ethernet with ddm

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Ethernet Sw itch with Digital Diagnostics

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Overview:Ethernet networks are the transport mechanism for Internet Protocol (IP) communications.

Although Ethernet has been around since 1973 when the original concept was tested at Xeroxs

Palo Alto Labs, it has just in the last few years become viable in control system applications and

even more recently in CCTV applications. The invention and development of better switching

technology has made Ethernet networks more applicable to control system networks, such as traffic

and transportation systems.

We have enhanced Ethernet switches by adding a Digital Diagnostics & Monitoring function to the

fiber optic ports of the switch. This function allows a user to measure optical parameters at a

specific switch and determine performance levels of not only the switch but the optical fiber plant

as well. This is an indispensible tool when used to trouble shoot fiber optic cable plant anomalies

from the comfort of the management center, rather than rolling a truck to various cabinets.

TechnologyEthernet is a technology that is defined by IEEE 802.3 standard. This standard defines the types of

media, wire, fiber optics and wireless, the electrical characteristics and the addressing scheme for

an Ethernet network.

Ethernet is a packet communications technology, designed for computer to computer

communications. The rules concerning Ethernet communications assumes every machine is

connected to the same piece of wire, much like a meeting of a group of people in one room. If a

machine wants to communicate (talk) it listens and if there is nothing on the wire it talks. If two

machines talk at the same time they hear each other so they back off and wait a random time

period then try again.

Todays Ethernet networks use switches to create a network and every device is communicating on

a full duplex connection, over Twisted pair wire, fiber optic cable or wireless channels, so there are

never two machines sending at the same time, on the same piece of wire. This changes the

dynamic of how the network operates and allows Ethernet networks to go where they could not go

before the development of switches.


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Every Ethernet interface device is assigned a unique hardware address when it is manufactured.

This address is used by switches to determine how to connect machines to each other. You can go

to the following URL and lookup a MAC address if you want to know who manufactured a product.

http://standards.ieee.org/regauth/oui/index.shtml

Ethernet Packet

Preamble SFD Destination Source Len PadData FCS

101010? .

(7 Octets)

10101011

Destination Address(6 Octets)

Source Address(6 Octets)

Length or Type(2 Octets)

Data Package

Used to make Frame >= 64 Octets

CRC Error Checking(4 Octets)

VLAN

VLAN Tag ID(4 Octets)

When a machine sends information via Ethernet it sends a packet of bits with the sending

machines MAC address and the destination machines MAC address. The main job of an Ethernet

switch is to create a reference table that cross references a machines MAC address and the Port

where that machine is connected. When a packet enters an Ethernet switch the switch looks at the

destination MAC address finds the match in its table and forwards that packet to the port where

that machine is connected. If there is not a match in the table then it forwards that packet to all

ports at the same time.

As switching technology has improved Ethernet has become a viable network technology for use in

real time control networks, such as traffic signals. Since, by nature, traffic signals are

geographically separated from each other a system that networks traffic cabinets to a central

location is comprised of switches that are separated by distance and generally connected by fiber

optic cable. This can present a new set of challenges in insuring good network integrity and

troubleshooting techniques.


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ChallengesDistributed networks, such as Traffic Signal Networks or Highway Management Networks present a

special challenge because the location of Ethernet switches is sometimes miles apart from each

other and miles from the central control center. When a network uses fiber optic cable the

connectivity generally follows the concept shown below.

Distributed Network

Switch

Patch PanelPatch Panel Patch Panel

Switch Switch

Patch Cables

To Other Locations

The fiber optic cable plant is vulnerable to disconnects and damage from various sources. There

are patch panels and patch cables that can be connected with the wrong type of fiber and/or

misconnected and there are splices that can become faulty. Then there is always the possible of

backhoe fade when a new dig simply cuts through the fiber optic cable. Trouble shooting the

fiber optic cable plant can be challenging and require specialized equipment and expertise to findthe source of a problem that may be causing light attenuation.

SolutionEX74000 Series Switch

EtherWAN Systems has developed a NEMA TS2 hardened Ethernet switch with optical diagnostics

built in, called Digital Diagnostics Monitoring (DDM) / Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM). Using

DDM/DOM a user can use the Ethernet switch management functions to trouble shoot fiber optic

connectivity issues.


