A Comparison of Next-generation 40-Gbps Technologies (pdf)
There are many proposed optical transmission systems that offer 40 Gb/s wavelength capacity. The unbridled adoption of these solutions may well depend on the degree to which they overlay on existing DWDM 10 Gb/s links. This paper provides a description of new 40 Gb/s technologies being proposed and reveals their true compatibility with existing 10 Gb/s infrastructure.
There are many proposed optical transmission systems that offer 40 Gb/s wavelength capacity. The unbridled adoption of these solutions may well depend on the degree to which they overlay on existing DWDM 10 Gb/s links. This paper provides a description of new 40 Gb/s technologies being proposed and reveals their true compatibility with existing 10 Gb/s infrastructure.
Heavy Reading White Paper: The Need for Service-Driven Networks (pdf)
Network operators around the world are considering transforming into "next-generation telcos" to remain competitive in a drastically changing environment. This new environment presents challenges and opportunities for network operators, as well as a great deal of risk. One thing is for certain: Telecom operators that don't adapt their business models to 21st-century communications are sure to fail.
Network operators around the world are considering transforming into "next-generation telcos" to remain competitive in a drastically changing environment. This new environment presents challenges and opportunities for network operators, as well as a great deal of risk. One thing is for certain: Telecom operators that don't adapt their business models to 21st-century communications are sure to fail.
Intelligent Optical Control Plane Architectures (pdf)
Intelligent optical control plane technology offers many capabilities and benefits that can lower costs dramatically, improve network reliability and increase customer satisfaction. The CoreDirector® FS—by virtue of its field-proven hardware and software—is the industry’s most advanced multiservice optical switch, positioning Ciena as the leader in optical control plane technology. This white paper examines optical control plane strategy, interoperability success and networking dividends delivered by CoreDirector FS intelligent networks.
Intelligent optical control plane technology offers many capabilities and benefits that can lower costs dramatically, improve network reliability and increase customer satisfaction. The CoreDirector® FS—by virtue of its field-proven hardware and software—is the industry’s most advanced multiservice optical switch, positioning Ciena as the leader in optical control plane technology. This white paper examines optical control plane strategy, interoperability success and networking dividends delivered by CoreDirector FS intelligent networks.
Heavy Reading White Paper: Building the Next-Generation Packet-Optical Switching Network (pdf)
The next phase of SONET/SDH to packet network migration is underway, and optical networks must evolve to meet the challenges. To do this, a renewed focus has been placed on optical switching innovations and a tighter coupling of switching and transport through element integration and a unified control plane. Meanwhile, the network must continue to support legacy SONET/SDH traffic. Also, the network and network elements must have a high degree of modularity so operators can add the features and functions they need, when they need them.
The next phase of SONET/SDH to packet network migration is underway, and optical networks must evolve to meet the challenges. To do this, a renewed focus has been placed on optical switching innovations and a tighter coupling of switching and transport through element integration and a unified control plane. Meanwhile, the network must continue to support legacy SONET/SDH traffic. Also, the network and network elements must have a high degree of modularity so operators can add the features and functions they need, when they need them.
The Intelligent Path to a Service-Enabling Infrastructure (pdf)
The rise in bandwidth demand represents an era of major change in the ways residential and business services are used, sold, and supported on the network. To truly address the financial and technological imperatives of a network operator’s business, a more customizable and optimized approach to switching is required—one that provides a degree of hardware and software modularity and reconfigurability not found in today’s solutions. This new switching flexibility, made possible with a reconfigurable approach, will allow network operators to achieve a service-enabling switching infrastructure that can help drive top-line revenues, decrease costs, and ultimately differentiate offered services to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.
The rise in bandwidth demand represents an era of major change in the ways residential and business services are used, sold, and supported on the network. To truly address the financial and technological imperatives of a network operator’s business, a more customizable and optimized approach to switching is required—one that provides a degree of hardware and software modularity and reconfigurability not found in today’s solutions. This new switching flexibility, made possible with a reconfigurable approach, will allow network operators to achieve a service-enabling switching infrastructure that can help drive top-line revenues, decrease costs, and ultimately differentiate offered services to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.
The Road to 100G Networking (pdf)
Carriers are challenged by bandwidth constraints while attempting to accommodate demands for high-speed services. The aggregation of 10GbE on IP routers, coupled with fiber plant exhaust, necessitates 100 Gb/s ports on DWDM equipment and 100GbE ports for switch-to-switch interconnection. This white paper explains how Ciena leads the development of timely, technically innovative 100 Gb/s solutions that operate over existing 10 Gb/s infrastructures.
