Intel SDH/SONET Protocol Solutions

Intel provides a range of solutions for synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) and SONET protocols. The solutions enable simple and fast protocol implementation, reducing design risk, shortening development times, and allowing you to concentrate on the core functions of your system design.

By utilizing built-in transceivers to implement SDH/SONET and other protocols, Stratix® V FPGAs, Stratix® IV FPGAs, Stratix® II FPGAs, Cyclone® V FPGAs, Cyclone® IV FPGAs, Arria® V FPGAs, and Arria® II GX FPGAs provide a fully integrated SDH/SONET solution for multi-rate applications including chip-to-chip, backplane, and line-side interfacing. Table 1 provides an overview of the complete SDH/SONET solution.

Table 1. Complete SDH/SONET Solution

Solution

Description

Transceiver

Integrated transceiver functionality:

  • A1/A2 frame detection/generation
  • Word alignment
  • Bit and byte ordering circuitry

Data Rates (Per Single Channel)

155.52 Mbps

OC-3

STM-1

622.08 Mbps

OC-12

STM-4

2.488 Gbps

OC-48

STM-16

9.952 Gbps

OC-192

STM-64

Development Boards

Transceiver Signal Integrity Development Kit, Stratix II GX Edition
Transceiver Signal Integrity Development Kit, Stratix IV GX Edition
Transceiver Signal Integrity Development Kit, Stratix IV GT Edition

SDH/SONET Characterization Report

Stratix II GX, Stratix IV GX/GT SDH/SONET Line-Side Characterization Compliance Report outlining:

  • Tx jitter tolerance
  • Tx jitter generation
  • Rx jitter tolerance
  • Run-length compliance

Available from your local Intel® sales representative
View all Show less

External Transceiver Solutions

Use high-density Stratix V, Stratix IV, Stratix III, or Stratix II FPGAs with an external transceiver (or PHY device) in applications requiring the highest density and performance.

Technology Background

SONET/SDH-based protocols are commonly used for backplane connectivity in networking systems. They allow you to reuse pre-defined standards of the SONET/SDH specifications such as framing, scrambling, and error detection. This helps reduce the overall system definition and design complexity. SONET/SDH backplanes tend to be deployed in two styles: distributed switch fabric (see Figure 1) and centralized switch fabric (see Figure 2). Centralized switch fabric relies on dedicated switch cards, while distributed switch fabric implements the switching functionality on the line card. Intel® FPGA provides solutions for both implementations. Figures 1 and 2 show the difference between the two types of switch fabric.

Figure 1. Distributed Switch Fabric

Figure 2. Centralized Switch Fabric

Intel provides a complete solution for implementing SONET/SDH over a backplane. Stratix V, Stratix IV, Stratix II, Stratix, Arria V, and Arria II GX FPGAs offer transceivers capable of supporting data rates up to OC-192 (10 Gbps) using a single channel. Dedicated features—such as A1A2 pattern detectors and word aligners—are implemented within the transceiver core to reduce the amount of FPGA fabric required to support the protocol. The flexible phase-locked loop (PLL) structure ensures that all data rates can be achieved from a single clock source.

Devices

Protocol standard