06-12-2009

MSP(Multiplex Section Protection) is a per span protection.

A service line is protected using another line, called a protection line. If an error occurs,
the protection mechanism should switch over to the protection line. There are two main
protection schemes for the multiplex section:
1+1 : Traffic is simultaneously transmitted over working and protecting lines (or cards
if it is for hiT i.e. MSP bridge). The incoming traffic is select from the line that delivers
signal in best condition (specifically switch fabric selector is responsible for making the
selection in a HiT).
o Switching type: unidirectional or bi-directional
o Operation type: revertive or non-revertive
1:N : A 1:N multiplex section protection system consists of N traffic-carrying multiplex
sections that are to be protected by an additional multiplex section. In this scheme only
one of the working sections can be protect at a time. The additional multiplex section can
be used to carry low-priority traffic (unprotected) when it is not used as a protection
section for the rest N working sections.
o 1:N with N<=14 for STM-1/4/16 and N<=7 for STM-16/64
o Switching type: bi-directional
o Operation type: revertive
1:1 : This is a special case of 1:N protection scheme. In case of a failure on the working
path, traffic is switched to protecting path.
o Switching type: bi-directional
o Operation type: revertive
SubNetwork Connection Protection. is a per path protection.
SNCP is a network protection mechanism for SDH networks providing path protection
(end-to-end protection). The data signal is transmitted in a ring structure via two different
paths and can be implemented in line or ring structures. The changeover criteria are
specified individually when configuring a network element. A protection protocol is not
required. The switchover to protection path occurs in the non-revertive mode, i.e. if
traffic was switched to the protection path due to a transmission fault, there is no
automatic switch-back to the original path once the fault is rectified, but only if there is a
fault on the new path (the one labeled as protecting and currently services traffic).
SNCP is a 1+1 protection scheme (one working and one protection transport entity).
Input traffic is broadcasted in two routes (one being the normal working route and the
second one being the protection route).

Assume a failure free state for a path from a node B to a node A. Node B bridges the
signal destined to A from other nodes on the ring, both on working and protecting routes.
At node A, signals from these two routes are continuously monitored for path layer
defects and the better quality signal is selected.
Now consider a failure state where fiber between node A and node B is cut. The selector
switches traffic on the standby route when the active route between node A and node B is
failed.
In order to prevent any unnecessary or spurious protection switching in the presence of
bit errors on both paths, a switch will typically occur when the quality of the alternate
path exceeds that of the current working path by some threshold (e.g., an order of
magnitude better BER). Consecutively, any case of failure drops in SNCPs decision
mechanism.