Comprehensive Technical Report on Ciena Optical

Networking: Protocols, Hardware, and Facility Management

1. Introduction
Purpose of the report: This document provides a detailed technical overview of
specified Ciena networking protocols, hardware components, and software facility
management constructs. This report aims to synthesize information from Ciena's
technical documentation, patents, and community discussions to offer a cohesive
understanding of these complex systems.

Scope: The report will focus on OSRP and OSPF routing protocols, specific Ciena
hardware such as PKCT/OTN cards, XCIF, XC, and OCLD, the term RNATs in Ciena
networking, and Ciena software facility types (PTP, ETTP, ODVCTP, TCMCTP) along
with their monitor types. The context is Ciena-based optical transport and
packet-optical networking.

2. Core Routing Protocols in Ciena Networks

This section delves into the fundamental routing protocols employed in Ciena
networks, distinguishing between optical layer control and IP layer routing, and
highlighting their respective roles and functionalities. The existence and distinct roles
of protocols like OSRP for the optical layer and OSPF for the IP layer highlight a key
characteristic of modern Ciena networks: the implementation of layered intelligence
and automation. This approach enables specialized control mechanisms that are
optimized for the unique demands of each network layer, allowing OSRP to automate
wavelength provisioning and optical path management, while OSPF automates IP
route discovery.

2.1. OSRP (Optical Signaling and Routing Protocol)

2.1.1. Definition, Core Functionality, and Architecture
Optical Signaling and Routing Protocol (OSRP) is Ciena's proprietary name for the
protocol utilized within its signaling network, primarily for optical path management.1 It
functions as an optical routing protocol with similarities to Private
Network-to-Network Interface (PNNI) and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS),
protocols initially developed for Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks.2 This
lineage provides context for OSRP's connection-oriented approach to managing
optical circuits.

The core functionality of OSRP is to enable optical switches to exchange critical

information regarding the network topology, as well as the status of individual
switches and links. It operates within an environment of switches designed to handle
multiple wavelengths of light as distinct circuits. A key capability of OSRP is its ability
to automatically provision entire wavelengths or even fractions of wavelengths,
making them available on a fast-switched basis.2 This dynamic provisioning is
essential for agile service delivery in optical transport networks. OSRP includes a
routing function that facilitates neighbor discovery and link status dissemination, a
mechanism analogous to those found in OSPF, ATM networks, Automatically Switched
Optical Networks (ASONs), and Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS)
networks.3

Architecturally, OSRP facilitates the exchange of topology information through

packet-based communication over optical or copper links. Network nodes employing
OSRP exchange "Hello" packets with their immediate neighbors. This process allows
each node to determine its local state information, which includes the identity and
operational status of its links to these neighbors. This locally gathered state
information is then bundled into a Topology State Element (TSE). These TSEs are
subsequently flooded throughout the peer group, ensuring that all nodes within the
OSRP domain maintain a consistent view of the network topology.3 This Hello protocol
and TSE flooding are characteristic behaviors of link-state protocols, adapted here for
the specific requirements of the optical domain.

2.1.2. Topology Discovery and Information Exchange in Ciena Environments

Efficient topology discovery and the continuous exchange of network state
information are paramount for maintaining network visibility and enabling effective
management. OSRP provides the mechanisms for network elements (NEs) to learn
about each other and the overall state of the network. This OSRP-derived topology
information can be forwarded through a management interface to a Network
Management System (NMS) server.3

The NMS can then utilize this information to construct a comprehensive topology
database. Based on this database, the NMS can launch Network Element (NE)
mediators, which are software components responsible for interacting with individual
NEs. These mediators can listen for updates and topology changes communicated via
OSRP, allowing the NMS to maintain an up-to-date view of the network.3 Furthermore,
systems using OSRP topology data can be designed to detect anomalies such as
duplicate addresses within the network. Upon detecting such a condition, the NMS
can assert a severe alarm, highlighting a practical aspect of OSRP network
configuration and troubleshooting.3 This capability underscores the importance of
OSRP in not only discovering topology but also in contributing to network integrity and
operational fault management.

2.1.3. OSRP in Ciena L0 Control Plane (including Out-Of-Band Communication)

The Layer 0 (L0) control plane is fundamental for managing the physical optical paths
within the network. In Ciena systems, OSRP plays a crucial role at this layer. Typically,
at L0 (the photonic layer), OSRP operates over the in-band Optical Supervisory
Channel (OSC).1 The OSC is a dedicated wavelength used for carrying management
and control information between optical network elements, making it a standard
communication channel for OSRP.

In addition to in-band communication, the OSRP L0 control plane can also utilize
Out-Of-Band (OOB) communication.4 This OOB option provides an alternative
management path, which can be beneficial for network resilience or specific
architectural requirements. Configuring OSRP links for OOB communication involves
specifying a remote node identifier (ID). A critical operational detail is that this OOB
Remote Node ID requires translation if the 4-digit hexadecimal Node Identifier of the
far-end OSRP node contains any hexadecimal values from 'A' through 'F'. If all digits
are 9 or less, the OOB Remote Node ID is the same as the Node Identifier (in decimal).
Otherwise, a specific formula is used: the first two hex digits are converted to decimal
as the Most Significant Byte (MSB), and the second two hex digits are converted to
decimal as the Least Significant Byte (LSB). The OOB Remote node ID is then
computed as:
Integer(MSB/16)×1000+Remainder(MSB/16)×100+Integer(LSB/16)×10+Remainder(LSB
/16).4 For example, a Node Identifier of AAFF (hex) translates to MSB=170 and
LSB=255, resulting in an OOB Remote Node ID of 1010255 4 -> 10(A)10(A)15(F)15(F) ->
10101515. This specific translation method must be precisely followed for successful
OOB OSRP link establishment.

Ciena community discussions also indicate that from release 12.85 of certain software,
an option for an Out-Of-Band Channel (OOBC) was available to carry OSRP-related
messages, though it was noted that OSC is generally required to manage and operate
a Photonic L0 OSRP network.5

2.1.4. OSRP Interaction with OCLD (Optical Control Link Domain)

OSRP is tightly integrated with Ciena's hardware components, particularly Optical
Control Link Domain (OCLD), Cross-Connect Interface (XCIF), and Optical Channel
Interface (OCI) cards, for establishing and managing optical control links. OSRP links
can be automatically created for facilities on XCIF circuit packs when these are mated
with OCLD or OCI cards.6 For instance, an OSRP link identified as OSRPLINK-1-97
might be auto-created for an OSRP line OSRPLINE-1-4-100. This OSRP line could
represent an OTU4 FTTP (Flexible Termination Port) facility located in slot 4, port 100
of an XCIF card that is mated with an OCLD or OCI card. The identifier for such
auto-created OSRP links is systematically calculated based on the slot and port
number of the FTTP facility on the XCIF.6 This auto-creation feature simplifies the
provisioning process.

The OCLD provides the physical or logical link over which OSRP operates. OSRP L0
control plane configuration is explicitly mentioned in the context of Ciena OME6500
systems 4, a platform where OCLD modules are commonly deployed as part of the
photonic layer infrastructure. The continued relevance of OSRP in Ciena's advanced
networking solutions is further suggested by its association with modern platforms
like the WaveRouter and management suites such as Navigator Network Control Suite
(NCS) 7, indicating its role in coherent routing solutions.

The design of OSRP, which emphasizes the fast-switched provisioning of wavelengths

2
, directly addresses the dynamic bandwidth allocation and rapid restoration
requirements inherent in optical transport networks. This contrasts with protocols like
OSPF, which are primarily focused on IP packet forwarding based on link costs and
states. Although their primary managed resources differ (wavelengths for OSRP, IP
packets for OSPF), the observation that OSRP's routing functions for neighbor
discovery and link status dissemination are "similar to Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
networks" 3 suggests a shared foundation in proven link-state protocol principles.
Ciena appears to have adopted established networking mechanisms, such as Hello
protocols and Topology State Element flooding, for OSRP, while tailoring the managed
resource (wavelengths) and the speed of provisioning to meet the specific demands
of the optical layer. This reflects a design philosophy that leverages well-understood
networking concepts and adapts them to the unique physics and service
requirements of the optical domain.

The increasing complexity of optical networks, with specialized protocols like OSRP,
underscores the critical role of the Network Management System (NMS). Patent
information regarding NMS interaction with OSRP 3 highlights the need for robust
management tools to prevent misconfigurations and provide clear operational
visibility. The focus in such patents on detecting issues like duplicate addresses and
managing comprehensive topology databases for OSRP (and OSI/ISIS) environments
indicates a proactive approach to addressing potential operational challenges in
these sophisticated optical control planes. As control plane protocols become more
advanced, there is a corresponding need for equally sophisticated management
systems to ensure their correct and efficient operation, prevent errors, and simplify
troubleshooting.

