Nokia GMPLS-Controlled Optical Networks Questions and Answers
What is the definition of Constrained Shortest Path First (CSPF)?
Options:
It is the SPF algorithm applied to low bandwidth LSPs.
It is the 5FP algorithm applied after pruning links that do not meet the specified constraints.
It is the SPF algorithm applied for low latency LSPs.
It is a combination between OSPF-TE and RSVP-TE.
Answer:
BExplanation:
Constrained Shortest Path First (CSPF) is an extension of the shortest path first (SPF) algorithm that is used to find the best path for a Label Switched Path (LSP) in a GMPLS network. CSPF takes into account additional constraints such as bandwidth, latency, priority, or node or link inclusion or exclusion. CSPF works by pruning those links that do not meet the specified constraints and then applying the SPF algorithm to the remaining links. This way, CSPF can find a path that satisfies both the shortest distance and the constraints. References : Constrained Shortest Path First - Wikipedia, Constrained Shortest Path First (CSPF) - Metaswitch
When should two physical connections belong to the same SRG?
Options:
When one is the protection of the other
When they share the same risk of failure
When they are both selected during the setup process
When they are fully disjoint respective to the risk of failure
Answer:
BExplanation:
A Shared Risk Link Group (SRLG) is a set of links sharing a common resource, which affects all links in the set if the common resource fails5. These links share the same risk of failure and are therefore considered to belong to the same SRLG. For example, links sharing a common fiber are said to be in the same SRLG because a fault with the fiber might cause all links in the group to fail. SRLGs are used in MPLS and GMPLS networks to provide traffic engineering and protection/restoration mechanisms. When computing the secondary path for an LSP, it is preferable to find a path such that the secondary and primary paths do not have any links in common in case the SRLGs for the primary and secondary paths are disjoint6. This ensures that a single point of failure on a particular link does not bring down both the primary and secondary paths in the LSP. References:
- 5: Shared risk resource group - Wikipedia
- 6: Shared Risk Link Groups for MPLS | Junos OS | Juniper Networks
What does the SNC state with an uppercase "N" mean in a resource in NFM-T?
Options:
Indicates it's using a link other than the Nominal
Indicates the nominal resource on a TE-link that is not in use
Indicates if s a higher alarm state level
Indicates it's currently using the Nominal resource assigned to it
Answer:
DExplanation:
The SNC state with an uppercase “N” means that the resource is currently using the nominal resource assigned to it. As explained in the previous question, a nominal resource is the default or preferred resource that is assigned to an LSP when it is created. If an LSP is using the nominal resource on a TE-link, it means that the LSP has not been rerouted or switched due to any failure or constraint violation. In this case, the SNC state of the resource will be “N”, indicating that it is in use by an LSP12. References:
- 1: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia
- 2: Nokia Network Functions Manager for Transport User Guide | Nokia
What is Tunnel Property Heritage?
Options:
The hierarchy tunnels cannot be nested unless they share the same properties.
Maximum allowed bandwith is propagated from HO to LO LSPs.
A restored tunnel inherits the ODUk flows.
Cost, SRLG, and Color properties are propagated from HO to LO LSPs.
Answer:
DExplanation:
Tunnel Property Heritage is a feature of GMRE that allows the propagation of certain properties from higher order (HO) LSPs to lower order (LO) LSPs in a multi-layer network. These properties include cost, SRLG, and color. Cost is a metric that reflects the preference of using a certain link or path for routing. SRLG is a set of links that share a common risk of failure. Color is an attribute that can be used to group or filter LSPs based on service classes or customer profiles. By propagating these properties from HO to LO LSPs, GMRE can ensure that the end-to-end LSPs are consistent and optimal across different layers34. References:
- 3: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia
- 4: GMPLS - Nokia
How do you configure the Trail template in NFM-T for an Uplink board (such as 2UC400) in a network with only LI restoration capability?
