System platform for high-availability telecommunications applications
Powerful infrastructures are needed to realise network expansion even in remote areas of far-flung countries. HEITEC has developed a high-end system platform for the market leader in lasers for fibre optic cables and telecommunications solutions. The platform is a network node (hub) that receives and distributes the various signals of a DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex) network. Up to 96 signals with different wavelengths are transmitted via fibre optic pairs. With appropriate optical amplifiers, transmission distances of up to 1000 km can be achieved at transmission rates of up to 10 Gbit/s per channel. The requirements for transmission performance per slot, reliability, high availability and simple maintenance are correspondingly high.
Brief technical description
- Customised fan control
- Customised solution based on ATCA ®
- 3 fan trays with 2 radial fans each (hot-swap capable)
- 2 PEM (Power Entry Module)
- D x W x H: 332 mm x 19" x 10U
Realisation
For the architecture, the customer opted for the AdvancedTCA ® standard (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture). This standard is widely used, has become fully established in the telecommunications sector and, thanks to standardisation, offers access to a wide range of technologies with long-term, future-proof product availability. The backplane was developed entirely according to the customer's specifications and forms the basis of the network node. Up to 12 interface cards, two control units and two power entry modules (PEM) can be used.
The fully equipped system has a total output of around 2350 watts, which results in a high level of heat generation in the comparatively compact system. HEITEC used the findings from the thermal simulation carried out during the concept phase to design three hot-swappable fan trays. Each plug-in unit contains a fan controller specially developed for the application, which regulates the two integrated radial fans depending on the temperature and can recognise the failure of a fan and report it to the host. The plug-in units provide heat dissipation for 4 slots and are designed so that they can be replaced quickly if necessary. A SEEPROM (Serial Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) card for storing important data has been specially developed for the customer, as have the power supply modules (PEM).
The power supply modules are redundant, i.e. designed to be double and, like all other parts of the platform, are accessible from the front and easy to replace. HEITEC's robust housing technology forms the ideal basis for this.
Customer benefits
- Customised design and specification according to customer requirements
- High availability
- Signal integrity analysis of the backplane
- Redundant power entry modules
- High-end system platform
- Long-term availability and product stability
