SDH Basics

Objectives
> Introduction to SDH
> Multiplexing
> STM-1 frame
> Virtual Containers (VCs)
> TU coordinates
> STM-N frame
> SDH layers and trails
> SDH network elements
> SDH overhead
> Mapping
Introduction
What is SDH?
> SDH = Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
> It is a transport network
> synchronous
> fully standardized
> with high bandwidth
> for synchronous and asynchronous signals
> for future broadband signals and new services
> with standardized network management capabilities
> with traffic protection
> with a flexible multiplexing structure
> direct access to tributaries
> cross-connections without demultiplexing
Network Elements
Digital Transmission System
Regenerator
> Regenerator
> Recreates the signal.
> Multiplexer (MUX) No signal

> Multiplexer combines data from

100 km
several lines and transmits it
over a higher-capacity data link.

R
MUX MUX 100 km
 Multiplexer Naming Conventions

aggregate ADM aggregate

TM
tributaries

aggregate

m/n m/n
tributaries

> Terminal Multiplexer (TM) > Add-Drop Multiplexer (ADM)

> All traffic is terminated here. > Part of the traffic is terminated.
> m: aggregate level > Part of the traffic goes transparently
> n: lowest tributary level through.
Digital Cross-connect (DXC m/n)
> No traffic is terminated.
> Cross-connection
MUX
matrix connects

MUX
MUX
MUX

tributary signals of one

MUX MUX
aggregate to another
aggregate.
MUX MUX

MUX MUX

MUX MUX
MUX

MUX

MUX

MUX
PDH vs. SDH
 PDH vs. SDH — Bit Rates

PDH
E0
E1
E2

SDH
E3
synchronous E4
plesiochronous
plesiochronous
TM STM-1
plesiochronous • E1 (2.048 Mbit/s)
• T1 (1.544 Mbit/s)
• DS-2 (6.312 Mbit/s)
TM STM-4
• E3 (34.368 Mbit/s)
• DS-3 (44.736 Mbit/s)
• E4 (139.264 Mbit/s)
• ATM
TM STM-16
• etc.
 PDH vs. SDH — Add & Drop Function
E3
E3
E4 TM E3 TM E4
4/3 E2 4/3
E2
TM E2 TM
3/2 E1 3/2
E1
TM E1
TM
2/1 2/1

PDH SDH
E1 (2.048 kbit/s)

Six TMs One ADM is

needed STM-4
enough to
ADM STM-4
to drop E1 drop E1
STM-1 Frame
 STM-1 Frame
270 columns (bytes)
9 261

RSOH
3
9 rows (bytes)

AU-4 pointers
Payload VC-4 (HO-VC)
5

MSOH

2430 bytes/frame × 8 bit/byte × 8000 frame/s = 155.52 Mbit/s

transmitted from left to right and top to bottom
 Virtual Containers (VCs)
T1 (1.544 Mbit/s)
E1 (2.048 Mbit/s) C4 4. level 140 Mbit/s

VC-11 C3 3. level 34/45 Mbit/s

VC-12

DS-2 (6.312 Mbit/s) C2 2. level 6 Mbit/s

DS-3 (44.736 Mbit/s)

C1.2 1. level 2 Mbit/s

VC-2
E3 (34.368 Mbit/s)
ATM cells C1.1 1. level 1.55 Mbit/s

Mapping

VC-3 E4 (139.264 Mbit/s)

VC-4
SDH Multiplexing Structure (ETSI)
×N ×1
STM-N AUG AU-4 VC-4 C-4 139 264 kbit/s
×3
×1 44 736 kbit/s
TU-3 VC-3 C-3
TUG-3 34 368 kbit/s

