Hi Jeff, Cisco make a passive CWDM/EWDM solution for this. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps5455/ps6575/product_dat... You need to order a CWDM-MUX8A= for each end, plus the CWDM-CHASSIS-2= to rack-mount them. Then, plug your dark fibre into the trunk port of each mux, and use pairs of coloured optics instead of your ER. The muxes carry 8xlambdas: 1470, 1490, 1510, 1530, 1550, 1570, 1590, and 1610. I don't believe Cisco make CWDM 10G optics however, so you may have to get compatible optics. For 8 additional wavelengths, you could also insert an EWDM mux into the path at each end: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/modules/ps5455/product_data_sheet... ie. a EWDM-MUX8= for each end - it fits into the same rack-mount chassis. This allows you to carry 8 more channels, at DWDM spacings: 1538.98, 1539.77 etc. Cisco do make 10G optics at these wavelengths; X2, Xenpak etc. Having both types of mux in the path can add a fair bit of loss though, and there's an optional amplifier unit which can be plugged into the EWDM muxes: EWDM-OA=. Regards, David
-----Original Message----- From: Jeff Kell [mailto:jeff-kell@utc.edu] Sent: Thursday, 9 May 2013 1:21 PM To: nanog@nanog.org Subject: Entry level WDM gear?
Apologies if this is a "dumb newbie" question, but this is one area of networking where I remain a virgin :)
We have a local loop fiber to a regional fiber hut that has served us well for several years. It's carrying a 1550nm ER 10G circuit at the moment, but we're looking at another one, possibly two (or more) in the near future. Getting another dark pair is "complicated" so we're exploring options to [C|D]WDM multiple lambdas over the existing fiber.
Ciena/Cyan/etc are way over our non-existant budget... what is the going recommendation to throw say 4-8 lambdas over a dark pair without breaking the bank? :)
Jeff