2.2. OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)

2.2.1. Definition and Core Functionality (Link-State, SPF Algorithm)
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a dynamic routing protocol widely used in IP
networks. It is classified as an Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP), meaning it distributes
routing information between routers that belong to a single autonomous system (AS).9
OSPF is expressly designed for TCP/IP Internet environments and is based on
link-state, or shortest path first (SPF), technology.9 A core characteristic of OSPF is
that each router maintains a database describing the AS's topology. Each piece of this
database is a particular router's local state (e.g., its usable interfaces and reachable
neighbors), which is distributed throughout the AS by flooding.9

To calculate routes, all routers run the exact same algorithm in parallel, typically
Dijkstra's algorithm.10 From the topological database, each router constructs a tree of
shortest paths with itself as the root, which provides the route to each destination in
the AS.9 OSPF gathers link-state information from all participating routers to create
this comprehensive topology map of the network, which then determines the entries
in the routing table.10

A significant advantage of OSPF is its ability to quickly detect topological changes,

such as router interface failures. Upon detecting such a change, OSPF rapidly
calculates new loop-free routes after a period of convergence. This convergence
period is generally short and involves a minimum of routing traffic, especially when
compared to older distance-vector protocols like RIP.9 OSPF operates directly over the
Internet Protocol (IP), using IP protocol number 89. It does not rely on a transport
protocol like TCP or UDP for its communications.11 This makes it a fundamental
component for IP routing in Ciena equipment that supports IP/MPLS functionalities.

2.2.2. OSPF Areas, Authentication, and Application in IP/Optical Networks

OSPF incorporates several features that enhance its scalability, security, and flexibility
in complex network designs:
●​ Areas: OSPF allows a large autonomous system to be divided into smaller,
manageable groups called areas. The topology of an area is hidden from the rest
of the AS, which significantly reduces routing traffic and computational overhead
on routers. Routing within an area is determined solely by that area's own
topology, providing a degree of isolation from routing instabilities in other areas.9
 By convention, Area 0 (or 0.0.0.0) is designated as the backbone area. All other
non-zero areas must connect to this backbone area, either directly or via a virtual
link. This hierarchical structure is crucial for preventing routing loops and scaling
OSPF to large networks.11
●​ Authentication: OSPF provides mechanisms for authenticating routing updates.
This ensures that only trusted routers can participate in the autonomous system's
routing, preventing unauthorized or malicious routers from injecting false routing
information.9 Different authentication schemes can be configured per physical
link.
●​ Other Key Features:
○​ IP Subnetting and VLSM: OSPF has explicit support for IP subnetting and
variable-length subnet masks (VLSM). Each route distributed by OSPF
includes a destination and a mask, allowing different subnets of the same IP
network number to have different sizes.9
○​ Equal-Cost Multipath (ECMP): OSPF supports multiple equal-cost routes to
a destination (up to 16 by default in some implementations), enabling load
balancing across these paths.9
○​ External Route Tagging: Information derived from external routing protocols
(e.g., routes learned from RIP or BGP) can be tagged by the advertising router,
allowing additional information to be passed between routers at the AS
boundary.9
○​ Multicast Updates: OSPF uses IP multicast to send and receive link-state
updates (LSUs). The standard multicast addresses are 224.0.0.5 (for all OSPF
routers) and 224.0.0.6 (for all OSPF Designated Routers and Backup
Designated Routers).9
●​ RFC Compliance: OSPF implementations generally adhere to standards defined
in Request for Comments (RFCs), such as RFC 2328 for OSPF Version 2 and RFC
3101 for the Not-So-Stubby Area (NSSA) option.13

These features make OSPF a robust and versatile IGP suitable for a wide range of IP
network designs, including those that are layered over optical transport networks,
where Ciena equipment often provides both the IP/MPLS routing capabilities and the
underlying optical transport.

2.3. Comparative Overview: OSRP and OSPF

While both OSRP and OSPF are routing protocols, they operate at different network
layers and are designed to serve distinct primary purposes within Ciena's networking
solutions. OSRP is Ciena's proprietary protocol for the optical signaling network,
primarily concerned with the establishment, management, and restoration of optical
paths (wavelengths). It typically runs over the in-band Optical Supervisory Channel
(OSC) at Layer 0 or can use Out-Of-Band (OOB) communication channels.1 In
contrast, OSPF is an industry-standard IP routing protocol (an IGP) used for routing IP
packets within an autonomous system.9

OSRP's routing function includes mechanisms for neighbor discovery and link status
exchange, which are conceptually similar to those found in OSPF networks.3 However,
the resources being managed and the objectives are different. OSRP is tailored for the
optical layer's specific needs, such as the fast-switched provisioning of entire or
fractional wavelengths.2 OSPF, on the other hand, uses Dijkstra's algorithm to
calculate the shortest path for IP packets based on link costs and converges quickly
to network topology changes.10

OSPF is generally considered more complex to configure and administer than simpler
protocols like RIP, but its features make it well-suited for large, hierarchical enterprise
and service provider IP networks.10 OSRP's complexity is specific to managing the
optical transport layer and its dynamic wavelength services.

The following table provides a comparative summary:

Table 1: Comparison of OSRP and OSPF Characteristics

Feature OSRP (Optical Signaling and OSPF (Open Shortest Path

Routing Protocol) First)

Primary Domain Optical Layer (Layer 0/1 IP Layer (Layer 3)

Control Plane)

Protocol Type Ciena-specific optical Standardized Interior Gateway

signaling and routing protocol Protocol (IGP)

Key Functionality Dynamic discovery, Dynamic discovery and

provisioning, and calculation of optimal routes
management of optical paths for IP packets
(wavelengths)

Typical Use Case (Ciena) Control plane for photonic IP routing in Ciena platforms
networks (e.g., 6500 L0 supporting IP/MPLS (e.g.,
control plane), wavelength converged packet-optical
switching platforms)
 Topology Discovery Exchanges "Hello" packets Exchanges Link State
and Topology State Elements Advertisements (LSAs) to
(TSEs) build a link-state database

Algorithm Basis Link-state principles for Dijkstra's algorithm (Shortest

topology; fast-switched Path First)
provisioning

Standardization Ciena proprietary aspects, IETF Standard (e.g., RFC 2328

though based on general for OSPFv2)
optical networking principles

Transport Typically over Optical Directly over IP (Protocol 89)

Supervisory Channel (OSC) or
dedicated OOB channels

Addressing/Resource Optical network elements, Routers, IP

Managed wavelengths, optical links addresses/subnets, IP links

Interaction with Network Provides topology to NMS for Provides IP topology to NMS
Management optical path visualization and for IP network monitoring and
management 3 management; interacts with
OSI/ISIS 3

This comparison clarifies that OSRP and OSPF are not mutually exclusive but rather
operate in different domains to provide comprehensive control and routing across
multiple network layers.

3. Key Ciena Hardware Components and Technologies

This section details the foundational Optical Transport Network (OTN) technology as
standardized by ITU-T G.709 and its implementation in Ciena systems. This is followed
by descriptions of specific Ciena hardware cards and fabric components that leverage
OTN and other technologies to enable advanced optical and packet networking
capabilities. Ciena's hardware strategy, particularly concerning OTN, XCIF
(Cross-Connect Interface), and OCLD (Optical Control Link Domain), demonstrates a
significant trend towards the convergence of diverse traffic types—such as packet,
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), and native OTN services—onto a unified optical
transport layer.15 This convergence is facilitated by abstraction mechanisms like OTN's
'digital wrapper' concept, which allows various client services to be handled uniformly
across the network.15 Components like XCIFs and OCLDs serve as critical physical and
logical points for this convergence and its associated control.

3.1. OTN (Optical Transport Network) Fundamentals in Ciena Systems

3.1.1. The 'Digital Wrapper' Concept (ITU-T G.709)
Optical Transport Network (OTN) is a telecommunications industry standard protocol,
primarily defined in ITU-T recommendations G.709 and G.798. It provides an efficient
and standardized method for transporting, switching, and multiplexing a variety of
different services onto high-capacity wavelengths across the optical network.15

A central concept in OTN is that of the 'digital wrapper'. OTN encapsulates each client
service (such as Ethernet, IP, SONET/SDH, Fibre Channel, or digital video)
transparently into a digital container structure for transport across optical networks.
This encapsulation preserves the client's native structure, crucial timing information,
and any associated management information.15 This 'wrapping' process allows diverse
client signals to be carried uniformly over the optical transport infrastructure,
simplifying network operations and management irrespective of the specific client
signal type. This capability is fundamental for enabling service convergence on a
common transport platform. Since its inception, OTN has evolved beyond being a
simple wrapper for SONET/SDH to support flexible packet technologies including new
Ethernet interfaces, MPLS, and Segment Routing.15

3.1.2. Multiplexing, Switching, and Transport Capabilities

OTN offers enhanced multiplexing capabilities, allowing various traffic types, each
potentially with different rates and formats, to be carried efficiently over a
standardized OTN framing structure.15 This is a key reason for its widespread
adoption. OTN technology is utilized in several ways within an optical network:
●​ Mapping and Encapsulation: OTN mapping or encapsulation is used to provide
high-bandwidth, agile photonic connections. Modern coherent modems, for
instance, leverage OTN mapping to transport one or more client services over a
high-capacity coherent wavelength. Transponders, a common component in
DWDM systems, also widely use OTN to map a client signal to a specific DWDM
channel.15
●​ Muxponders: OTN muxponders are devices that multiplex multiple lower-speed
client signals onto a higher-speed DWDM channel, typically within a single
hardware module or a compact platform. This enables cost-effective
point-to-point connectivity and efficient utilization of wavelength capacity.15
●​ Switching: OTN supports switching at various granularities of Optical Data Units
(ODUk, where k can be 0, 1, 2, 2e, 3, 4, or flex). This ODUk switching capability
 enables highly flexible, scalable, and on-demand any-to-any connectivity across
the network. It allows operators to maximize fiber capacity through efficient
utilization of high-capacity coherent wavelengths.15 The Ciena 6500 platform, for
example, supports agnostic OTN and packet switching, ODUFlex mapping
(allowing adjustable bandwidth containers from 1G to 100G in 1.25G increments),
and very granular sub-wavelength grooming capabilities.16 This ensures that
bandwidth is used efficiently and can be provisioned flexibly according to service
demands.