×7

×1 6312 kbit/s
TU-2 VC-2 C-2
TUG-2

Pointer processing ×3
TU-12 VC-12 C-12 2048 kbit/s
Multiplexing

Aligning
VC-11 C-11 1544 kbit/s
Mapping

C-n Container-n

TTP CTP ITU-T

End of trail Passing connection
Contains: path trace, Contains: payload pointer...
signal label, error detection…
Tellabs 6300 SDH Multiplexing Structure
×N ×1
STM-N AUG AU-4 VC-4 C-4 139 264 kbit/s
Gb Ethernet
×3
×1 44 736 kbit/s
TU-3 VC-3 C-3
TUG-3 34 368 kbit/s

×7

TUG-2

Pointer processing ×3
TU-12 VC-12 C-12 2048 kbit/s
Multiplexing Fast Ethernet
Aligning

Mapping

C-n Container-n
Tellabs 8100 SDH Multiplexing Structure
×N ×1
STM-N AUG AU-4 VC-4
×3
TUG-3

×7

×1 n x 8, n x 64 kbit/s
TU-2 VC-2 C-2
TUG-2

Pointer processing ×3
TU-12 VC-12 C-12 2048 kbit/s
Multiplexing n x 8, n x 64 kbit/s
Aligning

Mapping

C-n Container-n
 KLM Coordinates
RSOH

AU-4 pointers Payload

VC-4 (HO-VC)
MSOH

TUG3-1 TUG3-2 TUG3-3

K
V TUG2-1
TU12-1 TU12-2 TU12-3
C
-
4 TUG2-2

P TUG2-3
O
H TUG2-4
VC-3
TUG2-5 TUG-3 number (values 1-3)
VC-12
TUG2-6 TUG-2 number (values 0-7)
TU-12 number (values 0-3)
TUG2-7
VC-2

L KLM: 152 KLM: 170 KLM: 300

STM-N Frame
 Synchronous
Line Rate
STM-N Frame Transport
Module
Mbit/s

STM-1 155.520
> One SOH STM-4 622.080
> AU pointers for every VC-4 STM-16 2488.320
> N  VC-4s
STM-64 9953.280

270  N columns (bytes)

9N 261  N

1
Section overhead
SOH
3
4 Administrative unit pointer(s)
9 rows
5 STM-N payload

Section overhead
SOH

9
T1518000-95
Multiplexing of AU into STM-N
> AU-4 is placed directly in the AUG.
> N AUGs are one-byte interleaved into STM-N with fixed phase.

1 261 1 261

1 9 1 9
#1 #N

AUG AUG

RSOH 123...N123...N

123...N123...N

MSOH
123 ... N
N×9 N × 261 T1518050-95
STM-N

Figure 7-1/G.707
SDH Trails
 SDH Layers

PSTN ISDN ATM IP

Client LOP (VC-12, VC-2, VC-3) Lower-Order

Server HOP (VC-4) Higher-Order

MS Multiplex

RS Regenerator

OS, ES Physical
SDH Trails 1(2)
TM LO ADM HO DXC LO TM LO

R R
RS RS RS RS RS
trail trail trail trail trail
MS trail MS MS trail
trail
HO Path HO Path
LO Path

> Trail: Route between two Trail Termination Points (TTP)

> TTP: Point where signal is terminated
> RS trail: Regenerator Section trail (or just RS) is between regenerators
> MS trail: Multiplex Section trail (or just MS) is between multiplexers
> Path (P): Trail in path layer (HOP or LOP)
 SDH Trails 2(2)

LO LO path LO
LO matrix LO matrix

H O path H O path
HO HO HO HO

HO matrix
M S trail M S trail M S trail
MS MS MS MS MS MS

R S trail R S trail R S trail R S trail R S trail

RS RS RS RS RS RS RS RS RS RS
Regenerator

STM-N STM-N
REG

> Regenerates the optical signal.

> Terminates RSOH.
Terminal Multiplexer

STM-N STM-M
or TM
PDH

> Terminates RSOH and MSOH.

