Embedded Communication Channel for Node Communication in WDM Networks
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DEGREE PROJECT IN DEGREE PROGRAMME IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 300 CREDITS, SECOND CYCLE STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN 2015 Embedded Communication Channel for Node Communication in WDM Networks ANDERS ROSÉN KTH ROYAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Abstract Optical Transport Network is a set of Optical Network Elements (NE) con- nected by optical ber links able to provide support for optical networking using Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM). In order to be able to in- troduce link-level applications that require NE-to-NE communication in a packet-optical network, an embedded communication channel is needed. Ex- amples of such applications are dual-ended protection, remote conguration and path trace. By implementing a NE-to-NE communication channel, the exchange of commands and information will allow for implementation of applications that will increase the data link stability in the network. The purpose of this work has been to prove the feasibility of such a channel. This thesis discusses the possibilities of implementing such a channel adjusted to Transmode's layer 1 products without causing disturbance in the regular trac or aecting any existing embedded communication. It also proves the channels function in a proof-of-concept manner by demonstrating a simple Path trace application run upon an implementation of the channel on hardware. The chosen solution is an Embedded Communication Channel driver intended to provide termination points for an Embedded Communication Channel (ECC), supervising the connectivity of the channel and relay mes- sages to applications. This thesis project has been carried out at Innera Corporation (earlier Transmode Systems AB) during summer/autumn 2015. Keywords Embedded Communication Channel, NE-to-NE communication, ECC-Driver, Socket programming, Linux kernel 1 Sammanfattning Optical Transport Network är ett antal Optical Network Elements (NE) sammankopplade av optiska ber-linor som tillhandahåller stöd för optiska nätverk som använder sig av våglängdsmultiplexering (WDM). För att kunna introducera applikationer på länk-lagret som kräver nod-till-nod-kommunikation i ett paket-optiskt nätverk behövs det en inbyggd kommunikationskanal. Ex- empel på sådana applikationer är dubbel-sidigt beskydd (dual-ended protec- tion), fjärrstyrd konguration och vägspårning (path trace). Genom att implementera en NE-till-NE-kommunikationskanal, kan ut- byte av kommandon och information tillåta implementering av applikationer som ökar stabiliteten av datalänkar i nätverket. Syftet med detta uppsatspro- jekt har varit att bevisa funktionaliteten av en sådan kommunikationskanal. Denna uppsats tar upp möjligheterna till att implementera en sådan typ av kanal anpassad till Transmodes lager 1-produkter utan att förorsaka störningar i den reguljära traken eller påverka den redan existerande inbyg- gda kommunikationen. Den visar också på kanalens funktion på ett koncept- bevisande sätt genom att demostrera en enkel Path trace-applikation som körs på en implementation av kanalen på hårdvara. Den valda lösningen är en drivrutin för en inbyggd kommunikationskanal ämnad att tillhandahålla ändpunkter för den inbyggda kommunikationskanalen (ECC), övervakning av kanalens anslutningar och skicka vidare meddelanden till applikationer. Detta examensarbete har genomförts på Innera Corporations (tidigare Transmode Systems AB) under sommaren/hösten 2015. Nyckelord Embedded Communication Channel, Nod-till-Nod kommunikation, ECC- Driver, Socket-programmering, Linux kernel 2 Table of contents 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Background . 5 1.1.1 Internet Trac Today . 5 1.1.2 Fiber-optical Communication . 6 1.1.3 Wavelength Division Multiplexing . 7 1.1.4 Node Structure . 8 1.1.5 OSI Layer Model . 10 1.1.6 Link-layer Applications . 11 1.2 Problem . 12 1.3 Purpose . 12 1.4 Goals . 13 1.4.1 Ethics and Sustainability . 14 1.5 Methodology . 14 1.6 Delimitations . 15 1.7 Outline . 15 2 Theoretical Background 16 2.1 Former Work . 16 2.2 Optical Network Transport Protocols . 16 2.2.1 Optical Transport Network Format . 17 2.2.2 Intelligent Wavelength Division Multiplexing . 17 2.2.3 Synchronous Digital Hierarchy . 17 2.2.4 General Communication Channel . 18 2.3 Trac unit . 18 2.3.1 Trac Unit Boards . 19 2.3.2 Hardware Architecture . 20 2.3.3 Software Architecture . 21 2.4 Bit Interleaved Parity . 22 2.5 Management Software . 22 3 Design approach 24 3.1 Method . 24 3.2 Design . 24 3.2.1 Channel Structure . 24 3.2.2 Protocol design . 25 3.2.3 Management Software Decision . 27 3.2.4 Subscription . 27 3.2.5 Implementation Tasks . 28 3 3.2.6 Software Management Flow . 28 3.2.7 Functions . 29 3.2.8 Parallellism . 30 3.2.9 Subscription . 31 3.2.10 Start-up . 31 3.2.11 Path Trace Application . 31 3.3 Conditions . 