Method for supporting SNCP over packet network
A method is presented for supporting SNCP over a packet network connecting to two SDH sub-networks and transporting one or more SDH paths that are SNCP-protected in both SDH sub-networks. The packet network connects to each of two sub-network interconnection points by a working path and a protection path. The packet sub-network may provide the same type of path protection as an SDH sub-network using SNCP, while avoiding bandwidth duplication.
1. A method for providing failure protection at the sub-network level in a network having a path traversing a plurality of sub-networks, such that a path failure in an individual sub-network is locally repaired and does not affect protection offered at another sub-network, the network comprising a first sub-network and a second sub-network, wherein the first sub-network and the second sub-network are in communication through a packet switched network, the method comprising the steps of:
configuring the first sub-network protocol from a group consisting of Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Synchronous Optical Network (SONET);
configuring path protection for the first sub-network from a group consisting of Sub-network Connection Protocol (SNCP) and Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR);
providing a first SNCP termination equipment (STE) in the first sub-network;
providing a second STE in the first sub-network;
configuring the first STE to terminate path protection from a first pseudo wire over the packet switched network between the first sub-network and the second sub-network;
configuring the second STE to terminate path protection from a second pseudo wire over the packet switched network between the first sub-network and the second sub-network;
configuring the second STE to terminate path protection from a third pseudo wire over the packet switched network between the first sub-network and the second sub-network;
configuring the first STE to terminate path protection from a fourth pseudo wire over the packet switched network between the first sub-network and the second sub-network; and
configuring the first STE and the second STE such that the packet sub-network transports data plane traffic over exactly one path between the first sub-network and the second sub-network selected from the group of paths including the first pseudo wire, the second pseudo wire, the third pseudo wire, and the fourth pseudo wire.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first STE comprises a first automatic protection switch, wherein the first automatic protection switch further comprises an Automatic Protection Switch (APS) 1+1; and
the second STE comprising a second automatic protection switch.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second automatic protection switch is selected from a group consisting of an APS 1:1 and an APS 1+1.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of configuring the second automatic protection switch outputs as the second pseudo wire and the third pseudo wire.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet switched network is an Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-network comprises a first node and a second node, the first node further comprising the first STE and the second node further comprising the second STE.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein first node communicates with the second node through a first sub-network path through the packet switched network.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-network comprises a first node, the first node further comprising the first STE and the second STE.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein first STE communicates with the second STE through a hairpin path within the first node.
10. A method for providing failure protection at the sub-network level in a network having a path traversing a plurality of sub-networks, such that a path failure in an individual sub-network is locally repaired and does not affect protection offered at another sub-network, the network comprising a first sub-network and a second sub-network, wherein the first sub-network and the second sub-network are in communication through a packet switched network, the method comprising the steps of:
selecting the first sub-network protocol from a group consisting of Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) and Synchronous Optical Network (SONET);
configuring path protection for the first sub-network from a group consisting of Sub-network Connection Protocol (SNCP) and Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR);
providing a first SNCP termination equipment (STE) in the first sub-network;
providing a second STE in the first sub-network;
configuring the first STE to terminate path protection from for a first pseudo wire over the packet switched network between the first sub-network and the second sub-network; and
configuring the second STE to terminate path protection from for a second pseudo wire over the packet switched network between the first sub-network and the second sub-network;
configuring the first STE and the second STE such that the packet sub-network transports data plane traffic over exactly one path between the first sub-network and the second sub-network selected from the group of paths including the first pseudo wire, and the second pseudo wire.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the first STE comprises a first automatic protection switch, wherein the first automatic protection switch further comprises an Automatic Protection Switch (APS) 1+1; and
the second STE comprises a second automatic protection switch.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second automatic protection switch is selected from a group consisting of an APS 1:1 and an APS 1+1.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the packet switched network is an Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of configuring the second automatic protection switch outputs as the second pseudo wire and the third pseudo wire.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first sub-network comprises a first node and a second node, the first node further comprising the first STE and the second node further comprising the second STE.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein first node communicates with the second node through a first sub-network path through the packet switched network.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first sub-network comprises a first node, the first node further comprising the first STE and the second STE.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein first STE communicates with the second STE through a hairpin path within the first node.