3.1.3. Role of Forward Error Correction (FEC)

A significant advantage and an integral part of the OTN standard is its definition of an
out-of-band Forward Error Correction (FEC) scheme. This FEC is applied to the signal
before it is transmitted over the optical fiber.15 FEC dramatically improves the
tolerance of the optical signal to various network impairments that are commonly
present in high-capacity transmissions, such as noise and dispersion. It works by
adding redundant data to the signal, which allows the receiver to detect and correct a
certain number of errors that may occur during transmission.

The use of FEC significantly increases the system margin for a given Bit Error Rate
(BER) and signal power. This, in turn, allows for longer transmission spans between
optical amplifiers or regeneration sites. By extending the distance between optical
repeaters, network providers can reduce the number of active components in the
network, which helps in reducing both capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational
expenses (OPEX). Furthermore, it can simplify the overall network topography, for
example, by enabling the skipping of amplifier sites.15 FEC is particularly crucial for
enabling the high data rates (e.g., 100G, 400G, 800G and beyond) used in modern
optical networks.

3.2. Ciena OTN Cards and Modules

Ciena incorporates OTN technology extensively across its product portfolio, offering a
diverse range of OTN-enabled hardware. This includes module-based OTN solutions,
often found in chassis like the 6500 series, as well as central fabric-based OTN
hardware for large-scale switching applications.15

Examples of Ciena OTN hardware mentioned in various contexts include:

●​ MOTR (Muxponder Optical Transponder Router) Cards: The OTN Flex MOTR
(e.g., NTK532GN) and WL5 (WaveLogic 5) MOTR are examples of cards that
provide muxponder and transponder functionalities with OTN capabilities.17 These
cards are designed for efficient aggregation and transport of client services.
●​ Transponders: General transponders widely deployed in Ciena systems use OTN
to map client signals to DWDM channels.15
●​ 6500 Platform Modules: The Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platform supports a
comprehensive suite of OTN interfaces and hybrid packet/OTN interfaces.16
Specific circuit packs like the NTK530QE are OTN modules for the 6500 series.17
The 6500 T-Series, designed for high-capacity applications, features
Terabit-level packet/OTN service interface modules, some of which offer coherent
tunability from 200G up to 800G.18 These modules often integrate advanced
features like ODUflex for flexible bandwidth allocation.
●​ O-NID (Optical Network Interface Device): Ciena also offers the O-NID, which
is a purpose-built edge OTN demarcation device.19 This type of device is typically
used at the customer premises or network edge to provide a clear demarcation
point for OTN services.

These OTN cards and modules are the fundamental building blocks for constructing
OTN-based transport networks. They implement the functionalities defined by ITU-T
G.709, including client signal mapping, multiplexing into OTN containers (ODUk),
switching of ODUk paths, and transport over high-capacity wavelengths with
integrated FEC and comprehensive monitoring capabilities.15

3.3. PKCT (Packet Cross-Connect Termination) Cards

The specific term "PKCT card" or "Packet Cross-Connect Termination card" is not
explicitly defined as a distinct Ciena card type within the available documentation.2
General industry usage of "cross-connects" often refers to the physical fiber
connections within colocation facilities, as described by third-party providers like
PacketFabric 21, which is different from an internal hardware function.

However, Ciena hardware, particularly on versatile platforms such as the 6500

Packet-Optical Platform and the Z-Series, integrates significant packet switching and
cross-connect capabilities. For instance, documentation for the Ciena Z-Series nodes
refers to the ability to create, delete, and verify cross-connections on "Packet" cards
using the Planet Operate Client.22 This indicates that packet cross-connect
functionality is a feature of certain cards within these systems.

Furthermore, in the context of the Ciena OME 6500, terms like "PKT/OTN XCs"
(Packet/OTN Cross Connects) and "PKT/OTN XCIF" (Packet/OTN Cross Connect
Interface) are used, particularly when discussing alarms such as "Intercard
Suspected".23 This strongly suggests that packet cross-connect functionality is often
integrated with OTN cross-connect capabilities on the same interface cards or
modules.

Therefore, while a standalone "PKCT card" is not clearly identified, "Packet

Cross-Connect Termination" likely refers to the logical function of terminating
packet-based services (e.g., Ethernet) and enabling their switching or
cross-connection within Ciena equipment. This function is typically embedded within
multi-functional cards that may also handle OTN processing, such as the
aforementioned PKT/OTN XCIFs. The capability to cross-connect packet traffic is
essential for services like Ethernet Private Lines or MPLS-TP, allowing flexible routing
of packet flows through the network element.

3.4. Cross-Connect Fabric and Interfaces

Cross-connects are fundamental to the operation of modern telecommunications
network elements, enabling the internal routing of signals between various ports and
processing units. Ciena platforms provide sophisticated hardware and software
mechanisms for managing these connections.

3.4.1. XCIF (Cross-Connect Interface): Definition, Role, and Mating (e.g., with OCI)
XCIF stands for Cross-Connect Interface.23 These are specialized Ciena hardware
components, typically circuit packs or modules, that provide the physical and logical
interfaces necessary for cross-connecting optical signals, particularly within OTN
environments.

Specific examples of Ciena XCIF cards include the NTK620AA, which is a 40G OTN
XCIF 24, and various 100G PKT/OTN XCIFs used in the OME 6500 platform.6 These XCIF
cards are designed to work in conjunction with other types of cards, such as OCI
(Optical Channel Interface) cards or OCLD (Optical Control Link Domain) cards. For
example, the NTK525CFE5 (a 40G MUX OCI) can be mated with the NTK620AA (40G
OTN XCIF) 24, and 100G PKT/OTN XCIFs can be mated with 100G OCLD or OCI
modules.6

The process of mating these cards can involve specific configurations and adherence
to certain rules. For instance, to successfully mate an OCI card like the NTK525CFE5
with an XCIF like the NTK620AA, the OCI card might need to be switched from its
default "Transponder" mode to "POTS" (Photonic Optical Transport System) mode.
Additional rules may apply, such as specific settings on the XCIF equipment (e.g.,
configuring it for 10G operation rather than 4x10G) and ensuring the OCI card is
placed in a designated (e.g., odd-numbered) slot within the shelf.24 FTTP (Flexible
Termination Port) facilities residing on XCIF cards play a role in the automatic creation
of OSRP links when these XCIFs are mated with OCLD/OCI cards, highlighting the
XCIF's role in the control plane as well.6

Understanding these mating rules, configuration modes, and the role of XCIFs in the
overall system architecture is vital for network engineers when provisioning services
and troubleshooting connectivity issues in Ciena optical transport systems.

3.4.2. XC (Cross-Connects): Provisioning and Management in Ciena Platforms

Cross-connects (XC) are software-defined connections within a network element that
dictate how signals are routed between different ports or internal fabrics. The ability
to provision and manage these XCs is essential for service delivery and network
flexibility.

Ciena platforms offer tools for managing XCs. For example, on Ciena Z-Series nodes,
the Planet Operate Client allows users to create, delete, and verify cross-connections
on various types of cards, including Transponder, Packet, Muxponder, and even
passive cards.22 Within the Ciena 6500 platform, OTN cross-connects are typically
created between ODUCTP (Optical Data Unit Connection Termination Point) facilities.
This can be done using Ciena's Site Manager software, often found under menus such
as "Configuration / Nodal Connections / OTN Connections" 24 or "Configuration /
Cross-Connects / OTN Connections".26

These cross-connects can be of different types, such as "Express" cross-connects,

where a signal passes through the node from an input port to an output port without
being terminated locally, or "Add/Drop" cross-connects, where a signal is terminated
at (dropped from) or originates from (added to) the local node.25

The integrity of these cross-connects is also monitored. For instance, in Ciena's SAOS
6.x software, an "XC (Cross-connect) error flag" within the CFM (Connectivity Fault
Management) framework can indicate issues such as a Connectivity Check Message
(CCM) being received with an incorrect MA-id (Maintenance Association Identifier) or
MD (Maintenance Domain) Level.27 This demonstrates that the status of
cross-connects is tied into service assurance mechanisms. The Ciena 6500 platform
itself is capable of supporting very high-capacity cross-connects, including
SONET/SDH XCs (both low order and high order) and Packet/OTN XCs with capacities
scaling into the Terabit range.16

The modular design of Ciena hardware, which allows for combinations of cards like
OCIs and XCIFs, provides significant scalability and flexibility. However, this modularity
inherently introduces a layer of complexity. This complexity manifests in the need for
precise inter-card compatibility, adherence to specific provisioning rules (such as OCI
modes or XCIF settings 24, and OCLD/OCI mating rules 28), and can lead to unique fault
conditions like "Intercard Suspected" alarms involving PKT/OTN XCIFs.23 While
modularity enables tailored network solutions and growth, it necessitates detailed
technical knowledge, careful configuration, and robust NMS capabilities for effective
management and troubleshooting.