> May terminate HOP and LOP overhead.
> Multiplexes/maps tributary signals
> Includes timing and management functions.
Add/drop Multiplexer
STM-M STM-M

ADM

STM-N or PDH
> Terminates RSOH and MSOH.
> May terminate HOP and LOP overhead.
> Includes connection function between the two aggregates.
> Multiplexes/maps tributary signals.
> Includes a connection function for allocation of TUs within the STM
frame.
> Includes timing and management functions.
Cross-connect

STM-M DXC STM-M

STM-N or PDH

> Terminates RSOH and MSOH.

> Includes connection function between the aggregates.
> Can have tributary ports, for which it may terminate HOP
and LOP overhead.
> Includes timing and management functions.
Example of Cross-connect (XC)
SDXC 4/1
STM-16 16 x 16 x STM-16
SDH
STM-4 4x multiplexer 4x STM-4

STM-1 1x 1x STM-1

AUG

HO
XC

VC-4

LO
XC

VC-12 VC-3

2(1.5) Mbit/s 34 (45) Mbit/s

SDH Overhead
SDH Overhead
> Overheads carry information for monitoring, maintaining and
controlling the operation of network.
> Overhead types
> POH for end-to-end monitoring of payload signal
(VC-12, VC-3 and VC-4)
> Block errors, far end alarms, trace and payload type
> SOH is used for monitoring of signal between SDH equipment.
> RSOH: block errors, trace and TMN communication
> MSOH: block errors, synchronization, TMN communication and
far-end alarms

270
9 260

3 RSOH
P
POINTER
9 O
5 H
MSOH
RSOH

> A1, A2 framing patterns (F6H), (28H)

> J0 regenerator section Trail Trace Identifier (TTI)
> B1 BIP-8 parity byte
> E1 RS orderwire channel (service telephone)
> F1 user (network operator) data channel
> D1, D2, D3 regenerator section Data Communication
Channel (DCCR)
> NU1, NU2, NU3, NU4 bytes reserved for national use
> R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 media specific bytes (e.g. radio link)
> U1, U2, U3, U4 bytes with no defined use
MSOH

> B2 BIP-24 parity bytes

> K1, K2 Automatic Protection Switching (APS) channel, bit oriented protocol (bits
1-5), Remote Defect Indication (RDI) (bits 6-8)
> D4 to D12 multiplex section Data Communication Channel (DCCM)
> S1 synchronization status (bits 5-8)
> M1 Remote Error Indication (REI)
> E2 MS orderwire channel (service telephone)
> NU5, NU6 bytes reserved for national use
> U5 to U26 bytes with no defined use
> Z12, Z13, Z21, Z22 bytes with no defined use
VC-4 and VC-3 POH

J1 Trail Trace Identifier

POH B3 Parity BIP-8
J1 C2 Signal label (C2), used for payload type
B3 identification
REI RDI Reserved Spare
C2 G1 Path status
G1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
F2
H4
F3 REI Remote Error
K3 Indication
N1 RDI Remote Defect
Indication
F2 Network operator (user) channel
H4 Multiframe indicator, a sequence indicating
TU-multiframe phase (position of VC-12/VC-
2)
F3 Network operator (user) channel
K3 Automatic Protection Switching (bits 1-4)
N1 Tandem Connection Monitoring TCM,
optional use in
VC-2 and VC-12 POH
POH
V5 J2 N2 K4

J2 Trail Trace Identifier

N2 Tandem Connection Monitoring TCM, optional use in
multioperator environments
K4 Automatic Protection Switching (bits 1-4), additional
information for RDI (bits 5-7) (optional)
V5 Signal monitoring
V5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
BIP-2 BIP-2 REI RFI SL SL SL RDI
 Parity BIP-2
 Remote Error Indication (REI)
 Remote Failure Indication (RFI), only for
VC-11 (not in ETSI)
 Signal label (SL)
 Remote defect indication (RDI)
PDH over SDH
 PDH over SDH
TU12 TU Pointer > Container (C)
> Basic payload unit
VC12 > Virtual Container (VC)
Path Overhead
> C + POH (path
POH overhead)
POH C12 > Tributary Unit (TU)
Justification bytes
> VC + pointer
> The pointer indicates
the start of the VC and
allows dynamic
Virtual Container alignment of the VC
within the TU frame.

