Polatis demos programmable OXC shutter at ECOC

Polatis has added a programmable shutter to the software features of its DIrectLight optical matrix switches. The feature is designed to enable users to introduce repeatable, precisely timed disconnections on multiple fiber paths through the optical switch with individually programmable shutter intervals between 10 ms to 10,000 ms.

The new capability means equipment suppliers, carriers, and service providers can simulate not only total fiber breaks but momentary service interruptions as well.

"The new Polatis multi-port shutter function makes it easy for our systems test customers to validate performance of the network physical layer and control plane when stressed with single and multiple optical line faults," said Nick Parsons, Polatis vice president of engineering and CTO. "Previously, it has been difficult, expensive, and time consuming to generate multiple simultaneous outages in today’s complex optical networks. The programmable shutter feature greatly simplifies the generation of both hard and transient fiber faults to automate testing of network fault detection, reconfiguration, and recovery."

Polatis demonstrated the capability last week during ECOC 2011 in Geneva.