SDH Theory

Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Objectives

• Introduction to SDH
– Multiplexing
– STM-1 frame
– Virtual Containers (VCs)
– TU coordinates
– STM-N frame
– SDH layers and trails
– SDH network elements
– SDH overhead
– Mapping

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

What is SDH?
• SDH = Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
• It is a transport network
– synchronous
– fully standardized
– with high bandwidth
– for synchronous and asynchronous signals
– for future broadband signals and new services
– with standardized network management capabilities
– with traffic protection
– with a flexible multiplexing structure
• direct access to tributaries
• cross-connections without demultiplexing

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Digital Transmission System

Regenerator
• Regenerator
– recreates the signal.
• Multiplexer (MUX) No signal

– Multiplexer combines data from

several lines and transmits it 60 km
over a higher-capacity data link.

R
MUX MUX
60 km

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Multiplexer Naming Conventions

aggregate ADM aggregate

tributaries

TM aggregate

m/n m/n

tributaries

• Terminal Multiplexer (TM) • Add-Drop Multiplexer (ADM)

– All traffic is terminated here. – Part of the traffic is terminated.
– m: aggregate level – Part of the traffic goes transparently
– n: lowest tributary level through.

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Digital Cross-connect (DXC m/n)

DDF • No traffic is terminated.
PDH PDH
• Cross-connection matrix
MUX MUX connects tributary signals of
one aggregate to another
aggregate.
PDH PDH
MUX MUX

SDH
Cross-Connect

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

PDH vs. SDH — Bit Rates

Hierarchy level USA Europe
0 64 kbit/s T0 64 kbit/s E0
PDH 1
2
1.544 Mbit/s T1 (24x)
6.312 Mbit/s DS-2 (4x)
2.048 Mbit/s
8.448 Mbit/s
E1 (32x)
E2 (4x)
3 44.736 Mbit/s DS-3 (7x) 34.368 Mbit/s E3 (4x)
E0 4 139.264 Mbit/s E4 (4x)
E1
E2
E3
synchronous
plesiochronous
plesiochronous
E4 SDH TM STM-1
plesiochronous • E1 (2.048 Mbit/s)
• T1 (1.544 Mbit/s)
SONET SDH Data rate
(ANSI) (ITU-T) (Mbps) • DS-2 (6.312 Mbit/s)
STS-1 51.84 TM STM-4
STS-3 STM-1 155.52 • E3 (34.368 Mbit/s)
STS-9 466.56 • DS-3 (44.736 Mbit/s)
STS-12 STM-4 622.08
STS-18 933.12 • E4 (139.264 Mbit/s)
STS-24 1244.16
• ATM STM-16
STS-36
STS-48 STM-16
1866.24
2488.32
TM
• etc.
STM-64 9953.28

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

PDH vs. SDH — Add & Drop Function

E3

E3
E4 TM E3 TM E4
4/3 E2 4/3
E2
TM E2 TM
3/2 E1 3/2
E1
TM E1 TM
2/1 2/1

E1 (2.048 kbit/s)
PDH SDH
Six TMs needed One ADM is
to drop E1 enough to drop E1.
STM-4 ADM STM-4

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

STM-1 Frame
270 columns (bytes)
9 261
3

RSOH
9 rows (bytes)

AU-4 pointers
Payload
VC-4 (HO-VC)
5

MSOH

2430 bytes/frame × 8 bit/byte × 8000 frame/s = 155.52 Mbit/s

transmitted from top to bottom and left to right
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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

STM -1 Frame
155.520 Mbit/s serial signal
F F F F

125us
2430 b yt e s
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

9 b y te s 261 b yte s 9 b yte s 261 b yte s

9 b y te s 261 b yte s O ve rh e a d p a y lo a d

9 b y te s 261 b yte s
9 b y te s 261 b yte s
9 b y te s 261 b yte s
9 b y te s 261 b yte s
9 b y te s 261 b yte s
9 b y te s 261 b yte s
9 b y te s 261 b yte s