Options:
Check the Logical Link box
Set the Port Type to Unterminated Uncheck the ASON Routed box Uncheck the ASON Tunnel box
Uncheck the Logical Link box NSet the Port Type to Terminated
Uncheck the ASON Routed box Uncheck the ASON Tunnel box
Check the Logical Link box
Set the Port Type to Unterminated Check the ASON Routed box Check the ASON Tunnel box
Uncheck the Logical Link box Set the Port Type to Terminated Check the ASON Routed box Check the ASON Tunnel box
Answer:
AExplanation:
To configure the Trail template in NFM-T for an Uplink board (such as 2UC400) in a network with only LI restoration capability, you need to check the Logical Link box, set the Port Type to Unterminated, uncheck the ASON Routed box, and uncheck the ASON Tunnel box. This configuration allows you to create a logical link between two Uplink boards that can be used for LI restoration. The logical link is not terminated at the Uplink board, but at the OTU board. The ASON Routed option is not needed for LI restoration, as the LSPs are established by NFM-T and not by GMPLS. The ASON Tunnel option is not applicable for Uplink boards. References : Nokia Advanced Optical Network Management with NFM-T Course | Nokia, Nokia 1830 PSS-4, PSS-8, PSS-16 and PSS-32 Platforms - NATO
Which of the following best describes the Soft Shutting Down state in the NFM-T?
Options:
An automatic shutdown of a TE-link and all of the LSPs in the TE-link
A soft synchronization state where new traffic is not allowed
An administrative maintenance state where services stay up but no new traffic can be routed over the TE-link
A transient state where current SNCs are soft-rerouted away from the TE-link
Answer:
CExplanation:
The Soft Shutting Down state in the NFM-T is an administrative maintenance state where services stay up but no new traffic can be routed over the TE-link. This state is used to prepare a TE-link for maintenance or decommissioning without affecting the existing services. The NFM-T sets the TE-link to Soft Shutting Down state by sending a Notify message with the Administrative State Change flag to the head-end node of the TE-link. The head-end node then stops accepting new LSP requests over the TE-link and sends a PathErr message with the Administrative State Change flag to all the tail-end nodes of the LSPs in the TE-link. The tail-end nodes then stop sending new traffic over the LSPs and send a ResvErr message with the Administrative State Change flag to all the intermediate nodes of the LSPs. The intermediate nodes then update their routing tables and stop forwarding new traffic over the LSPs. The existing traffic, however, continues to flow over the LSPs until they are manually deleted or rerouted by the NFM-T. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, Nokia Advanced Optical Network Management with NFM-T Course | Nokia
What is the GMRE node address?
Options:
The OSPF-TE broadcast IP used to flood the link adjacency information
The LMP Control Channel ID. This field contains the IPv4 address of the ingress LER as a global unique identifier
The IP address for communication between NEs
An IP address for CORBA communication with the NMS
Answer:
CExplanation:
The GMRE node address is the IP address for communication between network elements (NEs) in a GMPLS-controlled optical network. The GMRE node address is also known as the GMRE loopback address or the GMPLS node IP. It is used by GMPLS protocols such as LMP and RSVP to identify and communicate with other GMRE nodes. The GMRE node address is configured on each NE and is advertised by OSPF-TE to other nodes in the same area. References : Nokia 1830 PSS-4, PSS-8, PSS-16 and PSS-32 Platforms - NATO, 1830 PSS Identifiers
What is the purpose of the RSVP-TE Notify message?
Options:
It is the node's alarm control channel
It is a mechanism to inform the NM5 of L5P events
It is a mechanism to inform non-adjacent nodes of LSP events
It is confirmation of a node's resource reservation
Answer:
CExplanation:
RSVP-TE Notify message is a message type defined in the RSVP-TE protocol, which is an extension of the RSVP protocol for MPLS traffic engineering. RSVP-TE Notify message is used to inform non-adjacent nodes of LSP events, such as setup, modification, or teardown. This allows the nodes to update their local state information and perform actions based on the notification. For example, a Notify message can be used to trigger a fast reroute mechanism in case of a link or node failure12. References:
- 1: RFC 3473 - Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Extensions
- 2: RFC 3471 - Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) Signaling Functional Description
How is the GMRE functionality guaranteed in Nokia equipment?
