Infinera supports OTN end-to-end
SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 -- Infinera (NASDAQ: INFN) is leveraging the inherent optical transport and switching capabilities of its platforms to support digital Optical Transport Network (OTN) capabilities end-to-end through carrier networks. The company has unveiled new hardware and software to enable the capabilities.
Most vendor implementations of OTN can only implement OTN capabilities at the network end points – essentially, when traffic interfaces with the OTN infrastructure, Infinera sources say. The Infinera DTN can now support OTN switching at every node, enabling grooming and switching of OTN-encapsulated client services. The result is maximum service reconfigurability and network performance monitoring from metro/edge networks across backbone/core networks and standard-compliant OTN networking across multiple operator networks, Infinera asserts.
Infinera's end-to-end Digital OTN is enabled by the introduction of both hardware and software enhancements to Infinera's family of optical platforms. The hardware enhancements are new Tributary Adapter Modules for the DTN digital ROADM core WDM system and new Service Interface Modules for the ATN metro/access WDM system. These new modules enable OTN, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SONET/SDH, and wavelength services with per-port programmability. They are compatible with field-deployed DTNs and ATNs.
New software includes Infinera's latest release of the Digital Network Administrator (DNA Release 6). The new products have already begun shipping and are planned to be generally available by next month.
"Network operators are seeking ways to reduce the cost and complexity of their networks and are excited about new OTN switching gear and automated multi-layer networking capabilities emerging in the market," said Ron Kline, principal analyst network infrastructure at Ovum. "OTN is the glue that holds together a multi-service, high-capacity transport layer. However, in order to maximize effectiveness you need the whole OTN package present in both the core and edge of the network including service interfaces, switching/ grooming, network management, protection, OAM, and control plane capabilities."