Carriers are challenged by bandwidth constraints while attempting to accommodate demands for high-speed services. The aggregation of 10GbE on IP routers, coupled with fiber plant exhaust, necessitates 100 Gb/s ports on DWDM equipment and 100GbE ports for switch-to-switch interconnection. This white paper explains how Ciena leads the development of timely, technically innovative 100 Gb/s solutions that operate over existing 10 Gb/s infrastructures.
Preparing for the Inevitable (pdf)
While no one likes to talk about disasters, they happen. And when they do, unprepared businesses and governments fail to function—unless they have a plan in place. This paper outlines key steps and information to consider when building a disaster recovery plan that prepares infrastructure to withstand failures and outages.
While no one likes to talk about disasters, they happen. And when they do, unprepared businesses and governments fail to function—unless they have a plan in place. This paper outlines key steps and information to consider when building a disaster recovery plan that prepares infrastructure to withstand failures and outages.
Provider Backbone Bridging – Traffic Engineering of Carrier Ethernet Services (pdf)
Due to its ubiquity and ease of use, Ethernet, in the form of PBB-TE, is positioned to capitalize on the sizeable opportunity of delivering and transporting Carrier Ethernet services.
Due to its ubiquity and ease of use, Ethernet, in the form of PBB-TE, is positioned to capitalize on the sizeable opportunity of delivering and transporting Carrier Ethernet services.
Making the Case for Converged Ethernet Transport (pdf)
This white paper examines the market drivers, key benefits, and main applications for converged Ethernet transport, and provides an overview of the CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform Family—including the new G10/G10X Ethernet service modules, which deliver a cost-effective, high-performance, manageable packet optical networking platform.
This white paper examines the market drivers, key benefits, and main applications for converged Ethernet transport, and provides an overview of the CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform Family—including the new G10/G10X Ethernet service modules, which deliver a cost-effective, high-performance, manageable packet optical networking platform.
OTN: Delivering Assured, Flexible Transport Topology for Enterprise Networks (pdf)
OTN is the ideal standard on which to deploy a large variety of networks and protocols, including legacy TDM connectivity, enterprise LAN and storage protocol traffic, and special video or machine protocols. With OTN, emerging services such as Ethernet and virtually any storage and data center protocol can be transported transparently and simultaneously over a converged network.
OTN is the ideal standard on which to deploy a large variety of networks and protocols, including legacy TDM connectivity, enterprise LAN and storage protocol traffic, and special video or machine protocols. With OTN, emerging services such as Ethernet and virtually any storage and data center protocol can be transported transparently and simultaneously over a converged network.
Ethernet and MPLS OAM (pdf)
Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery solution enables service providers to operate, administrate, and maintain any mix of Ethernet and MPLS-based L2 VPNs effectively. By leveraging this unique OAM capability, service providers can protect current revenue and maximize revenue growth, while reducing operational costs.
Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery solution enables service providers to operate, administrate, and maintain any mix of Ethernet and MPLS-based L2 VPNs effectively. By leveraging this unique OAM capability, service providers can protect current revenue and maximize revenue growth, while reducing operational costs.
Analysis and Benefits of Carrier Ethernet in Metro Networks (pdf)
Carrier Ethernet, a new variety of Ethernet, is positioned to dominate emerging business and residential networks. This paper examines the characteristics of Carrier Ethernet in the transport and delivery of a wide range of services and applications, and explores the service’s growth potential in the market.
Carrier Ethernet, a new variety of Ethernet, is positioned to dominate emerging business and residential networks. This paper examines the characteristics of Carrier Ethernet in the transport and delivery of a wide range of services and applications, and explores the service’s growth potential in the market.
ROADMs in Network Architectures (pdf)
ROADM delivers new flexibility to DWDM networks by enabling dynamic, transparent optical wavelength add/drop functioning, and adds considerable agility and robustness to network architectures—vastly improving service velocity and lowering TCO.
ROADM delivers new flexibility to DWDM networks by enabling dynamic, transparent optical wavelength add/drop functioning, and adds considerable agility and robustness to network architectures—vastly improving service velocity and lowering TCO.
Storage Extension Network Solutions: Lower-cost, Higher-Performance Networks (pdf)
Robust, secure, resilient, high-capacity storage networks are business imperatives. The right network solutions must provide reliable, timely, and accurate application-layer replication over a network that cost-effectively delivers high-performance connectivity to fit application requirements. This white paper explores techniques to ensure the availability of storage applications over distances while driving costs down by up to 70 percent.
Robust, secure, resilient, high-capacity storage networks are business imperatives. The right network solutions must provide reliable, timely, and accurate application-layer replication over a network that cost-effectively delivers high-performance connectivity to fit application requirements. This white paper explores techniques to ensure the availability of storage applications over distances while driving costs down by up to 70 percent.