31 4 Results 32 4.1 Demonstration . 32 4.1.1 Set-up . 32 4.1.2 Procedure . 34 4.2 Test Cases . 35 4.3 Outcome . 37 4.3.1 Without Customer Trac . 38 4.3.2 With Customer Trac . 42 4.4 Discussion . 46 5 Conclusions 49 5.1 Future Work . 50 A Appendix: Hardware set-up pictures 53 B Appendix: Test Cases 54 C Appendix: Resulting Measurements 55 4 1 Introduction This project aims at coming up with a general solution for a low-level com- munication channel between nodes in a network. Link-level applications or protocols would get a standardized way of communicating with each other, which leads to more features supporting the link-level layer in network ele- ments. The project will investigate whether such a channel would be pos- sible, plausible or even needed at all. We will design a solution, try out the concept and evaluate it. A possible solution will be implemented on Transmode's equipment, and be formed after their node architecture. The project is carried out at Innera Corporation (earlier Transmode Systems AB). Innera delivers packet-optical network solutions to tier 1, mobile and Cable TV operators. A big part of the project research is going to utilize Innera's proprietary systems and equipment. In this introducing chapter, a background to optical networking is pre- sented as well as a general problem description, the purpose and the goals of the project. 1.1 Background From internet trac and optical networking to low-level node structure. The following subchapters introduce the most important parts needed to understand the background area of the problem. 1.1.1 Internet Trac Today The Internet constantly grows in terms of users and data trac. The Internet trac itself is estimated to grow by 50% annually in the upcoming decade[1]. Years ago telecommunication was equal to the telephone network, but as we know it today Internet video, online gaming and le sharing (peer-to-peer trac for example) is taking up the majority of the network bandwidth. According to Cisco's annual global IP trac forecast from 2015, the global IP trac will exceed the one zettabyte limit in 2016. Preparation towards this more and more connected society is in Sweden where the residential broadband access is at least 1 Mbit/s today[2]. The deployment of 100 Mbit/s is an ongoing project by Post- och telestyrelsen (PTS), a Swedish authority responsible for mail and electronic communication. Their goal is to provide at least 90% of the households in Sweden with access to at least 100 Mbit/s by 2020[3]. Cisco also predict that already in 2019, the two zettabyte limit will be reached and the number of non-wired devices will exceed the 5 number of wired devices connected to the Internet. A contributing factor is the Internet of Things (IoT) trend meaning that all the things around us are going to be connected to the Internet. IoT will become more mainstream the upcoming years. Internet trac in the future is not going to be more geographically balanced than today even if the number of Internet users on the other side of the globe increases, Cisco predicts. The most intense period of the day, the so called busy hour, will keep getting more intense. This period will increase by a factor 3.4 versus the average Internet trac that will grow by a factor 2.8[4]. Cisco also predict that the popularity of content delivery networks (CDN) networks will continue over the years and more than half of the Internet trac will go through CDN networks by 2019[4]. A CDN delivers web con- tent, music, live video, on-demand video and les to users based on their geographical location. The purpose is to decrease the distance between re- quested content and end users, and achieve a lower response and download time. A CDN system is composed by distributed servers, spread around the world. The majority of the trac from a service using CDN is therfore kept inside of a metro network. Innera (Transmode) is mainly working with equipment for metro, or metropolitan, networks that interconnects locations in a large city, cities in a region, large company sites, links to mobile cell sites and so on. A long- haul network connects regional metro networks, i.e. countries and bigger regions with a thousands of kilometers between its nodes[1]. The increasing popularity of CDNs in combination with the fast growing Internet trac makes Cisco predict that metro trac is going to surpass long-haul trac already this year, in 2015. This is of big interest to Innera's (Transmode) and puts pressure on their equipment performance. 1.1.2 Fiber-optical Communication When building a long distance network today, like a long haul or metro network, optical ber is the most commonly used communication medium[1]. This includes Innera's networking solutions as well. Fiber-optical communication has existed since 1970 when the American glass company Corning Inc. developed optical ber suitable for communica- tion purposes, and has since then taken the telecommunication industry to the next level with great performance over long distances.