9 BYTES + 261 BYTES = 270 BYTES 270 BYTES x 9 = 2430 BYTES

2430 BYTES/FRAME x 8 BITS/BYTE x 8000 FRAMES/SEC = 155.520 Mbit/s

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Virtual Containers (VCs)

T1 (1.544 Mbit/s)
E1 (2.048 Mbit/s) C4 4. level 140 Mbit/s

VC-11 C3 3. level 34/45 Mbit/s

VC-12

DS-2 (6.312 Mbit/s) C2 2. level 6 Mbit/s

DS-3 (44.736 Mbit/s)
C1.2 1. level 2 Mbit/s
VC-2
E3 (34.368 Mbit/s)
ATM cells
C1.1 1. level 1.55 Mbit/s

Mapping

VC-3
E4 (139.264 Mbit/s)
VC-4

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Multiplexing Structure (ETSI)

×N ×1
STM-N AUG AU-4 VC-4 C-4 139 264 kbit/s
×3
×1 44 736 kbit/s
TU-3 VC-3 C-3
TUG-3 34 368 kbit/s

×7

×1 6312 kbit/s
TU-2 VC-2 C-2
TUG-2

Pointer processing ×3
TU-12 VC-12 C-12 2048 kbit/s
Multiplexing

Aligning
VC-11 C-11 1544 kbit/s
Mapping

C-n Container-n

TTP CTP
end of trail passing connection
Contains: path trace, Contains: payload pointer...
signal label, error detection…
ITU-T

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Multiplexing Structure (G.707)

×N ×1
STM-N AUG AU-4 VC-4 C-4 139 264 kbit/s
×3
×1
TU-3 VC-3
×3 TUG-3

C-3 44 736 kbit/s

AU-3 VC-3 34 368 kbit/s
×7
×7
×1 6312 kbit/s
TU-2 VC-2 C-2
TUG-2

Pointer processing ×3
TU-12 VC-12 C-12 2048 kbit/s
Multiplexing ×4
Aligning
TU-11 VC-11 C-11 1544 kbit/s
Mapping

C-n Container-n

• TTP • CTP
– end of trail – passing connection
– Contains: path trace, – Contains: payload pointer...
signal label, error detection…

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

KLM Coordinates RSOH

AU-4 pointers
Payload
VC-4 (HO-VC)
MSOH

TUG3-1 TUG3-2 TUG3-3

K
V TU12-1 TU12-2 TU12-3 TUG2-1
C
-
4 TUG2-2

P TUG2-3
O
H TUG2-4
VC-3
TUG2-5 TUG-3 number (values 1-3)
VC-12
TUG2-6
TUG-2 number (values 1-7)
TU-12 number (values 1-3)
TUG2-7
VC-12
L KLM: 152 KLM: 271 KLM: 300
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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Synchronous
Line Rate
Transport
Mbit/s
Module
STM-N Frame
STM-1 155.520

STM-4 622.080

• One SOH STM-16 2488.320

• AU pointers for every VC-4 STM-64 9953.280

• N × VC-4s 270 × N columns (bytes)

9×N 261 × N

1
Section overhead
SOH
3
4 Administrative unit pointer(s)
9 rows
5 STM-N payload

Section overhead
SOH

9
T1518000-95
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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Multiplexing of AU into STM-N

AUG AU-4

STM-4

AUG AU-4

AUG
SOH AU-4

AUG AU-4

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Layers

PSTN ISDN ATM IP

Client LOP (VC-12, VC-3) Lower-Order

Server HOP (VC-4) Higher-Order

MS Multiplex

RS Regenerator

OS, ES Physical

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Layers

Client

Server

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Trails 1(2)

TM LO ADM HO DXC LO TM LO

R R
RS RS RS RS RS
trail trail trail trail trail
MS trail MS MS trail
trail
HO Path HO Path
LO Path

• Trail: Route between two Trail Termination Points (TTP)

• TTP: Point where signal is terminated
• RS trail: Regenerator Section trail (or just RS) is between regenerators
• MS trail: Multiplex Section trail (or just MS) is between multiplexers
• Path (P): Trail in path layer (HOP or LOP)

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Trails 2(2)

LO LO path LO

LO matrix LO matrix
HO path HO path
HO HO HO HO

HO matrix
MS trail MS trail MS trail
MS MS MS MS MS MS

RS trail RS trail RS trail RS trail RS trail

RS RS RS RS RS RS RS RS RS RS

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Regenerator

STM-N STM-N
REG

• Regenerates the optical signal.

