ABSTRACT: Issue 3 of Optical Cross-Connect Generic Requirements, replaces Issue 2.

The potential of multiwavelength optical networking to provide flexible and format independent high-capacity transport has been known for some time. Capacity exhaust and exponential growth in demand have only recently resulted in rapid commercialization and deployment of dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) transport systems. Point-to-point DWDM systems were deployed initially to relieve fiber exhaust problems. Subsequently, optical network elements (ONEs) that provide optical networking functions such as fixed optical add/drop became commercially available.

Recently, a number of products that provide reconfigurable optical add/drop and optical cross-connection capability have also become available commercially. The reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) and the optical cross-connect (OXC) will enable high-capacity Optical Layer Network (OLN) or Optical Transport Networks (OTNs) where the optical connectivity is remotely reconfigurable. The Optical Layer Network (OLN) and its client signals have three transport layer networks, namely, the Optical Channel (OCh) path layer network, the Optical Multiplex Section (OMS) layer network, and the Optical Transmission Section (OTS) layer network. The Optical Transport Network (OTN) supports layers above the OLN in addition to the OLN transport layers, namely, the Optical channel Payload Unit (OPU), the Optical channel Data Unit (ODU), and the Optical channel Transport Unit (OTU) layer.

This GR provides the Telcordia view of generic requirements for the functional characteristics of optical cross-connects that are network elements capable of cross-connecting single wavelength and/or multiwavelength optical signals. The generic requirements in this GR are based on current national and international standardization efforts and funding members' input. This document contains generic criteria intended to enable interoperable OXCs that can be used in multivendor OLN/OTNs.

The purpose of this document is to promote the development of interoperable OXCs for use in future multivendor OLN/OTNs. Interoperable OXCs from different vendors can be seamlessly interconnected as the service provider OLN/OTN evolves. OXCs that comply to this document will have the minimal functionality necessary for use in service provider networks. Compliance to this document helps to ensure vendors that their OXCs meet service provider needs without preventing them from providing additional functions to differentiate their product.

This issue of the GR covers generic functional requirements for the fiber cross-connect (FXC), the wavelength selective cross-connect (WSXC), the wavelength interchanging cross-connect, the WSXC/WIXC hybrid cross-connect, and the FXC/WSXC hybrid cross-connect. This GR should be used in conjunction with other appropriate documents such as GR-2918, GR-2979, G.7090, G.798, G.872 and G.841 series.

Issue 3 of GR-3009 replaces Issue 2. Comments from the TTF funders and standards developments have been considered and used in formulating the criteria provided in this document. Changes have been made in Sections 2, 4, and 5.

When using GR-3009, you may need to refer to GR-2918, GR-2979, GR-253, GR-418, GR-474, GR-815, GR-1093, GR-1250, GR-1312, GR-2963, GR-2998, and/or ANSI T1.233 and T1.243. You may also want to refer to GR-828, TR-NWT-000835, GR-1469, and ITU-T Recommendations G.7090, G.798, G.872 and G.841.