3.5. OCLD (Optical Control Link Domain)

OCLD stands for Optical Control Link Domain.4 This term appears to be Ciena-specific
and refers to a hardware component or a logical domain that is integral to the
functioning of the optical control plane, particularly for OSRP communication in Ciena
6500 (OME6500) systems.4

OCLDs are involved when 100G PKT/OTN XCIF and 40G OTN XCIF cards are mated
with their corresponding 100G OCLD or 40G OCLD modules.6 This mating facilitates
the establishment of OSRP links. For example, a Ciena community discussion
references the NTK539QV, a 200G OCLD with Encryption, acting as an aggregate or
line-side interface for client-side OCI cards.28 This suggests that OCLD cards can
serve as central aggregation points or line interface modules to which multiple
client-side OCIs connect. The OCLD card itself, such as the 200G OCLD, has specific
mating rules with OCI cards that depend on factors like bandwidth requirements and
modulation schemes (e.g., 16QAM versus QPSK).28

The OCLD is part of the photonic layer infrastructure that supports OSRP. While OSRP
can run over the in-band Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC), and there are options
for Out-Of-Band Channel (OOBC) communication for OSRP messages, the OCLD
appears to be a key hardware element that enables these control communications.5
Understanding the role of OCLD and its interaction with OSRP, OSC, XCIFs, and OCIs
is crucial for comprehending the architecture and operation of Ciena's Layer 0 control
plane.

The auto-creation of OSRP links for FTTP facilities on XCIFs when mated with
OCLD/OCI cards 6, alongside the general capability to configure cross-connects via
software tools like Planet Operate and Site Manager 22, points towards an increasing
reliance on software-defined control and programmability within Ciena's hardware
ecosystem. This aligns with broader industry movements towards more agile,
automated, and programmable network operations, allowing for faster service
provisioning and dynamic network adjustments.
3.6. Understanding RNATs in Ciena Networking
The term "RNATs" was investigated in the context of Ciena networking based on the
provided research materials. However, this term is not explicitly defined or explained
as a specific Ciena networking technology, protocol, or hardware component within
these documents.2 General Ciena company overviews and solution descriptions 32 do
not mention RNATs. Similarly, discussions of common optical networking technologies
like ROADMs (Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer) 35 do not use this term.

Browser-based searches for "Ciena RNATs" also did not yield a specific networking
definition relevant to Ciena systems.3 Some search results were entirely unrelated to
Ciena or networking.36

Given the absence of information in the provided materials, it is not possible to define
"RNATs" as a recognized Ciena networking term or technology. It is conceivable that
"RNATs" could be an internal Ciena project code, a very new or niche technology not
yet covered in publicly available documentation, a typographical error in the original
query, or a concept from an entirely different domain mistakenly associated with
Ciena networking.

Therefore, this report must state that, based on the available research, "RNATs" could
not be defined in the context of Ciena networking.

4. Ciena Software Facility Types and Monitoring

This section explains key logical constructs within Ciena software, known as
"facilities." These facilities represent termination or connection points for services and
signals within Ciena network elements. Understanding these facilities is crucial for
network operations, service provisioning, and troubleshooting. The section also
details their associated monitor types, primarily error messages and alarms. A
foundational concept for many OTN-related facilities is the distinction between a
Connection Termination Point (CTP) and a Trail Termination Point (TTP). As clarified in
Ciena documentation, a TTP is a point where OTN trail overhead is terminated or
generated, whereas a CTP is a point where a connection or circuit can be terminated
or monitored for performance.40

The facility types discussed (PTP, ETTP, ODUCTP, TCMCTP) often represent a
hierarchical structure for service and signal termination and monitoring.26 Faults
occurring at a lower-layer facility, such as a Loss of Signal at a Physical Termination
Point (PTP), will typically propagate upwards and can cause alarms at higher-layer
facilities like an Ethernet Transport Termination Point (ETTP E-LOS), an Optical Data
Unit Connection Termination Point (ODUCTP alarm), or a Tandem Connection
Monitoring Connection Termination Point (TCMCTP LTC). This inherent characteristic
of layered networks implies that effective network management systems must
incorporate intelligent alarm correlation. Such correlation is essential to pinpoint the
root cause of a service issue rather than merely reacting to a cascade of sympathetic
alarms, thereby streamlining the troubleshooting process.

Table 2: Overview of Ciena Facility Types and Key Monitor/Error Indicators

Facility Type Primary Function Key Monitor Types / Brief Indication /

Error Messages Common Cause

PTP (Physical/Path Physical port Loss of Clock (LOC), Physical layer issues,
TP) termination for Rx Loss of Clock, clock recovery failure,
client/line signals; Signal Degrade (SD), signal quality
synchronization Signal Fail (SF), Tx/Rx degradation,
(1588v2 PTP) Power "Unknown" SFP/XFP/QSFP issues,
fiber problems 30

ETTP (Ethernet Termination point for Ethernet Loss of Ethernet signal loss,
Transport TP) Ethernet services Signal (E-LOS), far-end Ethernet
Ethernet Remote fault, local Ethernet
Fault Indication fault signaled,
(E-RFI), EFFI, PM performance
errors, 15-Min TCAs degradation (CV, ES,
UAS) 43

ODUCTP (ODU Termination/monitori ODUCTP On Ramp Client faults, Port

Connection TP) ng point for ODU Condition Trigger, OOS, upstream ODU
connections within ODU-AIS Receive, failure, configuration
OTN (CFM faults if mismatches (for
Ethernet over ODU) CFM) 46

ODVCTP (ODU Termination point for (Likely similar to Issues with member
Virtual Concatenation virtually ODUCTP, plus links of VCAT group,
TP) concatenated ODU VCAT-specific alarms differential delay,
groups (assumed) like LOM, SQM - not sequence errors
detailed in snippets) (general VCAT issues)

TCMCTP (Tandem Termination/monitori TCM Loss of Tandem Fault within a specific

Connection ng point for OTN Connection (LTC), monitored network
 Monitoring CTP) Tandem Connection (underlying PTP/ODU segment,
Monitoring segments alarms) provisioning
mismatch at TCM
ends 49

4.1. Introduction to Facility Management in Ciena Software

Ciena's network management software, including tools like Site Manager and the
Management Control Platform (MCP), provides comprehensive capabilities for
provisioning, configuring, and monitoring various logical entities known as "facilities".24
These facilities are fundamental software constructs that represent logical points
within a Ciena network element where signals are processed, services are terminated,
or performance monitoring occurs. Common examples of such facilities include PTP
(Physical Termination Point), ETTP (Ethernet Transport Termination Point), ODUCTP
(Optical Data Unit Connection Termination Point), and TCMCTP (Tandem Connection
Monitoring Connection Termination Point).26

The concepts of Trail Termination Point (TTP) and Connection Termination Point (CTP)
are central to understanding OTN facilities. A TTP is defined as a point where the
overhead associated with an OTN trail (a complete end-to-end path) is terminated or
generated. In contrast, a CTP is a point where a specific connection or circuit (which
could be a segment of a trail) can be terminated or, crucially for service assurance,
monitored for performance.40 Ciena's technical documentation, such as the
"Provisioning CTP (323-1851-310.x)" guide for the 6500 product series, provides
detailed descriptions of the OTN facility model and how these concepts are applied.40
Effective facility management is paramount for network operators to interact with and
control services at a granular level. A thorough understanding of these logical entities,
their hierarchy, and their configurable parameters is essential for successful service
provisioning, ongoing service assurance, and efficient fault localization.

4.2. PTP (Physical/Path Termination Point)

4.2.1. Definition and Purpose
In the context of Ciena optical networking, PTP typically stands for Physical
Termination Point or, in some broader optical networking contexts, Path Termination
Point.30 Within Ciena systems, a PTP facility most often refers to a physical port on a
circuit pack where an optical or electrical signal originates from or terminates into the
Ciena equipment. These are the fundamental entry and exit points for client service
signals or line-side optical signals.

PTP facilities are provisioned and configured using Ciena's management software,
such as Site Manager.26 For example, the creation of PTPs is often a prerequisite step
before higher-layer facilities like ODUCTPs can be provisioned for a service, such as a
10G Ethernet service.26 PTPs are intrinsically linked to physical ports and their specific
characteristics, including parameters like transmitter optical power and operational
wavelength or frequency, which can be configured and monitored via the
management system.53 Monitoring these PTPs is crucial for verifying basic physical
layer connectivity and ensuring the integrity of the signal at its point of ingress or
egress.

It is worth noting that "PTP" also stands for Precision Time Protocol (as per IEEE
1588v2), which is used for network synchronization. Some Ciena devices, like the 3932
Service Delivery Switch, support IEEE 1588v2 PTP for delivering accurate timing over
packet networks.54 However, the primary focus here is on PTP as a facility type
representing a physical signal termination point.

4.2.2. Monitor Types and Common Error Messages (e.g., Loss of Clock, SD, SF)
PTP facilities are subject to various monitor types and can report several error
messages or alarms, primarily indicating physical layer problems or severe signal
degradation:
●​ Loss of Clock (LOC) / Rx Loss of Clock: This alarm indicates that the receiving
port is unable to recover a stable clock signal from the incoming data stream. It
can occur even if the port is receiving adequate optical power if the performance
layer (e.g., due to excessive errors or FEC issues) is not meeting acceptable
criteria. Other causes include frequency mismatches between the connected
equipment, faulty patch cords or connectors, hardware failures on the port or
associated circuitry, or an XCVR (transceiver) operating above its specified
temperature range (XCVR Over Temperature).41
●​ Signal Degrade (SD) / Signal Fail (SF): These are general alarms indicating that
the quality of the received signal at the PTP has fallen below acceptable
thresholds. SD typically signifies a deteriorating signal that may still be usable but
is at risk, while SF indicates a more severe degradation where the signal is likely
unusable.30 These can be triggered by various underlying issues affecting signal
integrity.
●​ OOS-MA (Out-of-Service Maintenance): This is a TL1 (Transaction Language 1)
code indicating that the facility has been administratively placed in an
out-of-service state, often for maintenance purposes like performing a loopback.
When a PTP port is set to OOS, any higher-layer CTP facilities that are dependent
on that PTP for service will also become faulty. This can lead to the incrementing
of performance monitoring counters such as UAS (Unavailable Seconds) for the
 affected service.55
●​ Tx/Rx Power "Unknown": In Ciena's Site Manager, the transmit (Tx) or receive
(Rx) optical power level for a PTP facility might sometimes display as "Unknown."
This can indicate an issue with the SFP/XFP/QSFP transceiver itself or its
communication with the base module. Troubleshooting steps often include
performing a warm reset on the transceiver, reseating it, or ultimately replacing
the transceiver or the base module it plugs into.29
●​ Loss of Signal (LOS): Although not exclusively tied to PTPs in the provided
information, LOS is a fundamental physical layer alarm indicating that no optical
signal (or an extremely weak one) is being detected at the receiver. This is a
common PTP-level fault.

