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SONET
Bandwidth Quote
OC256 Bandwidth
OC256 is the abbreviated term for Optical Carrier level 256, used to specify the speed level of fiber optic networks. It's speed is measured through SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork) standards.
OC-256 circuits work as a reliable fiber optic backbone for large networks with large IP bandwidth needs. VoIP, Video Conferencing, and Internet applications.
OC-256 requires low maintenance, but can take longer to upgrade than Gigabit Ethernet when adding bandwidth rings to increase speeds and capacity to a higher level.
OC256 is most often made up of what is called a "SONET ring" to maintain it's reliability during it's high speed transmissions.
A common method of back up used with OC-256 ring is called a "bi-directional ring topology." This bi-directional ring is a physical topology which deploys two sets of fiber strands. The ring is a physical fiber ring more resembling an oval shaped loop.
The first strand to an OC256 connection is for sending and receiving. The second strand will reroute traffic from the original OC-256 transmission in another direction should the first strand break or malfunction.
Bi-directional ring topology help ensures constant bandwidth reliability within an OC-256 fiber based network.
The primary function is to take , synchronize , and transport data, video, and voice at the speed of 13.271 Gbps reliably. Common sources of this data include ATM switches, T1 and T3 multiplexers, and large IP networks.
STS-256 is the abbreviated term standing for Synchronous Transport Signal level 256. STS and SONET OC carry the same electrical equivalent; therefore STS-256 is the equivalent to SONET level OC-256.
STS-256 is an optical carrier frame consisting of the following characteristics:
SPE (Synchronous Payload Envelope), SOH (Section Overhead), POH (Path Overhead), and LOH (Line Overhead).
SPE is the electronic envelope that carries the data over the OC256 otherwise known as the Payload.
SOH maintains all the links within OC-256 while relaying line status to the end user. The information within SOH includes the status of transported data, the notification of messages, as well as alarm levels.
POH is responsible for the functionality of the data envelope in OC-256 while in transit. Such functionality includes vital information for the management of end-to-end networks. POH travels within the data envelope until the data is demultiplexed through multiplexing equipment.
LOH controls the reliability transit of the data over an OC256 line.
LOH and SOH combined on a SONET OC256 network create what is referred to as TOH (Transport Overhead). TOH is one of the elements responsible for signaling and control over OC256 network lines.
SONET
OC-n MegaBit/Gigabit
OC1 51.84
Mbps
OC3 155.52
Mbps
OC9 466.56
Mbps
OC12 622.08
Mbps
OC18 933.12
Mbps
OC24 1.244
Gbps
OC36 1.9
Gbps
OC48 2.488
Gbps
OC96 5
Gbps
OC192 10
Gbps
OC256 13.271
Gbps
OC768 40
Gbps