Get rid of optical network configuration bottleneck

Optical network operators have not broken the so-called "configuration bottlenecks." They have struggled to meet the need for physical transmission and deployment of hardware platforms with unprecedented port density and throughput. But many operators underestimate the complexity of configuring a business in a multi-vendor (or multiple-business) environment.

Speed of light configuration

In order to make full use of the advantages of optical technology, operators must realize the automatic configuration of the circuit in Optical network. From a unified configuration system to the ring or lattice of multiple operators access to metropolitan area Network and long-distance network for End-to-end circuit configuration ability to provide a lasting competitive advantage is very critical.

In both metropolitan and long-distance networks, operators are upgrading the SONET ring to support increasing bandwidth requirements. Operators are making extensive efforts to deploy DWDM devices to reuse more and more channels on one fiber. Wavelength switches are used to deliver IP services directly on the optical infrastructure without having to undergo SONET encapsulation. These innovations and technological advances will continue to spur investment by business providers for the foreseeable future.

If operators fail to deliver business quickly and economically, their huge investments in these devices will be wasted. Therefore, an automated and Easy-to-use configuration approach is a key success factor for business providers. However, the implementation of fast, error-free, automated configuration is not a simple task, it requires a lot of systems close cooperation.

Other challenges still need to be met:

* Multi-vendor-supported equipment

* Support technologies and standards including SONET, DWDM, ATM, IP, and MPLS

* Support for multiple service providers

* Reliability

* Scalability

* Ability to adapt to changes: A flexible configuration solution should support evolving network requirements

• Integration with OSS systems: ability to integrate with operational support systems (OSS) such as order management, customer analysis, network monitoring and billing

* Ability to transition to next-generation business.

Configuration structure

The next-generation configuration system should be able to quickly provide circuitry in a circular or grid-shaped network and be able to perform a comprehensive configuration across a network of service providers. It is based on an engine that supports a powerful application programming interface (API) and a variety of network interface protocols. This engine provides a configurable workflow model to drive the automated configuration process of the optical infrastructure. The intelligent interface provides convenience for the configuration of external systems such as network element, network element management system, background OSS application and application server. The user interface provided to network engineers, customer representatives, and end users will be connected to this configuration system.

This system can provide network operator with a comprehensive network information to configure the circuit and the business needs. These circuits and the activation and management of the services that can be delivered on these circuits need to be accomplished through several processes.

1) Network Information capture

The configuration system obtains network resource information by automatically discovering, downloading in batches or manually entering from the detail list of the external network system. A graphical network management interface allows operators to manage all sites and related hardware on each site through a single interface. It generates a logical network element graph based on the actual network distribution and allows the network operator to browse the network information quickly and conveniently.

Once the IP address on each node is captured, the configuration system can automatically discover the properties of each node directly or through the Network element Management System (EMS) to obtain the state including port information and the existing circuit board and cross connection. In addition, the Link management interface allows network operators to add, modify, or delete links. This interface allows operators to access data such as high-level node information, port information, unique link names, link rates, and link types such as SONET.

2) Circuit activation

The configuration requests for the arrival configuration system can come from a variety of sources including order systems, automated sales systems, customer relationship management systems, and Internet sites. Once an order is received, the configuration engine authenticates itself before automatically activating the circuit based on the limitations of the billing system, the business Availability database, and other OSS applications based on the transaction processing of individual business providers. The Connection Manager is then responsible for establishing or dismantling end-to-end circuitry between the two ports, such as creating and deleting subnets by clicking.

A user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) is connected to a network element or associated network element Manager, and can be automatically activated by it to activate a circuit across any network infrastructure. Failure to activate requests due to data errors is a major drawback of this streamlined configuration. The configuration system can solve this problem by using a comprehensive verification method, which notifies the other party immediately after the request fails; the second is to use the automatic discovery function of the network to diagnose and analyze it quickly.

3 Priority of Route selection

Business providers require maximum flexibility in choosing the priority of a route. The configuration system first calculates all possible routes for a particular circuit, and then evaluates these routes according to a set of flexible parameters defined by the operator. The configuration system finally activates the route where the highest score is selected.