These alarms are critical indicators of the health of the physical connection. Prompt
attention to PTP alarms is essential as they often represent foundational issues that
will impact all services traversing that physical interface.

4.3. ETTP (Ethernet Transport Termination Point)

4.3.1. Definition and Purpose
ETTP stands for Ethernet Transport Termination Point.43 In Ciena networking software,
ETTP facilities are logical termination points specifically created and configured for
Ethernet services. When an Ethernet service (e.g., a 10G Ethernet private line) is
provisioned on Ciena equipment, an ETTP is typically established at the port where
the Ethernet service enters or exits the Ciena device. This often occurs in conjunction
with the provisioning of a PTP (for the physical port) and, if the Ethernet service is
being transported over OTN, an ODUCTP (for the ODU container).26

ETTPs are managed and monitored through Ciena's network management tools like
Site Manager and MCP (Management Control Platform). The operational status of an
ETTP, such as its Link State (Up or Down), can be observed through these systems.51
The primary purpose of an ETTP is to serve as the point where Ethernet frames are
processed. This processing can include functions like VLAN tagging, MAC address
learning, Quality of Service (QoS) policing/shaping, and mapping the Ethernet service
into an appropriate transport structure (such as an OTN ODU container or an MPLS
pseudowire). Furthermore, ETTPs are crucial for monitoring Ethernet-specific
performance parameters and alarms.

4.3.2. Monitor Types and Common Error Messages (e.g., E-LOS, E-RFI, PM errors)
ETTP facilities are associated with several monitor types and can generate specific
error messages and alarms that are vital for managing the health and performance of
Ethernet services:
●​ Ethernet Loss of Signal (E-LOS / Ethernet-LOS): This alarm on an ETTP
indicates that the incoming Ethernet signal is no longer detected at the physical
port associated with the ETTP. Troubleshooting steps typically involve checking
the far-end Ethernet transmitter, verifying the SFP/XFP/CFP transceivers at both
ends, inspecting the fiber optic cable and connectors for damage or
contamination, and potentially performing fiber loopbacks to isolate the fault.43
●​ Ethernet Remote Fault Indication (E-RFI): An E-RFI alarm signifies that the
equipment at the remote end of the Ethernet link has detected a fault and is
signaling this condition back to the local ETTP.43 This helps in fault domain
isolation by indicating that the problem likely lies towards the far end or is being
experienced by the far-end device.
●​ Ethernet Forward Fault Indication (EFFI): Conversely, an EFFI alarm indicates
that the local ETTP has detected a fault (e.g., E-LOS from its connected
equipment) and is signaling this fault condition towards the far-end Ethernet
device.43
●​ Intermittent PM (Performance Monitoring) errors: ETTP facilities can report
intermittent performance monitoring errors. These are typically tracked using
Ciena's Site Manager, which provides access to detailed PM counters for the
ETTP.44 Such errors might include excessive Frame Check Sequence (FCS) errors,
alignment errors, or other Ethernet layer issues.
●​ 15-Min Threshold Crossing Alert (TCA): For various ETTP performance
parameters, such as those related to the Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS) or
general Ethernet statistics like Coding Violations (CV), Errored Seconds (ES), and
Unavailable Seconds (UAS), thresholds can be set. If the count of these errors or
events exceeds the configured threshold within a 15-minute interval, a TCA event
is generated.45 TCAs serve as early warnings of degrading performance before a
hard failure might occur.
●​ Far End (FE) TX errors on ODUCTP layer: An interesting interaction can occur
when a loopback is placed on a client-facing ETTP facility. In such scenarios, it's
possible to observe "FE TX errors" (Far End Transmit errors) incrementing on the
ODUCTP layer that is carrying this Ethernet service. These errors are typically
propagated back from the downstream network element (NE) that receives the
looped signal and detects anomalies. This behavior is generally expected when
such a loopback is active.55

These alarms and performance monitors are critical for ensuring the operational
health of Ethernet services. E-LOS points directly to physical connectivity or signal
reception problems. E-RFI and EFFI are important for localizing faults within an
Ethernet segment. PM errors and TCAs provide valuable insights into the ongoing
quality and performance of the Ethernet service, enabling proactive maintenance and
SLA management.

4.4. ODVCTP (Optical Data Unit Virtual Concatenation Termination Point)

4.4.1. Definition (CTP/TTP Concepts) and Purpose in ODU Transport
ODUCTP is a well-documented facility in Ciena systems, standing for Optical Data Unit
Connection Termination Point.17 As a CTP, it represents a point where an ODU (Optical
Data Unit) connection can be terminated or monitored for performance.40 ODUCTPs
are provisioned on both Line (network-facing) and Client (equipment-facing) ports
when setting up services, such as a 10G service that might be mapped into an ODU2
container.26 Once ODUCTPs are established, OTN cross-connects are then created
between these ODUCTP facilities to route the ODU path through the network element
or across the network.17 For instance, when provisioning services for OTU2 clients, an
ODU2 ODUCTP must be explicitly added on the corresponding XCIF FTTP facility.24

An ODUCTP is typically network/line facing, and there's an expectation of correlation

between performance metrics at different ends of an ODU link; for example, the Far
End Transmit PMs on the ODUCTP of a near-end NE should ideally match the Near
End Receive PMs on the ODUCTP of the far-end NE..4747 Line-side ODUCTPs (e.g., for
an ODU4) can operate in a "Transparent" mode, where detailed PMs are not collected,
or they can be explicitly set to "Monitor" mode to enable performance data
collection.57

The term "ODVCTP" specifically implies Virtual Concatenation (VCAT). While

"ODUCTP" is well-covered, the "Virtual Concatenation" aspect (the "V") is not
extensively detailed in the Ciena-specific snippets provided in terms of unique
monitoring for ODVCTP beyond general ODUCTP functionalities. ITU-T G.709 is the
standard that defines ODU Virtual Concatenation, a technique used to transport client
signals that do not efficiently fit into standard ODUk container sizes by logically
combining the payload capacity of multiple smaller ODUk signals (members of a
Virtual Concatenation Group, VCG) to form a larger, virtually concatenated container
(e.g., ODU2-Xv). An ODVCTP would, therefore, be the termination point for such a
virtually concatenated ODU group. Monitoring these points is essential for ensuring
the integrity of services that rely on VCAT for transport, as issues with any member
link or differential delay can impact the overall service.

4.4.2. Monitor Types and Common Error Messages (e.g., CFM faults, On Ramp
triggers)
Specific monitor types and error messages for ODVCTPs (with an emphasis on the
VCAT aspect) are not exhaustively detailed in the provided Ciena-specific material
beyond general ODUCTP monitoring. However, several related monitoring concepts
and alarms can be inferred or are directly applicable:
●​ ODUCTP On Ramp Condition Trigger: This is a Ciena-specific feature for
ODUCTPs. It can be configured with conditions like "Client Fault" or "Client Fault
and Port OOS" (Out-of-Service). The behavior is such that in the first case,
conditioning (an action, possibly related to protection switching or alarm
reporting) will occur if either the client fault is present or the port is OOS. In the
second case, conditioning will only trigger if both conditions (client fault and port
OOS) are true simultaneously. This feature generally triggers when there is an
alarm on the ODUCTP or the ODUCTP itself is administratively out-of-service.47
This mechanism allows for client-side conditions to influence the behavior or
status of the line-side ODU transport.
●​ CFM (Connectivity Fault Management) Service Faults: If an Ethernet service is
being transported over an ODVCTP (or ODUCTP), and CFM is used for
end-to-end Ethernet layer monitoring, then CFM faults could be relevant
indicators. These include:
○​ XC (XconCCM): Indicates a mismatch of the MAID (Maintenance Association
Identifier) or MD (Maintenance Domain) Level in exchanged CCMs (Continuity
Check Messages).27
○​ CC (Error CCM): Signifies a mismatch of MEPID (Maintenance End Point
Identifier) or the CCM-interval in the exchanged CCMs.46
○​ RM (Remote MEP CCM defect): Raised when the local MEP is not receiving
CCMs from one or more Remote MEPs, often due to Layer 1 faults.46
○​ MS (MAC Status) / PS (Port Status): Indicates that a remote MEP
transmitted a CCM for an interface that is not in a forwarding state (e.g., the
User Network Interface - UNI - is down).46 Accurate provisioning of these CFM
parameters is crucial, as mismatches are a common cause of these faults,
directly linking provisioning accuracy to service health.
●​ DOC (Domain Optical Control) Alarms: If the ODVCTP is part of an optical
domain managed by Ciena's DOC, then DOC-related alarms could be indicative of
issues affecting the ODU path. Alarms such as "DOC Action Failed: Optimize" or
"DOC Action Failed: Monitor" can occur due to maintenance activities (like
module replacement or fiber cuts) happening during a DOC auto-re-optimize run,
or due to other active alarms within the DOC span of control, such as "DOC
Invalid Photonic Domain," "Adjacency Far End Not Discovered," or "Optical Line
Fail".58
 ●​ ODU-AIS (Alarm Indication Signal) Receive Alarm: This alarm can be raised on
ODU facilities (e.g., an ODUTTP, which is closely related to an ODUCTP, on a 100G
PKTOTN card).48 ODU-AIS indicates that an upstream failure has occurred, and an
AIS signal is being propagated downstream at the ODU layer to suppress
consequential alarms. This is a critical alarm pointing to a service-affecting fault
elsewhere in the network.

