INTEROPERABILITY T
he trend toward cloud-based, data centre network architectures is driven by cost savings and revenue generating benefits
for network operators. Tis includes benefits such as improved operational efficiency, decreased capital costs, differentiated services and faster service delivery. Tese benefits rely on interoperable
networking solutions that deliver scalable, high performance, open and automated network hardware and soſtware solutions. Te Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) helps deliver such solutions through its technical expertise, agile and collaborative specification development process and strong industry liaison relationships. Karl Gass, optical working group vice-chair,
said: ‘OIF promotes the development and deployment of interoperable networking solutions and services through the creation of implementation agreements for optical networking products, network processing elements and component technologies. Implementation agreements are based on requirements developed co-operatively by end-users, service providers, equipment vendors and technology providers, and aligned with worldwide standards, augmented if necessary.’
Seting standards Te forum creates benchmarks, performs worldwide interoperability testing, builds market awareness and promotes education for technologies, services and solutions. It also provides feedback to standards organisations to help achieve a set of implementable, interoperable solutions. Gass provided a number of key examples
of current and recent OIF implementation agreements that leverage industry collaboration and consensus. ‘OIF members are developing an
implementation agreement for 400G ZR and short-reach DWDM multi-vendor interoperability,’ he said. ‘It is relevant for router-to-router interconnect use cases and is targeted at (passive) single channel and amplified DWDM applications, with distances up to 120km. Tis project should ensure a cost-effective and long-term relevant implementation using single-carrier 400G, coherent detection and advanced DSP/FEC algorithms.’ As well as the interoperable coherent link
implementation agreement, OIF has released the IC-TROSA implementation agreement which defines a miniature, integrated optical transceiver assembly that can be used as a building block for 400ZR modules and supports multiple optical technologies and manufacturing processes. Te forum is leveraging input and consensus from its
Fibre Yearbook 2020
The secret to Ethernet’s continued success has always been, and will continue to be, interoperability
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Customer, technology and vertical integration are needed for technology development in the face of rapid cloud evolution”
membership, including network operators and the entire technology vendor ecosystem. Moving forward Te organisation is also focusing on common electrical I/O (CEI). Gass said: ‘Customer, technology and vertical integration are needed for technology development in the face of rapid cloud evolution. Te CEI multi-generational solutions demonstrate community members coming together to tackle hard problems and help drive industry innovation forward – from 2002 to present day.’ OIF is also currently in the process of
developing electrical link definitions for the next generation 112Gb/s data rate to provide signaling over a multitude of link types, including die-to-die, chip-to-chip, chip-to- module, medium reach chip-to-chip and long reach chip-to-chip, also known as backplane. Electrical interfaces are needed ahead of other elements of the specification and can oſten be leveraged by multiple standards bodies, allowing economies of scale and beter use of resources. Te forum understands these timing needs and delivers. Another area in which the organisation has
been focusing its efforts is transport SDN. Gass said: ‘In 2013, with the industry migrating toward soſtware defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV), OIF identified gaps in the application of SDN concepts and practices for transport infrastructure and service delivery. Initial testing in 2014 focused on the south- bound interface (SBI) but uncovered gaps in the north-bound interface (NBI). Continued multi- vendor testing with global network operators in 2016 and 2018, and collaboration with ONF and MEF, led to development of a stable, full- featured T-API 2.0 NBI.’
Get active Focusing on the continued success and advancement of Ethernet technologies, the Ethernet Alliance also spends much of its time looking at interoperable Ethernet technologies. At the recent ECOC in Dublin, the alliance showcased an interactive, multi- vendor demonstration, spanning technologies from 25GbE to 400GbE. It also pointed to a coming 800GbE future, while illustrating interoperability’s critical role in making that future a reality. Greg McSorley, president, Ethernet Alliance;
and technical business development manager, Amphenol, said: ‘Ethernet is bursting through speed barriers at a breakneck pace. With higher speeds and longer reaches, it’s now pushing past its history as an innovative consumer technology into diverse new markets and application spaces like enterprise storage, automotive, and building automation. Te 400GbE era is here, but it’s only a stepping stone along the road to 800GbE. Te secret to Ethernet’s continued success has always been, and will continue to be, interoperability. Geting traffic to travel seamlessly from today’s
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Ethernet Alliance
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