the fiber optic cable.

To some extent, the resulting network information, and the way to travel, can be compared to a large highway. This large highway connections may be two very big city, in the morning, there may be a lot of traffic on a highway to go to other city. However, although all use the same highway, traffic is it does not actually come from the same place, also is not all in the same place.

On the highway traffic slowly from a different side of the road in a city, it will exit in the same way when it arrives at destination. In this way, the illustration is a lot like a fiber multiplexer/demultiplexer system, with the cars being the information, the cities being the multiplexers, and the freeway being the fiber optic cable.

This is a very basic method to describe the optical multiplexer how to work, and i hope it can help you to understand. It is not a too hard to master the concept of, even if the fiber is still a technology, can make people don’t use it all the time. The best way to learn about fiber optic cable is to either research it, or to actually work with it in a network or a system. A lot of different industries now make use of the speed with which fiber optic can deliver information. Light travels a lot faster than electric signals, after all. Optical Multiplexer is popularly with telecommunication operator and suitable in business for communication operator, government and kinds of entities. It is one of the most transmission equipment in point-point fiber optic network. Typical optical multiplexers are Video & Data & Audio Multiplexers, PDH Multiplexer.

Source: www.fs.com