Solution Overview

ROADM – The Core of Agile Optical Networks

A
s the bandwidth requirements grow rapidly, optical network operators face
continued challenges of modifying the current optical networks to meet this
growing demand. In WDM networks, this modification mainly means adding new
WLs, and sometimes changing the WL distribution within the network. The WDM
solutions have scaled up in recent years from typically 8-16 Wavelengths to 44-88
Wavelengths solution, with different routes per each wavelengths and mesh connectivity
between sites across the ring.

Network managers face the challenge to keep track of all the wavelengths, monitor their
correct operation and deploy new wavelengths easily while reducing the operation cost
of the network. The Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) adds the
required flexibility so that adding WLs or changing the WL destination becomes easy and
remotely managed process providing full control and monitoring over the entire high
capacity infrastructure. Compared to a non ROADM network, if not already pre-assigned,
adding new services requires redesign or major network change which takes time,
resources and poses risks of traffic disruptions. This white paper explores the evolution
from passive based infrastructure and its limitations compared to ROADM based
solutions.

Passive Based Solution

In passive optical network infrastructure, the building blocks of the network are based
on passive filters with fixed optical wavelength modules such as Mux/Demux, OADM or a
combination of Band Pass Filters together with the Mux/Demux. This requires careful
design prior to installation in order to meet estimated future network growth and
connectivity matrix.

Figure 1 is a drawing of simple passive Mux/DeMux based ring infrastructure. Each Node
across the network is built from 2 passive Mux/DeMux's, one facing the east and one
facing the west. The number of supported WL of the solution is defined by the number
of channels/filters supported by the Mux/DeMux. Following are a few scenarios which
illustrate the limitation and complexity of operation of such passive based networks.

Scenario 1: changing distribution of the “Blue” WL.

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In figure 1, the "Blue" WL passes the Node-3 through the "Blue" filter of both
Mux/DeMux. However, let's assume that this service is required at Node-3, this will
require manual configuration of the network which can be time consuming and costly.
To perform this operation, there is a need to re-patch the “Blue” WL at Node-3 which
means sending a technical person to the site. In addition, the manual patches need to be
documented and maintained. With too many changes, the network administrator might
become disoriented with regards to the original network scheme. Also, scaling this type
of solution to 88 WL is practically impossible.

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 Solution Overview

Scenario 2: Connecting “Yellow” WL between Nodes-1 to Node-4.

In order to drop the "Yellow" wavelength (service) from Node 1 to Node 4, it must pass
through Node-2 and Node-3 and be manually patched in the Mux/DeMux. However since
the “Yellow” wavelength is not available in the Mux/DeMux, it cannot be passed
through. This problem is due to a prior design with fixed passive infrastructure; there
are not enough wavelengths to pass this new service between the Node-1-Node-4.
Therefore, in order to add WL, the network designer needs to replace the Mux/DeMux in
Node-2 and Node-3 to support higher number of wavelengths which is not only costly but
will most likely also cause traffic disruption. This issue will not occur in ROADM based
infrastructure since the ROADM based network supports full C-band expansion
(50/100GHz) from day-1.

Figure 1: Adding new WL

Power Balancing

Another major issue that usually requires manual handling in non-ROADM networks is the
power balancing of the bypass wavelengths as opposed to locally added wavelengths on
any particular node ( see figure 2). It is necessary to balance the optical power of these
WLs at the input point to an EDFA (Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier). Otherwise in a link
with many EDFAs and multiple channels; some channels might be lost due to a lack of
optical power if not balanced along the path.
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In non-ROADM networks, this is done by reducing the optical power of the added services
at the local node and installing fixed attenuators right after the transceiver. This manual
operation involves test equipment and calibration of each new service independently
which can be cumbersome and time consuming. Since the distances between sites differ
from site to site, the power levels of the pass through channels change as well, resulting
in the need to place different attenuators at each node and documenting them
accordingly.

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 Solution Overview

Figure 2: Power balancing with fixed attenuators

In a dynamic network that constantly changes, inserting a new node (Node 4 in figure 3)
adds additional IL (Insertion Loss) to the "Blue" WL, resulting in sending a technician to
Node 2 to replace fix attenuators (increase attenuation) for the "Red" WL . Of course,
one might choose to place VOA's and Photo Detectors (PD) or Variable Mux (VMUX) with
PD (Photo Detector), but, this would consume space and increase expenses especially
due to management complexity requiring constant monitoring and adjustment of the
optical power accordingly.

Figure 3: New attenuator with new Node

ROADM Based Solution

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The basic element of the ROADM is the Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS). The WSS is
an active component that performs the actual WL switching and monitoring. Together
with OCM (Optical Channel Monitoring), it monitors and balances power across all
channels using VOAs array.

© 2009 PacketLight Networks, All rights reserved. This document is PacketLight Public Information.
 Solution Overview

Figure 4: WSS based ROADM

Figure 4 describes one particular node in the ring network with East and West facing
ROADMs. The WSS can select any color to be routed towards the drop side of the local
Node or bypass to the next Node. The input port can receive the whole C band and the
drop (or add) ports can drop, bypass or block any channel as chosen.

Combined with the Tunable Transceivers, the ROADM becomes the most flexible and
easily scalable solution for optical networks. Figure 5 illustrates WL provisioning for two
Nodes. The management SW determines the WL for the two Transceivers and the
relevant configuration for the ROADMs in the ring. Power balancing is performed
automatically by the WSS. The whole process is done from a remote site via a network
management system.
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Figure 5: WSS and Tunable Transceivers

Multi-degree Node

A multi degree node is a node with more complex network architecture as in full mesh
or ring with spur. This requires a few WSS and PS (Power Splitters) as shown in Figure 6.
This adds additional level of flexibility, letting WL to route from any line to any line or
be dropped anywhere. In an event of failure of any of the service, the protecting WL
routes its path through the network to overcome or bypass the failure. The number of

© 2009 PacketLight Networks, All rights reserved. This document is PacketLight Public Information.
 Solution Overview

node degrees depends on the number of the WSS components present on the node. WSS
normally is the building block that is chained together to form a multi degree node.

