Part of the IBM System Storage Proven™ Program, the 4200 is IBM-qualified for GDPS, Server Time Protocol (STP) and Metro Mirror (PPRC) environments.

With its advanced sub-wavelength multiplexing capability, the 4200 is uniquely suited to provide cost-efficient, ultra-reliable transport for IBM high-availability applications. To meet the application’s strict performance requirements, Ciena offers two modules specifically designed to support both legacy External Time Reference (ETR) and Control Link Oscillator (CLO) timing links used by GDPS, as well as the in-band timing mechanism used by STP for extended reach deployments up to 100 km.

Ciena's 4200 is ideal for distance extension of replication applications and business availability environments. The platform provides the industry’s most effective combination of sub-wavelength grooming and metro/regional WDM transport capabilities. The 4200 meets the latency requirements for transporting critical information between two data center sites and can support synchronous and asynchronous disk mirroring, BC/DR, virtualized storage applications, and data center consolidation.

G6S Module
The G6S Module is purpose-built to meet the exacting standards of GDPS applications—specifically to multiplex electrically multiple peer mode Inter-System Coupling (ISC-3p) links carrying IBM’s new STP timing signals to a single wavelength, a capability that uniquely positions the 4200 for these applications. In network environments that can exceed 200 links and 300 Gb/s of total required capacity, the 4200 dramatically reduces wavelength channel counts by up to 67 percent, resulting in the best price point for transport in GDPS environments. The G6S can be used in conjunction with the F10-A 10G Aggregation Module1 to combine up to four ISC-3p links onto a single 10 Gb/s wavelength.

2RS Module
The 2RS Module is designed to support both the ETR and CLO timing links used in legacy GDPS environments and the client Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and Glink service. Occupying one half-slot in any of the 4200 chassis, the 2RS module supports either one or two ETR/CLO links, GbE or Glink ports per module with transport up to 40 km. The 2RS can be used in conjunction with the G6S, carrying both STP and non-STP ISC links to support mixed legacy GDPS and STP environments—referred to as a Coordinated Timing Network (CTN) by IBM. As more environments are transitioned to STP, the 2RS modules can simply be removed and replaced with G6S modules to support a graceful migration within the existing network infrastructure and maximize the capital investment. The 2RS module can be used for applications where low latency is required for GbE service.

GDPS, IBM and System Storage Proven are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

Ciena may make changes from time to time to the products or specifications contained herein without notice.