Container

2 Mbit/s plesiochronous stream

Mapping
Mapping
> Mapping is a process where tributaries (Containers) are
adapted to VC at boundary of SDH network.
 Virtual Containers (VCs)
GMX, GMU(-A/M)
VC-11

VC-2
VC-12 VC-4
63x0 140M
SBU 63x0 2M
63x0 34/45M
> VC-12 mapping method

> 63x0 2M: asynchronous

> GMX & GMU-A: byte synchronous and
asynchronous
VC-3 > GMU & GMU-M: byte synchronous
> SBU: asynchronous
Asynchronous 2048 kbit/s V5

1st frame
RRRRRRRR

> Four VC-12 POH bytes 32 bytes

(V5, J2, N2 and K4) RRRRRRRR

J2
> 1023 data bits

2nd frame
C1 C2 O O O O R R
> Six justification control bits 32 bytes
> C1C1C1=111 
S1 is a justification bit (data bit). RRRRRRRR
140
N2 octets
> C2C2C2=111 

3rd frame
C1 C2 O O O O R R
S2 is a justification bit (data bit).
> Majority vote should be used. 32 bytes

> Eight overhead communication RRRRRRRR

K4
channel bits (0)

4th frame
C1 C2 R R R R R S1
> 49 fixed stuff bits (R) S2 D D D D D D D

31 bytes

RRRRRRRR
Byte Synchronous 2048 kbit/s
V5

1st frame
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
J2

2nd frame
> Four VC-12 POH bytes
R
Time Slot 0

140
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
(V5, J2, N2 and K4)
> No justification
bytes Time Slots 17 to 31
R
N2
opportunities
3rd frame

R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15 > 2 R-bytes per frame
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
K4
4th frame

R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
500 µs

R Fixed stuff byte

 byte sync 2048 kbit/s

GMX/GMU(-A/M) R-bytes V5

1st frame
RRRRRRRR

TS 0 - 31

> R-bytes: reserved bytes RRRRRRRR

> VC-12 payload: 2 R-bytes J2

2nd frame
RRRRRRRR
> VC-2 payload: 10 R-bytes
TS 0 - 31
> R-bytes can be used for:
> control channel RRRRRRRR 140
> traffic N2 octets

3rd frame
RRRRRRRR
> R-bytes cannot have CAS capacity.
TS 0 - 31

RRRRRRRR
K4

4th frame
RRRRRRRR

TS 0 - 31

RRRRRRRR
VC-12
> Use VC-12s when going over Tellabs 63x0 nodes on lower
order level, because they do not support VC-2s

Byte synchronous Asynchronous

PDH synchronized with SDH Yes No
Bit rate adaptation  4.6 ppm  50 ppm
Justification needed No Yes

Direct access to 64 kbit/s 2048 kbit/s

R-bytes (long buffer) for data 2 —

Concatenation possible Yes No

CAS (TS-16) Yes No

 P12s Layer
> P12s generates or/and monitors G.704 frame with or
without CAS (G.826 performance statistics).

VC-12 P12s TTP P12s Monitoring

POH R bytes POH Stuff POH Stuff

 Locks to FAS  Locks to FAS

FAS
FAS
GMX/GMU-A
User data from XBUS

FAS

TS0 TS31 TS1 TS31 2048 kbit/s (G.704)

P12s Applications
Is the other end
of the connection Byte
Yes synchronous
in GMX/GMU- P12s
A /GMU/GMU- transparent
M?
No
Do you have full n x 64 kbit/s
2048 kbit/s or Asynchronous
n x 64 kbit/s P12s TTP
connections?
2048 kbit/s
Are you No Asynchronous
transporting
P12s
G.704 frame?
transparent
Yes

Asynchronous
P12s
monitoring
Review