The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) has published a TDM Fabric to Framer Interface Implementation Agreement (IA) intended to allow framer and switch components from multiple vendors to interoperate. Target applications include add/drop multiplexers, TDM cross connect and grooming switches. The IA, known as TFI-5, defines support for key functionality including link integrity monitoring, connection management and mapping mechanisms for both SONET/SDH and non-SONET/SDH clients such as Ethernet and Fiber Channel.
The OIF noted that there are a number of vendors offering TDM framers, as well as switching fabrics. The agreement is aimed at cross vendor interoperability. Traffic on each link between the framer and the fabric is modeled after a SONET/SDH frame. In order to ensure device interoperability across multiple vendor devices it is important that the electrical, optical, jitter and byte signaling protocols are compatible.