Survivable Optical Networks with foreword by Ovum RHK (pdf)
Globalization and natural disasters have combined to rejuvenate interest in global communications networks, particularly the undersea networks interconnecting with their terrestrial counterparts. As these networks grow and customer needs evolve, mesh protection of undersea links is emerging as an important trend at the optical network layer as operators look to control costs while improving network resiliency.
Globalization and natural disasters have combined to rejuvenate interest in global communications networks, particularly the undersea networks interconnecting with their terrestrial counterparts. As these networks grow and customer needs evolve, mesh protection of undersea links is emerging as an important trend at the optical network layer as operators look to control costs while improving network resiliency.
National Health Information Network (pdf)
In April 2004, an executive order called for creating the position of National Health Information Technology Coordinator within the Department of Health and Human Services, with a vision of developing a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure. This paper provides thought leadership in hopes of reducing the time until this vitally important national utility becomes a reality.
In April 2004, an executive order called for creating the position of National Health Information Technology Coordinator within the Department of Health and Human Services, with a vision of developing a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure. This paper provides thought leadership in hopes of reducing the time until this vitally important national utility becomes a reality.
FlexSelect Architecture: Achieving Profitability and Convergence (pdf)
IP and Ethernet packet services are a growing part of the network traffic load, but service providers must continue to support legacy services. Customers cannot be forced to move to packet-based services before they are ready. It makes financial sense for service providers to extend their existing networks to support packet traffic rather than to overlay them with a new network.
IP and Ethernet packet services are a growing part of the network traffic load, but service providers must continue to support legacy services. Customers cannot be forced to move to packet-based services before they are ready. It makes financial sense for service providers to extend their existing networks to support packet traffic rather than to overlay them with a new network.
Practical TDM Service Migration to a Converged Ethernet Infrastructure (pdf)
Until businesses and enterprises complete the transition from TDM private lines to ubiquitous Ethernet to support point-to-point, dedicated inter-office voice and data connectivity, there remains a strong TDM market segment for service providers worldwide. This white paper looks at how TDMoP provides a standards-based method for emulating TDM services over a converged packet network in a very scalable, reliable, and cost-effective way.
Until businesses and enterprises complete the transition from TDM private lines to ubiquitous Ethernet to support point-to-point, dedicated inter-office voice and data connectivity, there remains a strong TDM market segment for service providers worldwide. This white paper looks at how TDMoP provides a standards-based method for emulating TDM services over a converged packet network in a very scalable, reliable, and cost-effective way.
The High-Availability Agency (pdf)
Emerging applications like VoIP, video, Web services, and data replication are placing unprecedented performance demands on agency networks. Optical networking allows agencies to simplify networks and reduce costs while dramatically increasing performance and availability.
Emerging applications like VoIP, video, Web services, and data replication are placing unprecedented performance demands on agency networks. Optical networking allows agencies to simplify networks and reduce costs while dramatically increasing performance and availability.
Scaling and Adapting to Ongoing Innovation with Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture (pdf)
Gaining the flexibility to grow new services, change architectures on demand, and scale to high speeds requires a forward-looking, cost-effective approach. Ciena’s FlexSelect™ Architecture addresses these needs by helping network equipment continually adapt to the changing landscape with flexibility, manageability, and assured operations without continual forklift upgrades.
Gaining the flexibility to grow new services, change architectures on demand, and scale to high speeds requires a forward-looking, cost-effective approach. Ciena’s FlexSelect™ Architecture addresses these needs by helping network equipment continually adapt to the changing landscape with flexibility, manageability, and assured operations without continual forklift upgrades.
The Foundation for the Evolution of Enterprise Networks: Ciena's Approach to Optical Networking (pdf)
Based on technology building blocks such as OTN, programmability, intelligent optical control plane, and automated management, Ciena’s enterprise solutions offer the lowest cost for present implementation and long-term operation, and provide the scalability and flexibility to serve as adaptable foundations for years to come.
Based on technology building blocks such as OTN, programmability, intelligent optical control plane, and automated management, Ciena’s enterprise solutions offer the lowest cost for present implementation and long-term operation, and provide the scalability and flexibility to serve as adaptable foundations for years to come.
Beyond Carrier Ethernet: Making Ethernet Performance-Grade (pdf)
Ciena is now committed to making Ethernet suitable for use in service provider transport networks. To achieve this end, solutions need to build upon and go beyond Carrier Ethernet requirements. This whitepaper identifies the challenges associated with taking Ethernet to the WAN and proposes a set of solutions required to make Ethernet performance-grade.
Ciena is now committed to making Ethernet suitable for use in service provider transport networks. To achieve this end, solutions need to build upon and go beyond Carrier Ethernet requirements. This whitepaper identifies the challenges associated with taking Ethernet to the WAN and proposes a set of solutions required to make Ethernet performance-grade.