For VCAT-specific monitoring (ODVCTP), one would typically expect to see alarms
related to the health of the VCG, such as Loss of Multi-frame (LOM) if the VCAT
framing is lost, or alarms related to excessive differential delay between member links,
or sequence errors if member payloads arrive out of order. While not detailed in the
Ciena snippets, these are standard VCAT monitoring parameters defined in ITU-T
G.709.

4.5. TCMCTP (Tandem Connection Monitoring Connection Termination Point)

4.5.1. Definition and Purpose in End-to-End Service Monitoring
TCMCTP stands for Tandem Connection Monitoring Connection Termination Point.40
Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM) is a powerful feature within the Optical
Transport Network (OTN) standard (ITU-T G.709). Its primary purpose is to allow for
the monitoring of an ODU (Optical Data Unit) path across multiple operator domains
or distinct segments within a single operator's network. This is achieved by nesting
different levels of monitoring information within the ODU overhead.15 ITU-T G.709
allows for up to six levels of TCM, enabling granular monitoring of different path
segments.

A TCMCTP facility in Ciena software represents the logical point where one of these
TCM layers is terminated or monitored. Ciena's 6500 platform, for example,
implements TCM to provide improved service assurance, enhanced service fault
correlation, and more precise troubleshooting capabilities, especially when handling
traffic that traverses third-party networks or multiple administrative domains.16 By
using TCMCTPs, an operator can monitor the health and performance of a specific
segment (a "tandem connection") of an end-to-end ODU path. This is invaluable for
fault isolation, as it helps pinpoint exactly where errors or failures are occurring along
a complex service path. This capability is critical for managing SLAs, especially when
multiple providers or network segments are involved in delivering a single service.

The extensive Performance Monitoring (PM) capabilities found in Ciena equipment,

coupled with specialized monitoring facilities like TCMCTP, underscore a focus on
proactive network monitoring for Service Level Agreement (SLA) assurance. Features
inherent to OTN, such as its capability for built-in real-time latency measurement 15,
further support this proactive stance. This allows network operators to move beyond
merely reactive fault fixing. Instead, they can proactively identify service
degradations, predict potential issues before they become service-affecting, and
ensure that services consistently meet their SLA commitments. This is particularly
crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and for supporting modern services that
are highly sensitive to performance metrics like latency, jitter, and error rates.

4.5.2. Monitor Types and Common Error Messages (e.g., TCM Loss of Tandem
Connection)
The primary alarm associated with TCMCTP facilities is indicative of issues within the
monitored tandem connection segment:
●​ TCM Loss of Tandem Connection (LTC): This alarm is raised against a TCMTTP
(Tandem Connection Monitoring Trail Termination Point, which is functionally very
similar to a CTP for monitoring purposes) or TCMCTP facility. It signifies a problem
with the specific tandem connection being monitored by that TCM level.49 The
ITU-T G.709 standard also defines LTC as a key TCM alarm.31 Clearing this alarm
typically involves:
1.​ Verifying that the TCM facility is correctly provisioned at both ends of the
monitored segment. Mismatches in TCM level provisioning or configuration
are a common cause of LTC alarms.
2.​ Ensuring that the underlying photonic path is clean and error-free, especially
if an OSRP Line (indicating an optical control plane managed path) is
provisioned for the service.49 Issues at lower layers (e.g., PTP alarms, ODU
layer alarms) will invariably affect the TCM layer.
●​ SFP Unknown / Tx,Rx Power "Unknown": While one Ciena article (related to
clearing SFP Unknown issues) is cross-referenced under TCMCTP alarms 29, the
issue described (Tx/Rx power showing "Unknown" in the PTP Facility) is
fundamentally a physical port or transceiver problem. Such an issue would
certainly impact any service traversing that port, including one monitored by a
TCMCTP, but the alarm itself originates at the PTP or physical interface level.
●​ Management System Issues: Alerts like "MCP: TCMCTP facility not showing on
MCP" 59 are related to the Network Management System itself (e.g., MCP not
displaying the facility correctly) rather than being a network fault alarm detected
by the TCMCTP.
●​ General Log Message Legend: Ciena systems use a log message legend with
indicators such as "!!!" (STOP or ERROR), "*" (WARNING), "+" (NOTICE), and "-"
(INFO) to denote the severity of logged events.62 These indicators would apply to
 any events or status changes logged for TCMCTP facilities, helping operators
assess their impact.
●​ ITU-T Defined TCM Alarms/Events: The ITU-T G.709 standard, upon which
Ciena's TCM implementation is based, defines a range of TCM-related alarms and
error monitoring mechanisms. These include TCM-AIS (Alarm Indication Signal),
TCM-OCI (Open Connection Indication), TCM-LCK (Locked), TCM-TIM (Trace
Identifier Mismatch), TCM-BDI (Backward Defect Indication), TCM-IAE (Incoming
Alignment Error), TCM-BIAE (Backward Incoming Alignment Error), as well as error
performance counters like TCM-BIP-8 (Bit Interleaved Parity) and TCM-BEI
(Backward Error Indication).50 Ciena's specific alarm names and event reporting
would map to these standardized defect and monitoring conditions.

The "TCM Loss of Tandem Connection" alarm is the most direct indicator of a failure
or severe degradation within the specific network segment monitored by that TCM
level. However, troubleshooting often requires investigating underlying PTP, ETTP, or
ODUCTP alarms, as these can be the root causes for TCM layer issues. The accuracy
of provisioning for TCM facilities at both ends of the monitored segment is paramount;
mismatches or incomplete configurations are frequent sources of TCM-related
alarms. This highlights a direct causal relationship: meticulous provisioning is
fundamental to ensuring service health and minimizing alarms across all network
layers, including TCM.

5. Conclusion
This report has provided a detailed technical examination of key Ciena optical
networking protocols, hardware components, and software facility management
constructs. The Optical Signaling and Routing Protocol (OSRP) and Open Shortest
Path First (OSPF) serve distinct but complementary roles, with OSRP managing the
dynamic optical layer control plane and OSPF handling IP layer routing. This layered
approach to routing and control is a hallmark of Ciena's strategy to enable intelligent
automation across different network domains.

Core Ciena hardware components such as Optical Transport Network (OTN) cards,
Cross-Connect Interfaces (XCIFs), general Cross-Connect (XC) capabilities, and
Optical Control Link Domains (OCLDs) form the building blocks of resilient and flexible
optical transport solutions. OTN, with its 'digital wrapper' concept and robust Forward
Error Correction (FEC), provides a standardized and efficient means to transport
diverse client services. XCIFs and OCLDs are integral to the internal switching fabric
and control plane communication, respectively, particularly in platforms like the 6500
series. The term "PKCT card" was not found as a distinct Ciena component, though
packet cross-connect functionality is widely integrated. Similarly, "RNATs" could not
be defined as a Ciena networking term based on the available information.

Ciena's software facility types—PTP, ETTP, ODVCTP, and TCMCTP—represent critical

logical points for service termination, provisioning, and monitoring. Each facility type
is associated with a specific set of monitor types and error messages (e.g., LOC for
PTP, E-LOS for ETTP, ODU-AIS for ODUCTP, LTC for TCMCTP). These are essential for
network operations, enabling fault management, performance monitoring, and service
assurance. The hierarchical nature of these facilities means that faults often
propagate, emphasizing the need for sophisticated alarm correlation in network
management systems to expedite root cause analysis.

A recurring theme is the critical importance of accurate provisioning. Many potential

alarms and service issues can be preempted by meticulous configuration of network
elements and services, from OSRP OOB parameters to TCM facility settings and CFM
identifiers.

Ultimately, Ciena's approach to optical networking reflects broader industry trends

towards increasing layered intelligence, automation, software-defined control, and
proactive monitoring. These capabilities are designed to help network operators build
more adaptive, efficient, and reliable networks capable of meeting the escalating
demands for bandwidth and advanced services.

6. Glossary of Terms
Table 3: Glossary of Acronyms and Key Terms

Acronym/Term Full Form Brief Definition

AIS Alarm Indication Signal A signal indicating an

upstream failure, used to
suppress downstream alarms.

AS Autonomous System A collection of IP networks

and routers under the control
of one entity, presenting a
common routing policy.

ASON Automatically Switched An optical network

Optical Network architecture that automates
 the setup and management of
optical connections.

BER Bit Error Rate The ratio of incorrectly

transmitted bits to the total
number of transmitted bits.

CC Error CCM (CFM) A CFM fault indicating

mismatch of MEPID or
CCM-interval in Continuity
Check Messages. 46

CCM Continuity Check Message Messages used in CFM to

(CFM) verify connectivity between
MEPs.