Options:
Redundant LAN cables guarantee GMRE functionality
Rack redundancy guarantees GMRE functionality in case of a power outage
Controller redundancy guarantees GMRE functionality
The specific software configuration guarantees GMRE functionality
Answer:
CExplanation:
The GMRE functionality is guaranteed in Nokia equipment by controller redundancy. The controller is the hardware component that runs the GMPLS software and controls the switching fabric of the node. Each node has two controllers, one active and one standby, that synchronize their states and databases. If the active controller fails, the standby controller takes over and ensures the continuity of the GMRE functionality. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) | Nokia
What is the meaning of Generalized in GMPLS?
Options:
Switching can be based on values other than the label
The label can assume an extended value range, and is not constrained as it is with MPLS
Unlike MPLS, GMPLS supports multi-vendor networks
GMPLS can be used for traffic types other than data packets
Answer:
DExplanation:
GMPLS stands for Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching, which is a protocol suite that extends MPLS to control different types of switching technologies, such as optical, TDM, and packet switching1. The meaning of Generalized in GMPLS is that it can be used for traffic types other than data packets, such as wavelengths, time slots, or fibers2. GMPLS can also use implicit labels that are derived from the physical properties of the data stream, such as wavelength or timeslot, instead of explicit labels that are carried in the packet header3. This allows GMPLS to support various transport networks and applications, such as optical transport networks (OTN), wavelength switched optical networks (WSON), and automatic switched optical networks (ASON)4. References:
- 1: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia
- 2: What is MPLS and GMPLS? - Metaswitch
- 3: Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching - Wikipedia
- 4: GMPLS - Nokia
A network with ROADM GMPLS nodes and optical transponder connections could have:
Options:
L0 restoration capabilities
L1 restoration capabilities
L0 and LI restoration capabilities
No restoration capabilities
Answer:
CExplanation:
A network with ROADM GMPLS nodes and optical transponder connections could have both L0 and L1 restoration capabilities. L0 restoration refers to the ability of the network to recover from failures at the optical layer, such as fiber cuts or node failures, by rerouting the affected LSPs to alternative paths at the same layer. L0 restoration can be achieved by using GMPLS signaling protocols, such as RSVP-TE or CR-LDP, to establish backup LSPs in advance or on demand. L0 restoration can provide fast recovery times and high availability for optical services34. L1 restoration refers to the ability of the network to recover from failures at the sub-wavelength layer, such as transponder failures or wavelength unavailability, by rerouting the affected LSPs to alternative paths at a higher layer. L1 restoration can be achieved by using GMPLS routing protocols, such as OSPF-TE or ISIS-TE, to advertise the sub-wavelength information and availability to other nodes in the network. L1 restoration can provide more flexibility and efficiency for sub-wavelength services56. References:
- 3: GMPLS - Nokia
- 4: Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching - Wikipedia
- 5: Sub-Wavelength Switching - Nokia
- 6: Sub-Wavelength Switching in Optical Networks - IEEE Xplore
What is a Label Switched Path (LSP)?
Options:
A protocol used by nodes to exchange information about the state of labels
A switched protection path
The path created by MPLS nodes
A High Order Container for client signal
Answer:
CExplanation:
A Label Switched Path (LSP) is the path created by MPLS nodes that use labels to forward packets across the network. A label is a short identifier that is attached to each packet and indicates the next hop or destination of the packet. The nodes use a label forwarding table to switch packets based on their labels, without inspecting the packet headers. This can improve the performance, security, and quality of service of the network. An LSP can be established by using GMPLS protocols such as OSPF-TE and RSVP-TE, which exchange information about the network topology, resources, and constraints. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, GMPLS - Nokia