Intelligent Optical Switching and Dynamic Lightpath Provisioning for Research Networks (pdf)
This paper introduces Ciena’s CoreDirector® Multiservice Switch—an intelligent optical switch—and provides a functional overview of the value provided within next-generation network architecture.
This paper introduces Ciena’s CoreDirector® Multiservice Switch—an intelligent optical switch—and provides a functional overview of the value provided within next-generation network architecture.
The Foundation for Assured Networks: Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture (pdf)
Ciena platforms form the global backbone network for the U.S. Department of Defense and the backbones of seven of the world’s ten largest service providers. These platforms are integral components for achieving the level of security and reliability necessary to sustain critical operations and the real-time delivery of information.
Ciena platforms form the global backbone network for the U.S. Department of Defense and the backbones of seven of the world’s ten largest service providers. These platforms are integral components for achieving the level of security and reliability necessary to sustain critical operations and the real-time delivery of information.
Yankee Group White Paper: Adaptive Network Architectures are Critical to Government IT Evolution (pdf)
Shifts in the way government agencies operate and communicate are having a seismic impact on IT systems and network architectures across federal agencies. This report identifies the drivers of network transformation and the requirements of next-generation networks, and provides quantifiable guidance to government agencies weighing carrier versus private optical networking options.
Shifts in the way government agencies operate and communicate are having a seismic impact on IT systems and network architectures across federal agencies. This report identifies the drivers of network transformation and the requirements of next-generation networks, and provides quantifiable guidance to government agencies weighing carrier versus private optical networking options.
Ovum RHK White Paper: OTN Emerges as a Must Have (pdf)
OTN, the Optical Transport Network, dates back to 1998, but is only now hitting its stride as a requirement for next-generation optical network elements. OTN was one of many promising optical technologies whose rollout was delayed by post-bubble investment declines. As network operators have begun spending again, and as service bandwidths and transport pipes are getting larger, OTN has reemerged as a “must have” technology, but not for the lofty reasons many often cite.
OTN, the Optical Transport Network, dates back to 1998, but is only now hitting its stride as a requirement for next-generation optical network elements. OTN was one of many promising optical technologies whose rollout was delayed by post-bubble investment declines. As network operators have begun spending again, and as service bandwidths and transport pipes are getting larger, OTN has reemerged as a “must have” technology, but not for the lofty reasons many often cite.
WAN Optimization for Enterprise Applications (pdf)
Emerging applications are driving new network performance requirements on enterprise and government networks. Trends, like Business Continuance (BC)/Disaster Recovery (DR) compliance requirements, and the emergence of web services and software oriented architectures in multi-location enterprises, are poised to power the demand for bandwidth-intensive solutions. Ciena provides industry leading flexible, intelligent network platforms and expertise to help you address these challenges. This paper illustrates how Ciena can assist you in forming Adaptive WANs to meet your IT challenges.
Emerging applications are driving new network performance requirements on enterprise and government networks. Trends, like Business Continuance (BC)/Disaster Recovery (DR) compliance requirements, and the emergence of web services and software oriented architectures in multi-location enterprises, are poised to power the demand for bandwidth-intensive solutions. Ciena provides industry leading flexible, intelligent network platforms and expertise to help you address these challenges. This paper illustrates how Ciena can assist you in forming Adaptive WANs to meet your IT challenges.
Adaptive WANs for Enterprise and Government (pdf)
Web Services, Remote Storage Replication and Grid Computing, individually and collectively, are triggering exponential growth in inter-site traffic. If organizations react to this growth as they have in the past—adding bandwidth incrementally and prioritizing high priority traffic during peak traffic periods—organizations will find their applications increasingly struggling and competing for congested WAN resources. Their investments in IT hardware and software will not realize the expected benefits. Adaptive WANs are critical for multiple site organizations with timesensitive applications. They enable organizations to place their IT assets anywhere—including their storage assets. Ciena’s Adaptive WAN solution is field-proven in the most demanding production networks today—carrying mission-critical traffic with a full variety of bandwidth services.
Web Services, Remote Storage Replication and Grid Computing, individually and collectively, are triggering exponential growth in inter-site traffic. If organizations react to this growth as they have in the past—adding bandwidth incrementally and prioritizing high priority traffic during peak traffic periods—organizations will find their applications increasingly struggling and competing for congested WAN resources. Their investments in IT hardware and software will not realize the expected benefits. Adaptive WANs are critical for multiple site organizations with timesensitive applications. They enable organizations to place their IT assets anywhere—including their storage assets. Ciena’s Adaptive WAN solution is field-proven in the most demanding production networks today—carrying mission-critical traffic with a full variety of bandwidth services.
