November 25, 2009 – Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering recently introduced a software suite that brings new functionalities to its FTB-8140 Transport Blazer 40/43 Gigabit SONET/SDH/OTN Test Module. The FTB-8140 Transport Blazer now supports full optical channel data unit (ODU) multiplexing capability as well as independent transmission/reception settings, the company says.
With the ODU multiplexing functionality, service providers can now test ODU1 and ODU2 containers within the ODU3 signal, Exfo explains. Also, the FTB-8140 Transport Blazer offers flexibility to allow SONET/SDH payloads as well as 10 Gigabit Ethernet to be mapped into the ODU1 or ODU2 containers, ensuring tests reflect more real-life test parameters. Exfo also states that in addition to the ODU multiplexing functionality, the FTB-8140 now also supports independent transmission/reception settings, enabling service providers to properly qualify and validate network elements at installation.
Additional features also available with the latest software release include SONET/SDH payload block-and-replace capability for easier troubleshooting and maintenance.
“With 40-Gbit networks becoming more prevalent and with Optical Transport Network (OTN) becoming a ubiquitous transport mechanism, it is essential for service providers to be able to adequately qualify and test their networks to get maximum return on their investment,” says Etienne Gagnon, Exfo’s vice president of product management and marketing.