Lynx unveils new models in LightLEADER line of plug-and-play optical switches
22 January 2004 Calabasas Hills, CA Lightwave -- Lynx Photonic Networks has announced six new models in its LightLEADER 3000 family of plug-and-play photonic switches. According to the company, LightLEADER is a small optical communications system that minimizes the risk and cost associated with both test-bed and live network optical applications.
The series' six new models include:
• The LL-3515, which features an array of eight 2x2 photonic switches, suitable for many different applications, including 1+1 and 1:1 (programmable) protection, and adding reconfigurability to static OADMs.
• The LL-3511, an array of eight 1x2/2x1 photonic switches that allows traffic to pass through to pre-designated alternative paths during power-off. This is an ideal solution for military and security field deployment where power sources may be unreliable, for disaster recovery applications, and for adding reconfigurability to static OADMs.
• The LL-3513, an array of eight 1x2/2x1 photonic switches, similar to the LL-3511 except that traffic is deliberately blocked during power-off. This model would typically be used in network environments where failure-mode operation needs to be predictable and any misconnections during power-off must be avoided.
• The LL-3540, an array of four 1x2/2x1 photonic switches with bi-directional switching. This model allows traffic to pass through during power-off and includes a loop-back option for switch and link status interrogation.
• The LL-3507, which includes a 1x4 photonic switch that can also be used as a 4x1 switch.
• The LL-3509, featuring two 1x4/4x1 switches in the same 1U enclosure. These switches have very low optical crosstalk and are ideal for front-ending an OTDR or an optical channel monitor.
"We're currently in discussions with some major carriers and OEMs concerning their photonic protection switching needs," reports Beni Kopelovitz, Lynx's senior vice president, research and- , and chief architect. "The form and function of the LightLEADER product family has been enthusiastically received, and this broad product line extension is testimony to its applications readiness."
Lynx also announced a dual-feed -48 Volt DC power option that makes LightLEADER photonic switches suitable for service provider applications. The new option enables power source redundancy by allowing systems to be connected to two different -48 VDC feeds. It has an operating input voltage range of -36.5 to -75 VDC and is compatible with the infrastructures of most telecommunications carriers.
Introduced in the third quarter of 2003 with the LL-3124, an 8x8 photonic switch system, the LightLEADER series is built around Lynx's patented intelligent optical switch fabrics. LightLEADER products allow switching from any optical path or fiber to any other, are data-rate and format independent (including support for 10- and 40-Gbit/sec transmission), and can be configured as strictly non-blocking. The systems come with an intuitive graphical user interface that is hosted locally on a PC or remotely via an Ethernet connection; they can also be managed by SNMP and by CLI. LightLEADER's switching and path management technology is solid state; their internal optical chip subsystems have survived extreme reliability tests and passed a 2-billion switch cycle test without performance degradation. Unique options available for the LightLEADER product line include photonic multicasting and built-in attenuation.