• Terminates RSOH.

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Terminal Multiplexer

STM-N STM-M
or TM
PDH

• Terminates RSOH and MSOH.

• May terminate HOP and LOP overhead.
• Multiplexes/maps tributary signals.
• Includes timing and management functions.

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Add/drop Multiplexer
STM-M STM-M

ADM

STM-N or PDH

• Terminates RSOH and MSOH.

• May terminate HOP and LOP overhead.
• Includes connection function between the two aggregates.
• Multiplexes/maps tributary signals.
• Includes a connection function for allocation of TUs within the STM
frame.
• Includes timing and management functions.

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Cross-connect

STM-M DXC STM-M

STM-N or PDH

• Terminates RSOH and MSOH.

• Includes connection function between the aggregates.
• Can have tributary ports, for which it may terminate HOP and LOP
overhead.
• Includes timing and management functions.

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Example of Cross-connect (XC)

SDXC 4/1
STM-16 16 x 16 x STM-16
SDH
STM-4 4x multiplexer 4x STM-4

STM-1 1x 1x STM-1

AUG

HO
XC

VC-4

LO
XC

VC-12 VC-3

2(1.5) Mbit/s 34 (45) Mbit/s

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

SDH Overhead
• Overheads carry information for monitoring, maintaining and controlling
the operation of network.
• Overhead types
– POH for end-to-end monitoring of payload signal (VC-12, VC-3 and VC-4)
• Block errors, far end alarms, trace and payload type
– SOH is used for monitoring of signal between SDH equipment.
• RSOH: block errors, trace and TMN communication
• MSOH: block errors, synchronization, TMN communication and far-end
alarms 270

9 260

3 RSOH
P
POINTER
9 O
5 H
MSOH

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
RSOH RSOH 1 A1 A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 J0 NU1 NU2
RSOH 2 B1 R1 R2 E1 R3 U1 F1 NU3 NU4
RSOH 3 D1 R4 R5 D2 R6 U2 D3 U3 U4
PTR 4 H1 Y1 Y2 H2 1 1 H3 H3 H3
MSOH 5 B2 B2 B2 K1 U5 U6 K2 U7 U8
MSOH 6 D4 U9 U10 D5 U11 U12 D6 U13 U14
MSOH 7 D7 U15 U16 D8 U17 U18 D9 U19 U20
MSOH 8 D10 U21 U22 D11 U23 U24 D12 U25 U26
MSOH 9 S1 Z12 Z13 Z21 Z22 M1 E2 NU5 NU6

– A1, A2 framing patterns (F6H), (28H)

– J0 regenerator section Trail Trace Identifier (TTI)
– B1 BIP-8 parity byte
– E1 RS orderwire channel (service telephone)
– F1 user (network operator) data channel
– D1, D2, D3 regenerator section Data Communication Channel (DCCR)
– NU1, NU2, NU3, NU4 bytes reserved for national use
– R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 media specific bytes (e.g. radio link)
– U1, U2, U3, U4 bytes with no defined use

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
MSOH RSOH
RSOH
1
2
A1
B1
A1
R1
A1
R2
A2
E1
A2
R3
A2
U1
J0
F1
NU1
NU3
NU2
NU4
RSOH 3 D1 R4 R5 D2 R6 U2 D3 U3 U4
PTR 4 H1 Y1 Y2 H2 1 1 H3 H3 H3
MSOH 5 B2 B2 B2 K1 U5 U6 K2 U7 U8
MSOH 6 D4 U9 U10 D5 U11 U12 D6 U13 U14
MSOH 7 D7 U15 U16 D8 U17 U18 D9 U19 U20
MSOH 8 D10 U21 U22 D11 U23 U24 D12 U25 U26
MSOH 9 S1 Z12 Z13 Z21 Z22 M1 E2 NU5 NU6

