Regional Optical Networking - The Next Steps

1. Regional Optical Networking - The Next Steps I2 Member Meeting May 2, 2005

2. Quilt RON Workshops • Goal: Educate the regional community about fiber and optical network opportunities and technologies. • 1st Workshop June ‘04 in Denver • “So you think you want some dark fiber?” • 2nd Workshop Nov. ‘04 in Raleigh • “So you’ve got some dark fiber-now what?” • 3rd Workshop June ‘05 Newport. RI • “So you’ve lit your fiber-now what?”

3. Inaugural Workshop • June 2004 at Level 3’s Facility in Broomfield, CO • Focus on learning about the acquisition and operational issues associated optical networks. • A “Who’s Who of RON Experts from the R&E Community” • Not Bad for Beginners! • Archive available at: http://www.thequilt.net/ • Specific topics • Where is the fiber? • IRU’s and other legal issues • Technical Design

4. Where’s the fiber? • Presenter - Victor Braud • Basic Issues • What kind of fiber is it? • Where does it go? • Who owns it? • Do they have any extra? • Do they have the right to sell it; if so will they sell it? • Can you afford it, including the cost of the: • IRU @ $500 to $2500/fiber/mile • Collocation @ $500 to $1,200/rack/month + power • O&M @ $100 to $300/route mile/year • Optronics to light and staff to maintain it? • Will the owner allow you reasonable access to it? • 20 year partnership with Owner?

5. Indefeasible Right to Use • Presenter - Alex Preiser - Associate Legal Counsel, UCAR • Key Legal issues associated with IRU Agreements • IRU Defined • Key Terms • Considerations • Strategies

6. IRU - Key Terms • Connection • Acceptance Testing • Maintenance • Construction • Fees • Performance • Property Rights • Term/Usage Rights • Payments/Taxes • Force Majeure

7. Funding the Network(s) • Several models presented • Almost as many funding models as there are organizational models • Basic Costs • General Operations • Network Operations Center • Allocation of Optical Network • Equipment Maintenance • Equipment Replacement Allocation

8. Technical Design Elements And Test Equipment • Presenter - Steve Cotter • Design • Optical budget = Output power – Input sensitivity Steve Cotter – Internet2 / National LambdaRail scotter@internet2.edu

9. Technical Design • Optical budget is affected by: • Fiber attenuation • Splices • Patch panels / connectors • Optical components (filters, amplifiers, etc.) • Bends in the fiber • Contamination (dirt, oil, etc.)

10. Fiber Types • SMF (standard, 1310 nm optimized, G.652) • Most widely deployed so far, introduced in 1986, cheapest • Corning SMF-28 • Corning SMF-28e • ‘extended band fiber – optimized for CWDM • DSF (Dispersion Shifted, G.653) • Intended for single channel operation at 1550 nm • Corning DSF

11. Fiber Types, Con’t • NZDSF (Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted, G.655) • SMF/LS (limited slope) fiber from Corning • Later fiber types are engineered for WDM operation in the 1550 nm region only • TrueWave, FreeLight, LEAF, E-LEAF, TeraLight… • These are the latest generation fibers developed in mid 90’s • For better performance with high capacity DWDM systems • Optimized for DWDM in the C-band & L-band • MetroCor, WideLight are other types • Low PMD ULH fibers are also out there

12. Ins and Outs of Co-location • Presenter - Steve Cotter • Co-location Site Survey • Know How to Get to the site • Access • Equipment Delivery • Inspect the facility • Know your costs • Power, • Cross-connects • Labor Steve Cotter – Internet2 / National LambdaRail scotter@internet2.edu

13. Acceptance Testing • Presenter - Paul Schopis • Main Issues • Background • Adapted lab approach • Examples on Web at ITEC sites • http://www.nc-itec.org/archive/CAR/plan.html • http://www.adec.edu/nsf/index.html • Layered approach • Specific targets • Physical Layer • Optical Layer • Full System

14. Quilt 2nd RON Workshop • November/December 2004 • Raleigh, NC hosted by MCNC. • Focus on Equipment available to light up the network. • New Approach • RFI with a Case Study served as discussion tool. • Selected Equipment Vendors Presented

16. Example Equipment RFP • Presenter - Scott Gerstenberger • MiLR Optronics Acquisition • RFP Purpose • Gives the vendors the big picture of why you’re doing this. • Reduces the number of questions • Gives your project more credibility • Components • Background and Overview • Include: general R&E RON activities, about the fiber you have, and an overview of the optronics you want to buy • Network Topology and Fiber Specifications • Specifics of your fiber (maps, distances, fiber types, fiber providers, loss specifications, colo sites, etc.)

