SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 -- JDSU (search for JDSU) is offering protection switch technology for the JDSU AON Super Transport Blade, the new single-slot offering that integrates major optical network transport functions onto a single blade (See "JDSU integrates WSS, EDFA, OCM in a single blade"). JDSU says its protection switch technology arms network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers with a feature that greatly increases network reliability and availability.
Protection switch technology has been used for several decades to provide redundancy in networks or backup pathways for network traffic in the event of a network failure, such as when a construction crew accidentally cuts through a fiber within the ground. When the fiber is damaged or when its optical signal goes "dark," the JDSU protection switch detects the problem and switches the optical traffic to an alternate fiber within 15 milliseconds, greatly reducing the risk of a network outage.
The JDSU AON Embedded Operating System, a highly modular framework that supports functions within JDSU transport products, allows the company to easily add protection switch technology as a feature for the new blade. Adding one more piece of functionality onto the blade also helps to further simplify the optical network infrastructure, note company representatives.
"High network availability is critical for the continued growth of the online world, and this is the responsibility not only of NEMs and service providers, but also of major optical components vendors like JDSU," explains David Nicholson, senior director of R&D strategy for the Optical Communications business segment at JDSU. "Offering the JDSU protection switch feature for the AON Super Transport Blade is another way that JDSU is helping to simplify optical network infrastructures for our customers while increasing the performance, availability, and reliability of our products."
JDSU customers using the AON Super Transport Blade can request the protection switch enhancement from their JDSU representative.
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