CFM Connectivity Fault A set of protocols (IEEE

Management 802.1ag) for OAM in Ethernet
networks.

CTP Connection Termination Point A point where a

connection/circuit can be
terminated or monitored in
OTN. 40

CV Coding Violation An error in the encoding of

data, often monitored at the
Ethernet physical layer.

DOC Domain Optical Control Ciena software for automated

optical system optimization
and fault isolation. 58

DWDM Dense Wavelength Division Technology that multiplexes

Multiplexing multiple optical carrier signals
onto a single optical fiber by
using different wavelengths.

E-LFI Ethernet Local Fault Indication An Ethernet alarm indicating a

fault detected locally. 56
E-LOS Ethernet Loss of Signal An alarm on an ETTP
indicating loss of the incoming
Ethernet signal. 43

E-RFI Ethernet Remote Fault An alarm on an ETTP

Indication indicating a fault detected by
the remote end of the
Ethernet link. 43

ECMP Equal-Cost Multipath A routing strategy that allows

traffic to be distributed over
multiple paths of equal cost.

EFFI Ethernet Forward Fault An alarm indicating a locally

Indication detected fault is being
signaled towards the far end.
43

EMOTR Ethernet Muxponder Optical A Ciena card type combining

Transponder Ethernet aggregation and
optical transport functions.

ES Errored Second A one-second interval

containing one or more errors.

ETTP Ethernet Transport A Ciena software facility

Termination Point representing the termination
point for Ethernet services. 26

FEC Forward Error Correction A technique used to control

errors in data transmission by
adding redundant data. 15

FTTP Flexible Termination Port A configurable port facility in

Ciena systems. 6

GMPLS Generalized Multi-Protocol An extension of MPLS to

Label Switching manage further classes of
interfaces and switching,
including optical.
IGP Interior Gateway Protocol A type of routing protocol
used for exchanging routing
information within an
autonomous system (e.g.,
OSPF, IS-IS).

IP Internet Protocol The principal communications

protocol for relaying
datagrams across network
boundaries.

LOC Loss of Clock An alarm indicating failure to

recover a clock signal from
incoming data. 41

LOS Loss of Signal An alarm indicating no or very

weak optical/electrical signal
is being detected.

LSA Link State Advertisement A packet used by OSPF

routers to exchange topology
information.

LTC Loss of Tandem Connection An alarm in OTN TCM

indicating a failure in the
monitored tandem connection
segment. 31

MAID Maintenance Association An identifier for a

Identifier (CFM) Maintenance Association in
CFM.

MCP Management Control Platform Ciena's network management

and control software platform.

MD Maintenance Domain (CFM) A management boundary

within which CFM operates.

MEPID Maintenance End Point An identifier for a

Identifier (CFM) Maintenance End Point in
CFM.
MPLS Multiprotocol Label Switching A routing technique that
directs data using short path
labels rather than long
network addresses.

MS MAC Status (CFM) A CFM fault indicating the

remote MEP transmitted a
CCM for a non-forwarding
interface. 46

MSB Most Significant Byte The byte in a multi-byte

number that has the greatest
value.

LSB Least Significant Byte The byte in a multi-byte

number that has the least
value.

MOTR Muxponder Optical A Ciena card type providing

Transponder Router muxponder, transponder, and
sometimes routing functions.

NE Network Element A manageable device in a

telecommunications network.

NMS Network Management System A system used to monitor and

control a network.

OCI Optical Channel Interface A Ciena card providing

client-side optical interfaces,
often mating with XCIF or
OCLD. 6

OCLD Optical Control Link Domain A Ciena hardware component

or logical domain facilitating
optical control plane
communication (e.g., for
OSRP). 4

ODU Optical Data Unit A container structure in OTN

used to carry client payloads.
(e.g. ODU0, ODU1, ODU2,
 ODUflex)

ODUCTP Optical Data Unit Connection A Ciena software facility for

Termination Point terminating/monitoring ODU
connections. 26

ODVCTP Optical Data Unit Virtual A Ciena software facility for

Concatenation TP terminating virtually
concatenated ODU groups.

OOB Out-Of-Band Communication that occurs

on a separate channel from
the main data path, often for
management. 4

OOS-MA Out-of-Service Maintenance A facility state indicating it's

administratively down for
maintenance. 55

OSC Optical Supervisory Channel A dedicated wavelength used

for OAM and control
communications between
optical network elements. 1

OSPF Open Shortest Path First An IGP based on link-state

technology for IP routing. 9

OSRP Optical Signaling and Routing Ciena's protocol for optical

Protocol signaling and routing in the
control plane. 1

OTN Optical Transport Network An ITU-T standard (G.709) for

a digital wrapper that
transports various services
over optical fiber. 15

OTU Optical Transport Unit The OTN layer that includes

FEC and is transported over a
wavelength.

PKTOTN Packet Optical Transport Refers to Ciena cards or

 Network systems supporting both
packet and OTN
functionalities.

PM Performance Monitoring The process of collecting and

analyzing data to measure
network performance.

PNNI Private Network-to-Network A routing protocol used in

Interface ATM networks.

POTS Photonic Optical Transport A Ciena provisioning mode for

System some OCI cards. 24

PS Port Status (CFM) Similar to MAC Status, a CFM

fault related to the forwarding
state of an interface. 46

PTP Physical/Path Termination A Ciena software facility

Point representing a physical port
or path termination. 26

QSFP Quad Small Form-factor A compact, hot-pluggable

Pluggable transceiver used for data
communications applications.

RIP Routing Information Protocol An older distance-vector

routing protocol.

RM Remote MEP CCM defect A CFM fault indicating failure

(CFM) to receive CCMs from remote
MEP(s). 46

ROADM Reconfigurable Optical A device that can remotely

Add/Drop Multiplexer switch traffic at the
wavelength layer. 35

SAOS Service-Aware Operating Ciena's operating system for

System many of its packet networking
devices.
SD Signal Degrade An alarm indicating that signal
quality has degraded below a
certain threshold. 30

SF Signal Fail An alarm indicating that signal

quality has severely degraded,
likely causing service impact.
30

SFP Small Form-factor Pluggable A compact, hot-pluggable

transceiver used for data
communications.

SLA Service Level Agreement A contract between a service

provider and a customer
defining the level of service
expected.

SPF Shortest Path First An algorithm (like Dijkstra's)

used to find the shortest
paths in a network.

TCP/IP Transmission Control The foundational suite of

Protocol/Internet Protocol communication protocols
used for the Internet and
similar networks.

TCA Threshold Crossing Alert An event generated when a

performance monitoring
counter exceeds a predefined
threshold. 45

TCM Tandem Connection An OTN feature for monitoring

Monitoring specific segments of an ODU
path. 15

TCMCTP Tandem Connection A Ciena software facility for

Monitoring CTP terminating/monitoring OTN
TCM segments.

TDM Time Division Multiplexing A method of transmitting and

receiving independent signals
 over a common signal path by
means of synchronized
switches.

TL1 Transaction Language 1 A management protocol

widely used in
telecommunications.

TSE Topology State Element A data structure used in OSRP

to describe a node's local
state information. 3

TTP Trail Termination Point A point where OTN trail

overhead is
terminated/generated. 40

UAS Unavailable Second A one-second interval during

which a service is considered
unavailable.

VCAT Virtual Concatenation A technique to combine

multiple smaller ODU
tributaries to carry a larger
client signal.

VLSM Variable-Length Subnet Mask Allows subnets of different

sizes to be created from a
single IP network address.

XC Cross-Connect A software-defined
connection within a network
element that routes signals
between ports or fabrics. 22