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The DDM/DOM subsystem is available through the switch management screens. Whether using a

web browser, telnet or the console port, a user can access this information for any switch in the

network from any location on the network.

DDM/DOM Screen

The DDM/DOM screen is part of the port status screen. It shows the status of the SFP port(s), in

the screen shown above this switch does not have a module plugged into port 7 but does have a

module in port 8. DDM/DOM measures and monitors the operating parameters of the SFP module,

including the optical characteristics and displays a set of parameters that allow users to determine

the health of the Laser as well as the performance of the fiber optic cable plant.

The screen, shown above, shows the characteristics of an SFP module using DDM/DOM. Notice the

particular device shown transmits at 1310nm and is designed for a maximum of 10km.

The following parameters are measured by the DDM/DOM subsystem:

Temperature inside the SFP Module.

Vcc Voltage supply to the SFP.

Tx Bias Current to the Laser Diode Transmitter.


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Tx Power The amount of light being transmitted into the fiber optic cable. This is a

measured value but it may not reflect the actual power entering the cable, it doesnt

consider the condition of the actual cable. This number can be used as a reference to

monitor the health of the laser.

Rx Power The amount of light being received from the fiber optic cable.

The main parameters of interest are Tx Bias, Tx Power and Rx Power. By tracking Tx Bias a user

can know how the Laser component is aging, especially compared to others in the network. This

allows users to perform preventative maintenance. Knowing the Tx power at one end of the fiber

cable one can look at the switch where that fiber is connected and know the Rx power there and

measure the attenuation between them. This allow users to determine whether the cable plant is

performing as expected or if there are anomalies in the optical path. Knowing and tracking these

measurements also allows the user to know if the optical interfaces are deteriorating or if the

optical path is deteriorating. Since these measurements can be taken from the comfort of the

control room, on a live network it more likely that users will monitor these parameters on a period

basis and perform preventative maintenance rather than fire fighting after a failure has occurred.

ResultsExample of a live network between two switches:

Switch 1 Screen


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Switch 2 Screen

Notice the power levels between the switches. Switch 1 TX power is -8.392 dBm and Switch 2 RX

power is -8.389 dBm. Switch 2 TX power = -5.616 dBm and Switch 1 RX = -5.017 dBm. There is a

small loss of power when connected with a short jumper cable. We focus on these two parameters

because these are the most useful in trouble shooting problems with the fiber optic plant.

See the screens below for an example of what happens when one of the fiber optic connectors is

not seated completely.


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What happens if one of the connectors is not seated correctly? The two pictures below show thephysical difference between an LC connector that is seated correctly and one that has not been

pressed in until the lock clicks in place.Correctly Seated Not Seated

There is not much physical difference, it would certainly be difficult to catch this anomaly during a

routine physical inspection. However, as the screen below shows the difference in receive power

from the normal SW 2 screen, shown above. The RX power level went from -8.389 dBm to -22.366

dBm or 13.977 dB loss of optical power. The network is working fine, this anomaly would not be

discovered using a normal set of equipment without the DDM feature, until one day the weight of

the cable and/or vibration caused the connector to move farther out or disconnect completely and

the network goes down.


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Switch 2 Screen with Loose Connector on SW 1

Notice the RX power level at -22.366 dBm, is well below what we would expect so we can

immediately look back at the switch that is transmitting to this one and determine if the TX power

level is normal.


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Switch 1 Screen with Loose Rx Connector on Switch 1

Switch 1 has TX power = -8.392 dBm so it is normal. In this case we can assume there is some

anomaly between Switch 1 and Switch 2. Starting with the obvious we check the connections. Inthis case we find a loose connector on Switch 1 that is transmitting to Switch 2, this connector is

not seated correctly. It could have been a bad patch cable or bad connector termination or bad

splice.

Benefits of DDM/DOM:Ethernet switches with DDM/DOM allow users of distributed networks that utilize fiber optic cable

to be more proactive in maintaining their network using the than standard optical interfaces. The

results are fewer truck rolls, less network down time, less investment in equipment and training

and smoother operation.

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