CCAMP draft-ietf-ccamp-gmpls-sonet-sdh-00.txt

["Mannie, Eric" <Eric.Mannie@ebone.com>]

NAME OF I-D: GMPLS Extensions for SONET and SDH Control

http://search.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ccamp-gmpls-sonet-sdh-00.t
xt

SUMMARY:

The CCAMP and MPLS Working Groups are currently extending MPLS protocols to
support non-packet based switching networks. These MPLS protocol extensions
are referred to as Generalized MPLS (GMPLS). 

This draft is a companion to the generic GMPLS signalling documents,
[GMPLS-SIG], [GMPLS-RSVP] and [GMPLS-LDP]. It defines and illustrates the
SONET/SDH technology specific information needed when using GMPLS
signalling, and defines the extensions needed in RSVP-TE and CR-LDP
protocols to control SONET/SDH LSP (circuit) establishment.

RELATED DOCUMENTS:

[GMPLS-SIG]
http://search.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-mpls-generalized-signaling
-04.txt
[GMPLS-LDP]
http://search.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-mpls-generalized-cr-ldp-03
.txt
[GMPLS-RSVP]
http://search.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-mpls-generalized-rsvp-te-0
3.txt
http://search.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-many-gmpls-architecture-00.txt

WHERE DOES IT FIT IN THE PICTURE OF THE SUB-IP WORK

It fits in the CCAMP WG in the common control box. It does not change or
define anything in the data plane of the SDH or SONET technology. It defines
with the rest of the GMPLS signalling how to control two of the technologies
that sits in the bottom of the drawing (i.e. SDH and SONET).

WHY IS IT TARGETED AT THIS WG

This work addresses the definition of signalling protocols such that they
support multiple physical path and tunnel technologies. In particular, the
various multiplexing levels of SDH and SONET (two similar TDM technologies)
acts as many physical paths and tunnels. One can open an SDH or SONET high
order tunnel between two points, and further use it to open multiple low
order SDH or SONET paths through that high order tunnel. Cascading circuits
is also possible, e.g. an IP LSP that generates the opening of an SDH LSP,
that generates the opening of a lambda LSP, that generates the opening of a
fibre LSP.

This draft results from the de-coupling of the GMPLS signalling into
technology independent and technology dependent parts. It first develops and
defines a set of signalling protocol-independent parameters for describing
paths, and then gives the encoding of these parameters for specific
signalling protocols (RSVP-TE and CR-LDP). It is a companion document of the
core GMPLS signalling, and will be a companion document of other drafts such
as GMPLS extensions to control G.709.

JUSTIFICATION

SONET and SDH networks are the most commonly carrier backbone transmission
network technologies deployed today. The GMPLS effort is directed in
extending IP well known technology to control and manage lower non-packet
layers. Using the same framework and the same kinds of signalling and
routing protocols to control multiple layers not only has the potential to
reduce the overall complexity of designing, deploying and maintaining SONET
and SDH networks, but also has the potential to make it possible to operate
two contiguous layers by using either an overlay model, a peer model or an
integrated model. In the mean time, GMPLS is very suitable for controlling
each layer completely independently.

Moreover, GMPLS can provide new capabilities to the SONET and SDH networks,
such as the flexibility and the ease of LSP establishment (today performed
through network management systems), multi-layer circuit establishment and
new MPLS-based restoration methods that are of paramount importance for
operators. These generic restoration methods will introduce significant cost
savings.

We think that this draft should also belong to the CCAMP WG as it was
decided during the last IETF in the CCAMP WG. It was the consensus of the
room and it was accepted by the working group chairs. This draft should be
developed in the same WG as the GMPLS signalling and architecture. This
draft is currently in WG last call.

Kind regards,

Eric (Editor of the draft)

Eric Mannie
Technology & Standards Strategy Manager
Network Engineering Strategy
EBONE (GTS)

Terhulpsesteenweg 6A
1560 Hoeilaart - Belgium

Tel:    +32 2 658 56 52
Mobile: +32 496 58 56 52
Fax:    +32 2 658 51 18
E-mail: eric.mannie@ebone.com