Summary

This chapter introduced you to multiple topics that are foundational for understanding the use and design of MSPP networks. It presented an overview of optical transmission through glass fiber, including the components of an optical fiber, and the way in which these components interact to confine and reflect light signals to enable optically based communication. Additionally, this chapter discussed the primary technologies used in current MSPP networks, SONET and SDH. SONET is primarily deployed in North America; SDH is deployed around the world.

This chapter described the operation of SONET/SDH in detail, including the methods in which it is used to support the legacy digital signal hierarchies. It also explored the various types of SONET/SDH network elements, how they are used in the network, and how the various network-overhead levels enable reliable transmission. Finally, the chapter introduced the concepts of synchronization and timing in an MSPP network. Understanding these various concepts will provide a solid foundation for engineering and deploying MSPP networks.