APPLICATION NOTE

Eclipse 2+0 Ethernet Link with 1+1 TDM

You require path and equipment protection for a high capacity mixed-mode link. The path must be protected,
Ethernet traffic capacity doubled and protected, and legacy PDH traffic must also be protected. Can it be done? Yes
it can, using Aviat Networks Eclipse Packet Node.
This application note describes how an Eclipse link can be configured to provide:

Path and equipment protection, with or without diversity

Ethernet capacities to over 800 Mbit/s
Provision for legacy E1/DS1 circuits
Lowest installed cost

Note that a space diversity or hot-standby link wont provide a solution where Ethernet capacities higher than about
450 Mbit/s are required. Two co-path links provide the answer, but the challenge is to provide protection on such
links without doubling up on the hardware and the cost.

THE INTEGRATION OF LINK AGGREGATION AND ECLIPSE SUPER PDH TM

We must configure for the most cost efficient yet reliable solution. We know we need two co-path links to provide the
Ethernet traffic capacity, so 2+0 with link aggregation is an obvious answer. For E1/DS1 traffic it is not so straight
forward as both links are online for the Ethernet traffic, meaning normal 1+1 hot-standby is not possible without
doubling up on the hardware. The answer here lies with Eclipse Super PDH ring protection.
With Ethernet link aggregation the traffic on two co-path links is combined to provide one customer connection that
is the sum of the capacity on each link. If one link fails, traffic on the failed link is automatically assigned to the
remaining link. If the remaining link has insufficient capacity to transport the transferred traffic, QoS settings are
used to determine which traffic gets priority. This way all high priority traffic such as voice and real-time video
continues to get through at the expense of low priority file transfer traffic and similar. This protection mechanism is
known as 2+0.
With Eclipse Super PDH (SPDH) ring protection a simple point-to-point PDH ring is configured on the co-path links.
Normally all traffic is transported in one direction around the ring; the other direction is held in reserve. If one link
fails, the PDH traffic is wrapped at each side of the link, and the path re-established on the reserve ring.
Figure 1. 2+0 Ethernet with 1+1 E1/DS1

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PATH PROTECTION CONSIDERATIONS

Where path conditions dictate the use of diversity to minimize the effects of ducting / reflections / fading, space
diversity or frequency diversity are normally employed. However as both links must be traffic-carrying, these
mechanisms are not an option. But frequency diverse operation is an option. Here both links are active on different
frequencies to provide the diversity element. Under normal path conditions both are traffic carrying, but when
conditions deteriorate one link or the other remains online to provide the connection protection. Unlike normal
frequency diversity, path switching is not hitless/errorless, but you do get double the Ethernet capacity of a standard
diversity link for better than 99.5% over time. Hold and restore timers are available to avoid frequent link switching at
or close to threshold.
Where diversity protection is not needed, both links can be operated on the same radio channel using CCDP with
XPIC. (Co-channel Dual Polarized, with Cross Polar Interference Cancellation). The real benefit here is that just one
frequency channel is used, not two in the case of frequency diverse operation.

EXAMPLES
The following examples illustrate link setup and operation.
Figure 2 shows how the physical link is established. Two co-path links use RAC 60 (or RAC 6X) with ODU 300hp
(or IRU 600 for all-indoor links). RAC 6X is used where CCDP operation is required.

Each RAC is DPP (Data Packet Plane) connected to a DAC GE for L2LA or L1LA (L1LA on DPP is
scheduled for SW release 6.0). The DAC GE card manages the link aggregation function.
Each RAC is also configured for SPDH operation, whereby a portion of the link bandwidth is assigned to
ring operation; the balance to Ethernet traffic.
Paired DAC 16xV2 cards (optional) provide redundancy on the tribs end-to-end. Y-cables are used to
connect to external equipment.
The capacity assigned between Ethernet and TDM is fully flexible.

Figure 2. The Physical Link

Figure 3 shows logical operation for Ethernet traffic. L2LA or L1LA is configured on the DAC GE. If one link fails, its
traffic is assigned to the remaining link. Providing the traffic entering the link is prioritized, QoS settings on the DAC
GE can be used to schedule link forwarding when traffic is congested.

For L2LA only traffic on the failed link is momentarily interrupted. Traffic on the remaining link is not
affected, unless dropped due to priority traffic brought across from the failed link. When normal service is
restored new traffic sessions are auto-assigned between both links. Existing traffic on what was the
remaining link is not affected.
For L1LA all traffic is momentarily interrupted on link failure and restoration, but unlike L2LA its load
balancing is always optimal and it supports aggregation between routers.
Interrupt times are typically less than 50 ms.

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Figure 3. The Ethernet Logical Link

Figure 4 shows logical operation for E1/DS1 traffic. An SPDH ring is established on the RACs, where with normal
operation all traffic is sent clockwise around the ring.

If one link fails, the ring is wrapped by the RAC either side of the break, and traffic is restored. When the
failed link is returned to service, the ring auto-reverts to normal operation.
Two DAC 16xV2 cards are used to provide end-end trib redundancy. This is optional.
Interrupt times are typically less than 100ms.

Figure 4. The SPDH Logical Link

SUMMARY
Eclipse Packet Node provides all the ingredients needed to support the required solution of doubled Ethernet
capacity, path protection, and E1/DS1 redundancy - at lowest CAPEX.

Both links are active for Ethernet traffic. The throughput is the aggregate of the capacity of each link.
Both links are actively supporting an SPDH ring network for E1/DS1 traffic.

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If either link fails the link aggregation and ring protection mechanisms maintain service.
Full / normal service is auto-restored when the failed link recovers.
Where frequency diverse operation is not required, co-channel (CCDP/XPIC) provides a solution using one
frequency channel.
Service and reliability are maximized; installation costs are minimized.

For more information on this application or other radio backhaul application, contact Aviat Networks. Eclipse is
available on ETSI bands 5 to 38 GHz, ANSI bands L6 to 38 GHz, and on the 5.8 GHz ISM band for USA and
Canada.

Glossary
CCDP
DAC
DPP
L1LA
L2LA
QoS
ODU
RAC
SPDH
XPIC

Co-channel Dual Polarized

Data Access Card
Data Packet Plane
Layer 1 Link Aggregation
Layer 2 Link Aggregation
Quality of Service
Outdoor Unit (RF transceiver)
Radio Access Card
Super PDH
Cross Polar Interference Cancellation

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Aviat Networks, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Data subject to change without notice.
Eclipse 2+0 Ethernet Link with 1+1 TDM_April 2011
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