Cisco Cisco ONS 15454 M2 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP) Informationshandbuch
Network Solution
The Smithsonian Optical Network (SON) uses dense wavelength-division multiplexing
(DWDM), which employs multiple light wavelengths to transmit signals over a single
optical fiber. DWDM maximizes the use of installed fiber cable and allows new services
to be quickly and easily provisioned over existing infrastructure.
(DWDM), which employs multiple light wavelengths to transmit signals over a single
optical fiber. DWDM maximizes the use of installed fiber cable and allows new services
to be quickly and easily provisioned over existing infrastructure.
The SON includes a series of Cisco® Optical Networking System Multiservice Transport
Platform Multiplexers that allow up to 40 optical wavelengths to traverse a single pair
of fiber that can transport 4 Terabits with minimal operational complexity and near-
zero excess latency. Using amplifiers to extend the optical signal, the SON is able
to connect the core network routers in downtown Washington, D.C. to a data center
30 miles away in Herndon, Va., in addition to locations in Suitland and Landover,
Md. Through an interconnection partner, the Institution also has direct access to the
Internet and Internet2, an advanced networking consortium led by the research and
education community.
Platform Multiplexers that allow up to 40 optical wavelengths to traverse a single pair
of fiber that can transport 4 Terabits with minimal operational complexity and near-
zero excess latency. Using amplifiers to extend the optical signal, the SON is able
to connect the core network routers in downtown Washington, D.C. to a data center
30 miles away in Herndon, Va., in addition to locations in Suitland and Landover,
Md. Through an interconnection partner, the Institution also has direct access to the
Internet and Internet2, an advanced networking consortium led by the research and
education community.
The Institution’s legacy core network 1 Gbps Ethernet links were upgraded to dual
40 Gbps paths diversely routed across the SON architecture, connecting four high-
performance core routers, two at the Herndon data center and two at the National Mall.
Connections to other facilities, including all the museums, have each been upgraded
to redundant 10 Gbps fiber links.
40 Gbps paths diversely routed across the SON architecture, connecting four high-
performance core routers, two at the Herndon data center and two at the National Mall.
Connections to other facilities, including all the museums, have each been upgraded
to redundant 10 Gbps fiber links.
In 2014, the network will undergo additional improvements when the 40 Gbps services
are upgraded to diversely routed 200-400 Gbps services. The Institution is also
moving all its IP phones to 1 Gbps and upgrading its PCs to take advantage of the
new capabilities, such as streaming and transferring video or 3-D images, made
possible by the SON.
are upgraded to diversely routed 200-400 Gbps services. The Institution is also
moving all its IP phones to 1 Gbps and upgrading its PCs to take advantage of the
new capabilities, such as streaming and transferring video or 3-D images, made
possible by the SON.
Results
The SON is yielding tremendous benefits, including new levels of network performance
and resiliency. Capacity has greatly increased, and latency has greatly decreased,
providing visitors, employees, and researchers with more network throughput for
their images and files. Increased bandwidth was especially welcomed by the throngs
of people who regularly watch the new baby panda via webcam.
and resiliency. Capacity has greatly increased, and latency has greatly decreased,
providing visitors, employees, and researchers with more network throughput for
their images and files. Increased bandwidth was especially welcomed by the throngs
of people who regularly watch the new baby panda via webcam.
Whereas the legacy network experienced more than 600 circuit drops in six months,
the symmetry of the core optical network provides better than 99.999 percent
availability to the Institution enterprise overall and makes the network more resilient.
And latency on the core backbone network has been reduced from more than
20 milliseconds (20 thousandths of a second) to less than 20 microseconds (20
millionths of a second).
the symmetry of the core optical network provides better than 99.999 percent
availability to the Institution enterprise overall and makes the network more resilient.
And latency on the core backbone network has been reduced from more than
20 milliseconds (20 thousandths of a second) to less than 20 microseconds (20
millionths of a second).
2 © 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
“People keep building more
and more apps. That’s
wonderful, but they aren’t
worth anything if your
network can’t handle it.”
“The backbone has been
bullet-proof, as I expected
it would be, and that is due
in no small part to the help
from Cisco directly and
the leading value-added
reseller, WWT.”
Martin Beckman, Director, IT Operations,
Smithsonian Institution
National Institution Improves Network to
Support Visitors and Science
Smithsonian dark fiber optical network connects museums, offices, and
research facilities.