Figure 6: Multi degree Node

PacketLight PL-1000RO

PacketLight ROADM solution follows the conceptual planning and design of the rest of
PacketLight's product line which is based on 1U architecture. PacketLight’s PL-1000RO
not only saves space, power consumption and provides easy scalability, but also provides
high level of integrated optical elements such as EDFAs and Mux/DeMuxes enclosed
within a single 1U enclosure. This economical solution contains 1x2 WSS on the add ports
and a PS (Power Splitter) on the drop ports. Together with the internal OCM and VOA per
each WL, PL-1000RO handles the switching of the WL, as well as the power balancing.
This compact solution also contains the Booster and the Pre Amplifier and two PSU for
redundancy. The passive Mux/Dmux are FRUs (Field Replaceable Units) giving the user
the ability to economically design the network according to network manager's needs.

Figure 7 illustrates the PL-1000RO as a part of a ring with West unit, East unit and the
passive unit. With PacketLight’s solution, it is simple, easy and cost effective to build
highly flexible optical backbone network which can be scaled with the required
transponders at any stage according to the customer's requirements and capacity of each
node. No pre-designing is needed and the solution is ready from day-1 for the full C-
Band 44/88 WL capacity.

PacketLight’s ROADM solution reduces the CAPEX and OPEX of managing and
maintenance of the network as well as reducing the time and simplifying the assigning or
removing services on the fly without traffic disruption.
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© 2009 PacketLight Networks, All rights reserved. This document is PacketLight Public Information.
 Solution Overview

Figure 7: PacketLight PL-1000RO

PacketLight's Management Software

To take a full advantage of ROADM solution, management SW becomes crucial. It

configures WSS along the network; monitors, blocks and passes bypass WLs; monitors the
optical power at each node as well as facilitates power balancing. As the network
becomes more flexible, the management SW becomes more sophisticated. E.g. Tunable
transceiver with ROADM allows the SW not only to provision the WL but also to
determine the actual WL based on the available wavelengths across the path. Figure-8
illustrates the remote management of PacketLight's ROADM with the ability to control
the path of each wavelength at each of the Nodes and the readouts of the power
balancing of each channel at each of the Nodes.
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Figure 8: ROADM management SW

© 2009 PacketLight Networks, All rights reserved. This document is PacketLight Public Information.
 Solution Overview

Easy Upgrade Path

1x4 WSS is a basic building block in ROADM that allows users to easily and seamlessly add
additional nodes in the Network, by simply adding the node and connecting it to the
upgrade ports of the existing ROADM. This will let the Network designer to add a spur or
create a multi degree node See figure 9.

Figure 9: ROADM with upgrade ports

PL-1000RO and PL-2000

PL-1000RO easily integrates with the rest of PacketLight's Optical Transport Layer (OTN )
products such as PL-1000TN and PL-2000 thus forming a fully flexible optical network for
a variety and mix of services.

PacketLight's PL-2000 is an MSPP (Multi Service Provisioning Platform) that packs

multiple sub 10Gb/s services onto OTU2 10G OTN uplinks. PL-1000TN on the other hand
is an 8G/10G OTN based multiprotocol transponder; both can be equipped with tunable
DWDM transceivers. Combining the PL-1000RO with the PL-2000 and PL1000TN gives
administrators full flexibility down from the service side), through the common optical
transport layer, Tunable WL selection and up to the flexible WL termination point
somewhere in the Network of each service.

Summary
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ROADM becomes the best solution for dynamic as well for new networks. It solves most
of the challenges facing network administrators. The combination of 100G and 10G
services in the network makes ROADM networks even more appealing and cost effective.
Combining the advantages of ROADM with PackeLight's other solutions makes it ideal
solution for cost, space and power savings. Service and WL changing have never been so
easy.
The advantages of using ROADM are clear.
1) No need to patch WLs on the pass through Nodes
2) No need for manual power balancing;

© 2009 PacketLight Networks, All rights reserved. This document is PacketLight Public Information.
 Solution Overview

3) ROADM minimizes time and effort involved in network maintenance, as well as

eliminates the need for constantly documenting the patch panels and
attenuators.
4) Visibility and performance monitoring on all wavelengths at all sites
5) Moreover, ROADM enables routing of any WL between any nodes, thereby easing
the management process and giving the network administrators the ability to
manage the WLs in the network merely with a click of a mouse allowing them to
block, pass or add WLs as needed. Moreover, actual distribution of the WLs in
the network can be viewed at any time while allowing the ROADM to perform
automatic power balancing.

About PacketLight Networks, Ltd.

PacketLight Networks offers a suite of Leading 1U
Metro CWDM and DWDM solutions, for transport of
data, storage, voice and video applications, over dark
fiber and WDM networks, featuring high quality,
reliability and performance at affordable prices. Our
products are distinguished with low power
consumption ideal for CLE (Customer Located
Equipment) allowing maximum flexibility as well as
ease of maintenance and operation and providing real
Pay-as-you-grow architecture. PacketLight customers
are carriers, service providers, data centers, IT
integrators and enterprises who are active in meeting
the demands for metro Ethernet, business continuity,
Triple Play solutions and enterprise data sharing
applications. For product and reseller information,
Please contact info@packetlight.com
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© 2009 PacketLight Networks, All rights reserved. This document is PacketLight Public Information.