17. Example RFP Components (cont’d) • DWDM System and Bid Requirements - Major section • Lay out your optronics design (list of OADM sites, wavelength capacity needed), • Trib interfaces you need, the initial specific configuration you plan to buy through the RFP • Expected network growth over time and how the vendor’s initial design needs to accommodate this growth, • Requirements for alien wavelengths, • Timetable, management and maintenance plan.

18. Example RFP Components (cont’d) • Evaluation Criteria • Don’t make this too limiting or overly specific • Specifics: • Vendor’s ability to comply with the RFP specifications • Vendor’s ability to demonstrate the product in their lab • Customer references • Overall cost (put this last) • How to Respond • Boiler plate and procedural material your purchasing department requires

19. Connecting to the Backbone • Presenter - Dave Reese • Option 1: Co-location • RON co-locates in same facility (not in same cage/space) as backbone. • Consider bulk fiber bundle between RON and backbone • Watch cross-connect fees! • Option 2: High fiber count • RON builds/buys/leases bulk fiber from nearby location into backbone facility • Distance is the limiting factor - some backbone interfaces are short reach ONLY

20. Common RON Issues • Diversity • Do you need diverse entrance into backbone facility? • Common facility • Can you incorporate the backbone facility as integral part of your RON? • Will the ILEC make “waves?” • Some are now offering reasonable Gig-E, and indicating 10GE availability • Depending on your visibility, ILEC may apply pressure to use their services!

21. Quilt 3rd RON Workshop • June 1-3, 2005 • Newport, RI, co-hosted by OSHEAN • Focus will be on learning more about the issues of operating an optical network • Vendor Presentation May 31 – June 1 • Agenda Topics • Optical Network Testing • Transition from Layer 3 to Layer 1 • Optical Network Management Tools • Issues Connecting • URL: http://www.thequilt.net/meetings

22. Optical Network Testing and Test Kits

23. Fiber Testing Goals • Operations and Maintenance • Is this fiber contiguous • Are optical components functioning as they should • Are there dirty connectors or bad splices • Initial Fiber Characterization • Measure span loss • Measure optical return loss (reflections) • Measure Dispersion • Chromatic Dispersion testing required at 10G • Chromatic and Polarization mode required at 40G

24. Test Equipment - Overview • Optical Time Domain Reflectometer • Measure attenuation along span • Can be used to troubleshoot fiber cuts • Optical Spectrum Analyzer • Display and measure the power levels of all the lambdas on the fiber • Helps ensure waves are balanced • Consider purchasing two • Want one with at least 2 nm sensitivity • Bit Test Set • Perform packet loss test to determine your BER • We require a 24 hour test before accepting circuits • 1310nm / 1550nm Light Source • Optical Power Meter • Chromatic Dispersion test set • SONET / GE / 10GE test sets

25. Fiber Test Equipment Kit • Fiber Inspection Scope • Optical Inspection Scope (<$500) • Video Inspection Scope (USB or standalone) ($2-3K) • Cleaning Kit ($100) • Cleaning sticks, alcohol, and wipes. • Laser glasses/goggles ($300) • Visual Fault Locator ($300) • Loss test set ($1K) • Stabilized light source • Power meter • Look for multi-wavelength units (1310/1550/1625 is common) • Loss testing often included with OTDR. Recommend you get both standalone and OTDR option.

26. OTDR Configuration • Optical Time Domain Reflectometer • Buy modular unit that can add features • For operations and maintenance (>$50K) • OTDR with order of 40dB of dynamic range ($30K) • Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA) ($30K) • For initial fiber characterization, add (total >$100K) • Chromatic Dispersion analyzer. Often, vendors will have a CM module with an integrated OTDR, so you can save some money getting this rather than discrete CM and OTDR modules ($20-30K) • Polarization Mode Dispersion testing ($60K)

27. Best of Breed Modular OTDR • Agilent N3900 • EXFO FTB 400 • Nettest CMA 5000 • This unit is OEMed by Corning and sold as the Corning 500 Plus Multitester • Informal survey of RON operators indicate most folks have Nettest/Corning or EXFO • Some vendors have a trade-in program, so if you have an old crusty OTDR…..