On 5/2/23 21:32, Jared Mauch wrote:
I’ve seen proposals for an LSR MPLS/ROADAM type solution, where imagine you are
at a hop where in a long distance system solution, you would end up with OEO,
but instead you get directionality capability with an IP/MPLS capable device.
My memory is rather fuzzy, but didn't Juniper attempt something like
this in their PTX's after they picked up BTI? I think the plan was to
co-locate the ROADM at the bottom of the PTX chassis, or something along
those lines.
I know Cisco (and Juniper) tried by integrating GMPLS into their code as
a starting point, but that didn't go very far with customers. It just
seemed impossible for the Transport teams to allow the IP/MPLS teams
that level of access into their line system :-).
As mentioned previously, the 400-ZR/ZR+/ZR-Bright/+0 optics are the latest
example of that.
A rather high barrier to entry for most operators, but we have to start
from somewhere.
I know of a few companies that have looked at solutions like this, and can
expect there to be some interesting solutions that would appear as a result.
Optical line systems tend to have pretty low power requirements compared to a
router, but some of the routers are getting pretty low power as well when it
comes to the power OPEX/bit, and if you have the ability to deliver services as
an integrated packet optical you could see reduced costs and simplified
components/sparing.
The main problem is distance.
If you need to move that kind of capacity more than 50km, it's hard to
avoid DWDM.
I’ll also say that I’ve not yet seen the price compression that I had expected
in the space yet, but I figure that’s coming. We are seeing the bits/watt
ratio improve though, so for the same or less power consumption you get more
bits. Some of this technology stuff is truly magical.
I think for long spans, DWDM will not only be cheaper, but the only
feasible solution.
For the metro, it will come down to what motivates the business...
plenty of features, or plenty of speed.
Also, DWDM vendors are adding speed and distance faster and cheaper than
the IP/MPLS vendors can. So they will always be one step ahead in that
respect; and we have the submarine cable systems to thank for that.
Mark.
