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Fractal Networks Require a Focused and Flexible Foundation

February 3, 2016

Focused and flexible are sometimes opposites but these are required in today’s higher, almost quantum network speeds.

Is 100G the end?

Absolutely not.

Are Fractal Networks possible?

Of course, the Mandelbrot Fractal Set is a basic mathematical sequence that continues infinitely in all directions and can be applied to the network world. For example, experiments with different encoding methods, hardware components, better lasers and better fiber see network speeds being tested as high as 255Tbps, that is 255 x 1012 bps versus 100X106bps, which is 2.55 million times faster than the fastest usable optical network today.

Faster means that even the smallest component can cause a failure though. 

The faster speeds of today’s networks 10G, 40G, 100G, all require the highest quality fiber optic components. The success of these somewhat fragile networks require building a reliable, resilient and visually accessible network. Not only do you need the best quality fiber/glass and all components; but the diagnostic, management and security associated with visibility and recognition practices needs to become more granular, more focused and 100% reliable.

So why is cheap versus quality no longer a consideration?

Just like with your vision, clarity is a must. You expect the highest quality components with the finest polishing and coating for your glasses. It’s the same thing with the optical fiber and components you purchase and put in your network. Lack of distortion (dispersion or scattering of the photons including chromatic dispersion), low light loss (attenuation), purity of the fiber (silicon dioxide or other elements = intrinsic loss and photonic scattering = signal distortion), the best optical cladding which traps the light in the core and passes the signal through with the highest internal reflection % with the lowest loss (the non-uniformity of the refractive index inside the core), the correct spectral distance to match the modulation wavelength, and the micro and macro bending due to mislaying or poor jacket construction (twisting can also cause losses).

Unlike your glasses, fiber optic communication requires many technical factors in being a successful data transport medium. As data rates rise, all of these factors and more will either make or break the success of your growing network. 

The faster our data rates are, the more sensitive they are to physical layer issues. We are challenged with analysis, monitoring, management and security - all which requires visibility. The need for a 100% visibility plane that does not cause errors or failures becomes a necessity. Even a simple optical splitter for testing or monitoring access can cause length and signal issues leading to failures. Every component should be the highest quality because your data plane is only as good as your weakest component.

Going fast costs more and requires the best components to provide for a strong and successful optical network.

One you have deployed the best quality network the Network Manager can turn his or her’s technical skills towards management and security, knowing that the physical network and access should never be a problem. Networks are complex enough without always worrying that the physical foundation will fail anytime.


I wish every network technologist great success with less stress! 
– Tim O’Neill, The Oldommguy™

The Industrial Ethernet  

See Everything. Secure Everything.

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Heartbeats Packets Inside the Bypass TAP

If the inline security tool goes off-line, the TAP will bypass the tool and automatically keep the link flowing. The Bypass TAP does this by sending heartbeat packets to the inline security tool. As long as the inline security tool is on-line, the heartbeat packets will be returned to the TAP, and the link traffic will continue to flow through the inline security tool.

If the heartbeat packets are not returned to the TAP (indicating that the inline security tool has gone off-line), the TAP will automatically 'bypass' the inline security tool and keep the link traffic flowing. The TAP also removes the heartbeat packets before sending the network traffic back onto the critical link.

While the TAP is in bypass mode, it continues to send heartbeat packets out to the inline security tool so that once the tool is back on-line, it will begin returning the heartbeat packets back to the TAP indicating that the tool is ready to go back to work. The TAP will then direct the network traffic back through the inline security tool along with the heartbeat packets placing the tool back inline.

Some of you may have noticed a flaw in the logic behind this solution!  You say, “What if the TAP should fail because it is also in-line? Then the link will also fail!” The TAP would now be considered a point of failure. That is a good catch – but in our blog on Bypass vs. Failsafe, I explained that if a TAP were to fail or lose power, it must provide failsafe protection to the link it is attached to. So our network TAP will go into Failsafe mode keeping the link flowing.

Glossary

  1. Single point of failure: a risk to an IT network if one part of the system brings down a larger part of the entire system.

  2. Heartbeat packet: a soft detection technology that monitors the health of inline appliances. Read the heartbeat packet blog here.

  3. Critical link: the connection between two or more network devices or appliances that if the connection fails then the network is disrupted.

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