XCIF Cross-Connect Interface A Ciena hardware card

providing interfaces for
cross-connecting optical
signals. 23

XFP 10 Gigabit Small Form Factor A hot-pluggable transceiver

Pluggable for 10 Gb/s data rates.
7. References
2 OSRP (Optical Signaling and Routing Protocol) Ciena.
(https://www.linktionary.com/o/osrp.html)
3 Methods and systems for preventing the misconfiguration of OSRP and OS/ISIS networks
using a NMS. (https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090201832A1/en)
14 What Is Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)? - JumpCloud.
(https://jumpcloud.com/it-index/what-is-open-shortest-path-first-ospf)
9 Open Shortest Path First.
(https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/2.4.0?topic=omproute-open-shortest-path-first)
10 RIP vs OSPF: What Is the Difference.
(https://www.fs.com/blog/rip-vs-ospf-what-is-the-difference-3479.html)
12 Difference between RIP and OSPF.
(https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-rip-and-ospf/)
21 Cross Connects Overview. (https://docs.packetfabric.com/xconnect/overview/)
22 Z-Series: How to check the cross connects in Z-series node.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/Z-Series-How-to-check-the-cross-connects-in-Z-
series-node)
17 OTN Ciena Community Topic.
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO0z0000006ydFGAQ/otn)
15 What is Optical Transport Networking (OTN).
(https://www.ciena.com/insights/what-is/What-is-Optical-Transport-Networking-OTN.html)
27 SAOS 6.x: CFM interoperability between Ciena and Aviat devices.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/SAOS-6x-CFM-interoperability-between-Ciena-an
d-Aviat-devices)
24 How do you mate the NTK525CFE5 (40G MUX OCI) to the NTK620AA (40G OTN XCIF)?
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D54z00006mzQO7CAM/how-do-you-mate-th
e-ntk525cfe5-40g-mux-oci-to-the-ntk620aa-40g-otn-xcif-my-purpose-is-to-test-the-ntk62
0aa-crossconnect-by-means-of-the-ntk525cfe5-my-thinking-is-that-the-ntk620aa-if-mated
-to-the-ntk525cfe5-will-be-utilized)
25 Z-Series: How to create the cross-connects in the Z-series node.
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/article/Z-Series-How-to-create-the-cross-connects-i
n-the-Z-series-node)
64 About Cross Connects.
(https://docs.equinix.com/en-us/Content/Interconnection/Cross_Connects/xc-cross-connects.
htm)
4 6500: Configuration of OSRP L0 control plane Out Of Band (OOB) communication.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/6500-Configuration-of-OSRP-L0-control-plane-O
ut-Of-Band-OOB-communication)
5 OCLD Ciena Community Topic (DOC).
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO4z000000sdCgGAI/doc?tabset-4aaf7=1)
32 Ciena and Lumen – Great Plains Network.
(https://www.greatplains.net/archives/annual-meeting/gpnam2023/sponsor2023/ciena-and-lu
men/)
33 Ciena Official Website. (https://www.ciena.com/)
26 We have Ciena 14 slots 6500, pls will tell us the step to follow when we commissioning fort
card.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D50z00006ULtgNCAT/we-have-ciena-14-slots
-6500-pls-will-tell-us-the-step-to-follow-when-we-commissioning-fort-card-)
40 Does anyone know where I can find the definition and details of oductp, oduttp and otuttp.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D54z000083dgbcCAA/does-anyone-know-wh
ere-i-can-find-the-definition-and-details-of-oductp-oduttp-and-otuttp)
52 SONET/SDH Physical Components: PTP (Physical Termination Point).
(https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-sde/telco-cloud/smart-assurance/10-1-12/usi
ng-vmware-smart-assurance/global-and-domain-manager/otm-domain-manager/sonet-sdh-
object-factory-api/sonet-sdh-physical-components/ptp-physical-termination-point--1.html)
55 ODUCTP FE TX errors during loopback.
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO0z0000006zYUGAY/tx)
43 CN 5400: Ethernet Loss of Signal Alarm on ETTP.
(https://ciena--integrate.sandbox.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/article/CN-5400-Ethernet-Loss-o
f-Signal-Alarm-on-ETTP)
44 OME 6500: EMOTR ETTP facility reporting intermittent PM errors.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/OME-6500-EMOTR-ETTP-facility-reporting-interm
ittent-PM-errors)
46 SAOS: How to identify service faults in CFM service.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/SAOS-How-to-identify-service-faults-in-CFM-serv
ice)
58 OME 6500: DOC Action Failed: Optimize & DOC Action Failed: Monitor.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/OME-6500-DOC-Action-Failed-Optimize-DOC-Ac
tion-Failed-Monitor)
62 View Log message legend.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/View-Log-message-legend)
29 6500: How to clear SFP Unknown issue on client port.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/6500-How-to-clear-SFP-Unknown-issue-on-client
-port)
7 Coherent Routing Solutions by Ciena. (https://www.ciena.com/solutions/coherent-routing)
65 Routing and Switching eGuide by Ciena.
(https://www.ciena.com/insights/ebooks/routing-switching-eguide.html)
1 Differences between "OSRP" and "OSPF".
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D54z00009859YMCAY/differences-between-o
srp-and-ospf)
3 Patent US20090201832A1: Methods and systems for preventing the misconfiguration of
OSRP and OS/ISIS networks using a NMS.
(https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090201832A1/en)
13 OSPF RFC compliance.
(https://arubanetworking.hpe.com/techdocs/AOS-S/16.11/MRG/WC/content/common%20files/
osp-rfc-com.htm)
11 Open Shortest Path First - Wikipedia.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Shortest_Path_First)
66 Circuit Pack Ciena Community Topic.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO4z000000sY4bGAE/circuit-pack)
67 Ciena 6500 Family of Packet-Optical Platforms. (https://www.ciena.com/products/6500)
19 Ciena Products Overview. (https://www.ciena.com/products)
15 What is Optical Transport Networking (OTN) - Ciena Insights.
(https://www.ciena.com/insights/what-is/What-is-Optical-Transport-Networking-OTN.html)
(Re-cited for OTN benefits)
23 OME6500: How to Clear OME 6500 Intercard Suspected alarm.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/OME6500-How-to-Clear-OME-6500-Intercard-Su
spected-alarm)
6 What is the meaning of control plane L1 originating link number.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D5VR000002kc320AA/what-is-the-meaning-
of-control-plane-l1-originating-link-number)
68 XC Ciena Community Topic.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO4z0000010xrqGAA/xc)
16 Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platform Brochure.
(https://www.telecomdatasheets.com/ddata/1034.pdf)
8 Coherent Routing WaveRouter OSRP Navigator Walk Through - Ciena Video.
(https://www.ciena.com/insights/videos/coherent-routing-waverouter-osrp-navigator-walk-th
rough)
28 Transponder connections between 2 OCIs and a OCLD.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D50z00005JK3HqCAL/transponder-connectio
ns-between-2-ocis-and-a-ocld)
34 Ciena Corporation Investor Relations Document.
(https://investor.ciena.com/static-files/a899f214-582b-4b9a-9348-87b08f1d4c54)
35 What is ROADM - Ciena Insights.
(https://www.ciena.com/insights/what-is/what-Is-roadm.html)
53 PTP Ciena Community Topic.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO4z00000070msGAA/ptp)
54 Ciena 3932 Service Delivery Switch Data Sheet.
(https://www.westconcomstor.com/content/dam/wcgcom/US_EN/westcon/vendors/ciena/docu
mentation/Packet-Products/packet/Ciena-3932-Service-Delivery-Switch-Data-Sheet.pdf)
51 Site Manager Ciena Community Topic.
(https://ciena--integrate.sandbox.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO0z000000ZLC8GAO/si
te-manager?tabset-4aaf7=1)
69 Ciena Portal Home / Community Discussions.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/Ciena-Portal-Home)
47 ODUCTP On Ramp Condition Trigger.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D54z00009Lu0bjCAB/oductp-on-ramp-condit
ion-trigger)
57 Concerning performance monitoring ODUCTP tab on a NTK667AB.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/question/0D50z00006iYDYVCA4/concerning-performace
-monitoring-oductp-tab-on-a-ntk667ab-which-direction-is-the-far-end-transmit-referring-t
o-would-it-be-incoming-from-the-connected-pkotn-if-oductp12232ep1oductp12614p12ep7o
du2eor-the-other-side-of-the-clientuni)
63 Common Photonic Layer DataSheet.
(https://www.ghekko.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Common_Photonic_Layer_DataSheet.
pdf)
41 5400: Reason for Loss of clock and loss of frame alarm on line port.
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/article/5400-Reason-for-Loss-of-clock-and-loss-of-
frame-alarm-on-line-port)
42 Waveserver AI: Rx Loss of Clock alarm flapping intermittently on PTP.
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/article/Waveserver-AI-Rx-Loss-of-Clock-alarm-flappi
ng-intermitently-on-PTP)
45 Alarm Ciena Community Topic - ETTP TCA.
(https://ciena.my.site.com/CienaPortal/s/topic/0TO4z000000SnTIGA0/alarm?tabset-4aaf7=2)
56 CN 5400: Ethernet Loss of Signal Alarm on ETTP (Ciena Portal).
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/CN-5400-Ethernet-Loss-of-Signal-Alarm-on-ETT
P)
48 OME6500: 100G PKTOTN ODUTTP Facility Raising ODU AIS Receive Alarm.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/OME6500-100G-PKTOTN-ODUTTP-Facility-Raisin
g-ODU-AIS-Receive-Alarm)
49 OME6500: How to Clear TCM Loss of Tandem Connection.
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/OME6500-How-to-Clear-TCM-Loss-of-Tandem-C
onnection)
29 6500: How to clear SFP Unknown issue on client port (Ciena Portal).
(https://my.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/6500-How-to-clear-SFP-Unknown-issue-on-client
-port) (Re-cited for PTP power unknown)
30 US Patent US20130114953A1 - Optical transport network port protection systems and
methods using flexible switch criteria.
(https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130114953A1/en)
18 Ciena 6500-T12/T24 Packet-Optical Platform Data Sheet.
(https://telecomcauliffe.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CIena-6500-T12_T24_DS.pdf)
70 PROTOCOLS FOR AUTOMATIC DISCOVERY - IETF Liaison.
(https://www.ietf.org/lib/dt/documents/LIAISON/file28.doc)
50 Packet Optical Transport Network Testing: From Commissioning to In-Service Monitoring -
EXFO.
(https://www.exfo.com/contentassets/2e17cb7a926740e3a43660272e20cd60/exfo_anote225_
packet-optical-transport-testing_en.pdf)
31 Tandem Connection Monitoring - Acterna ANT-20 Manual.
(https://manuals.repeater-builder.com/te-files/ACTERN%20ANT20%20series/collaterals/englis
h/tcm.pdf)
60 Ciena 6500 Packet-Optical Platform Product Brochure - Westcon.
(https://www.westconcomstor.com/content/dam/wcgcom/US_EN/westcon/vendors/ciena/docu
mentation/Packet-Products/convergence/Ciena-6500-Packet-Optical-Platform-Product-Broc
hure.pdf)
61 OME6500: How to Clear TCM Loss of Tandem Connection - Article Detail
(my-dev.ciena.com).
(https://my-dev.ciena.com/CienaPortal/s/article/OME6500-How-to-Clear-TCM-Loss-of-Tande
m-Connection)

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