Wave Division Multiplexing: Cross-Connect Technology

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Cross-Connects

IBM Total Storage Proven

Cross-Connect Technology

A cross-connect is a device that allows an administrator to select which port will have a connection to which other port or ports. This example shows the configurability of the NC316-XP Media Cross Connect. Cross-connects have several uses in WDM systems:

Fault-tolerant links - a cross-connect can be programmed to switch from a primary to a secondary link on the event of a loss of optical power (or other signals), allowing a simple means of creating protection-switching. With SFP-based cross-connects, this function operates in the same device as the transponder.
Reconfigurable networks - a cross-connect can be configured and re-configured depending on the needs of the network. This programming can be set by time-of-day as well to maximize the appropriate utilization of the wavelengths. For example, 3 wavelengths may be used during the day for data, 1 for storage, but at night and on weekends, during massive backup operations, two of the wavelengths can be switched to storage usage.
Trunk switching - a cross-connect can be programmed to configure several 'colored' SFP ports at the same time, so that, if these ports are all connected to the same Mux/Demux, the cross-connect acts as a trunk-switch, allowing the whole trunk (that is, the whole set of wavelengths) to move to a different fiber.

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