– B2 BIP-24 parity bytes

– K1, K2 Automatic Protection Switching (APS) channel, bit oriented
protocol (bits 1-5), Remote Defect Indication (RDI) (bits 6-8)
– D4 to D12 multiplex section Data Communication Channel (DCCM)
– S1 synchronization status (bits 5-8)
– M1 Remote Error Indication (REI)
– E2 MS orderwire channel (service telephone)
– NU5, NU6 bytes reserved for national use
– U5 to U26 bytes with no defined use
– Z12, Z13, Z21, Z22 bytes with no defined use
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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

VC-4 and VC-3 POH

J1 Trail Trace Identifier
POH B3 Parity BIP-8
J1 C2 Signal label (C2), used for payload type identification
B3 G1 Path status
C2 REI RDI Reserved Spare
G1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
F2
H4 REI Remote Error Indication
F3 RDI Remote Defect Indication
K3 F2 Network operator (user) channel
N1 H4 Multiframe indicator, a sequence indicating TU-multiframe
phase (position of VC-12/VC-2)
F3 Network operator (user) channel
K3 Automatic Protection Switching (bits 1-4)
N1 Tandem Connection Monitoring TCM, optional use in
multioperator environments

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

VC-2 and VC-12 POH

POH
V5 J2 N2 K4

J2 Trail Trace Identifier

N2 Tandem Connection Monitoring TCM, optional use in multioperator
environments
K4 Automatic Protection Switching (bits 1-4), additional
information for RDI (bits 5-7) (optional)
V5 Signal monitoring
V5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
BIP-2 BIP-2 REI RFI SL SL SL RDI
Š Parity BIP-2
Š Remote Error Indication (REI)
Š Remote Failure Indication (RFI), only for VC-11 (not in ETSI)
Š Signal label (SL)
Š Remote defect indication (RDI)

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

PDH over SDH

TU12 TU Pointer • Container (C)
– basic payload unit
• Virtual Container (VC)
VC12 Path Overhead
– C + POH (path overhead)
POH • Tributary Unit (TU)
POH C12 – VC + pointer
Justification bytes
– The pointer indicates the start
of the VC and allows dynamic
alignment of the VC within the
TU frame.
Virtual Container

Container

2 Mbit/s plesiochronous stream`

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Mapping

• Mapping is a process where tributaries (Containers) are adapted to VC at

boundary of SDH network.
• LX: asynchronous
Asynchronous Bit synchronous Byte synchronous
PDH and SDH are PDH and SDH are
PDH signal is not
synchronized but not the synchronized and also the
synchronized with SDH
PDH frame (if any) PDH frame

Justification needed Direct access to

In SONET only
access to 2048 kbit/s 64 kbit/s signal

Defined for:
Defined for: Defined for:
139M, 45M, 34M,
6M, 1.5M 2M, 31×64 kbit/s, 1.5M
6M, 2M, 1.5M

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

V5

1st frame
RRRRRRRR
Asynchronous 2048 kbit/s 32 bytes

RRRRRRRR
J2

2nd frame
• Four VC-12 POH bytes C1 C2 O O O O R R
(V5, J2, N2 and K4) 32 bytes
• 1023 data bits
RRRRRRRR
140
• Six justification control bits N2 octets

3rd frame
• C1C1C1=111 ⇒ S1 is a justification bit C1 C2 O O O O R R
(data bit) 32 bytes
• C2C2C2=111 ⇒ S2 is a justification bit
RRRRRRRR
(data bit) K4

4th frame
• Majority vote should be used. C1 C2 R R R R R S1
S2 D D D D D D D
• Eight overhead communication channel bits
(0) 31 bytes

• 49 fixed stuff bits (R) RRRRRRRR

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 Chapter – 1 SDH Theory

Byte Synchronous 2048 kbit/s

V5

1st frame
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
J2

2nd frame
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
140 Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
bytes
R
• Four VC-12 POH bytes (V5, J2,
N2 N2 and K4)
3rd frame

R
Time Slot 0 • No justification opportunities
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16 • 2 R-bytes per frame
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
K4
4th frame

R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
500 µs

R Fixed stuff byte

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