An optical performance monitoring method for Carrier Ethernet networks using OAM continuity check messages

Abstract

A key feature of Carrier Ethernet networks is its operation and management framework. The link state, in this context, is simply determined by the detection (or absence for a given period) of continuity check message (CCM) at the receiver end of a management end point. However, cross-layer information can be inexpensively gained by looking into the loss patterns of these CCM frames, especially when Carrier Ethernet is operating directly over wavelengths (Layer-1) from transparent optical links or networks. This paper experimentally demonstrates a case for optical signal-to-noise and optical signal-to-interference estimation from monitoring standard CCM frame loss frame rate. Moreover, the loss pattern signatures of such physical-layer impairments may give in-depth link state information for fault and performance management as it may give valuable clues about the dominant impairing phenomena.