Sycamore unveils universal service card for SN 16000 optical switch

May 4, 2004 Chelmsford, MA--Sycamore Networks is launching a universal service card (USC) for the SN 16000 intelligent optical switch. The USC architecture supports a variety of interface types, port speeds, and transport options in a single, modular line card.

The USC architecture supports Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet or SONET/SDH service interface groups, and flexible port speeds, optical reach, and wavelengths on a single interface card. With a fully modular architecture, the USC allows network operators to adopt a pay-as-you-grow approach to scaling their network. The USC enables network operators to add ports and services simply and non-disruptively--when and where needed. With the addition of flexible Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet service interfaces, the SN 16000 can deliver a cost-effective alternative to scaling core IP and multi-service networks.

"The demand for high speed Ethernet services in the metro continues to grow," said Michael Howard, principal analyst and co-founder at Infonetics Research, "so, combining Gigabit Ethernet and optical switching is a natural evolution for next gen networks. Sycamore has not only added Ethernet services capabilities, but has essentially designed a very modular, state-of-the-art line card with leading edge modularity, including any service, any port, any reach. This allows service providers to leverage their existing optical network investments and reduce costs, while offering customers new, high value services."

The USC architecture can support up to four separate line interface modules (LIMs) per line card with a broad range of service reach options via pluggable optics: short reach, intermediate reach, long reach, and DWDM optics. Specifically, the LIMs offer the following interface options:

• SONET/SDH interfaces: OC-48/STM-16 and OC-192/STM-64, or
• Ethernet interfaces: Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet, both of which support standards-based virtual concatenation, generic framing procedure, and link capacity adjustment scheme.

All of the LIMs can be supported on a single USC, allowing for flexible service introduction and growth. Furthermore, all services can be independently configured in any SN 16000 supported protection mechanism, including 2 and 4-fiber bidirectional line-switched ring/multisection shared protection ring, unidirectional path-switched ring/subnetwork connection protection, and hierarchical mesh restoration. This flexibility enables network operators to offer many customized service options from a single intelligent optical switch, increasing revenue potential while driving down costs.