Device delivers Ethernet mapping over PDH

Maxim Integrated Products has introduced a new Ethernet mapping device that enables the delivery of new Carrier Ethernet services over existing Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH) telecommunications infrastructure.

The DS33X162 is the first product in the company's family of new Ethernet mapping solutions. The device's configuration is extremely flexible for ease of design. It allows Ethernet transport from a single GbE or dual 10/100 Ethernet interfaces, and supports up to 16 T1/E1 links or 8 DS3 links with over 400Mbit/s throughput. The DS33X162 thus covers the complete range of configurations defined in the EoPDH standards.

Overcome traditional mapping woes
Prior to the DS33X162, designing equipment to utilize the full range of the ITU EoPDH standards required the use of complex Network Processing Units or (NPUs) or costly FPGAs. NPU solutions require software to process each Ethernet frame in the data path, leading to service outages when software errors occur. The DS33X162's data and control plane separation removes the need for software to process the data path, but still allows software interaction for management and value-adding functions. FPGAs are expensive and power-hungry. FPGA solutions with features and capabilities comparable to the DS33X162 cost up to 2x more and require 3x to 4x the power.

Other integrated ASIC solutions do not have the throughput, scalability, and breadth of features of the DS33X162. Some ASICs even require expensive NPUs to perform Operation and Maintenance (OAM) functions. Advancements over previous solutions include QoS, VLAN tagging, and hardware support for Ethernet OAM-all at less than 1W in most applications.

Big advantage

The DS33X162 functions to elevate Ethernet to "Carrier Grade" service quality. The device performs Ethernet frame encapsulation in GFP-F, HDLC, or X.86 (LAPS). It also performs ingress policing, Ethernet service profiling, VLAN-based forwarding, priority-based forwarding, VLAN tagging, QoS priority scheduling, and enables Ethernet operations, administration, and maintenance OAM. These functions are important attributes for delivering Carrier Ethernet services, as defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum. The distribution of traffic over multiple physical links is supported through hardware implementations of the VCAT and LCAS protocols. These protocols have been used extensively in SONET/SDH optical networks, but have recently been extended to wired networks through new standards, primarily ITU-T G.7041, G.7042, G.7043, and G.8040. The DS33X162 complies with these and many other telecommunications standards.

Simplified design
With its highly integrated capabilities and minimal software requirements, the DS33X162 vastly simplifies the design effort for Carrier Ethernet products. Applications include Ethernet access equipment, multiservice provisioning platforms (MSPPs), microwave radios, WAN bridges and routers, demarcation devices, CPE modems, IP DSLAM uplinks, and media converter devices.

The Company's new Ethernet mapping product family includes nine devices starting with the 16-port DS33X162. Various other port configurations will be available, down to the single-port DS33X11. Customers can choose the optimal feature set required for each application. Devices in the 4- to 16-port range share a common footprint. All devices in the family share a common software architecture.

The DS33X162 is available in a 17mm x 17mm, 256-pin CSBGA package and is specified over the extended-industrial temperature range (-40°C to +85°C). Pricing for the 16-port DS33X162 starts at $73.11 (5000-up, FOB USA). Pricing for the single-port DS33X11 is $17.33 (5000-up, FOB USA). The DS33X162DK design kit and free software drivers are available to simplify application development. For more information, please visit: http://www.maxim-ic.com/EoPDH-Mapper