Span Loss

This chapter describes the span loss optical application for Cisco NCS 1010.

Span loss calculations

A span loss calculation is an optical network measurement that

  • determines the signal power loss between two nodes in an optical transmission network,

  • compares the power measurements at transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) ports at the near and far ends of a fiber span, and

  • automatically raises the Span Loss Value Out Of Range alarm when the calculated loss does not fall within configured thresholds.

On a Raman span with Raman tuning enabled, span loss verification reports these values:

  • Span loss with pumps off: This measurement is the difference in power values between the DFB-Tx/Rx of the remote node and the DFB-Rx/Tx of the local node. This measurement also includes a timestamp. When a Raman span is up, the span loss application latches on to the difference in power between DFB-Tx and DFB-Rx before Raman tuning turns the Raman pumps on.

  • Apparent span loss: This measurement is based on the power values of C band, L band and Optical Service Channel (OSC). For a Raman span, the span loss application uses this span loss value to raise the Span Loss Value Out Of Range alarm.

  • Estimated span loss: This value is based on Raman gain that is achieved by Raman tuning application. Estimated span loss value is based on Raman gain that is achieved when safety loop was closed and tuning was performed. Raman tuning application reports the Raman gain measurement. When you disable Raman tuning, the span loss application does not compute the Estimated span loss.

    Estimated span loss = Apparent span loss + Raman gain

  • OSC span loss: This measurement is the difference in OSC power values between the Tx/Rx of the remote node and the Rx/Tx of the local node.

  • Signal span loss: This measurement is the difference in the received C band signal power values between the Tx/Rx of the remote node and the Rx/Tx of the local node.

Span loss calculations are performed automatically between nodes to continuously monitor the condition of the optical span. The span loss application reports the span loss value for a span every 90 seconds. If span loss changes, for example when a change in fiber loss occurs, the span loss application typically takes 90 seconds to update the span loss.

Figure 1. Sample two node topology of NCS 1020 nodes
An image showing a two node NCS 1020 topology

For example, in the previous figure, the Tx Span Loss on NCS 1020-1 is the difference in signal power between LINE 0 Tx on NCS 1020-1 and LINE 0 Rx on NCS 1010.

Figure 2. Sample two node topology of NCS 1010 nodes
Sample two node topology of NCS 1010 nodes

For example, in the previous figure, the Tx Span Loss on NCS 1010-1 is the difference in signal power between LINE 0 TX on NCS 1010-1 and LINE 0 RX on NCS 1010-2.

View span loss values

Use this task to display span loss measurements between two nodes. This task helps verify optical signal integrity and diagnose network issues.


Note


Rx span loss values are not available on a network where one NCS 1010 node is upgraded to R25.3.1 while other nodes are on an earlier software version.


From Release 24.1.1, span loss measurements include OSC span loss and Signal span loss.

Procedure


Use the show olc span-loss command to view the Tx span loss and Rx span loss.

Example:

This sample shows the Tx span loss and Rx span loss on a Raman span with Raman tuning enabled.

This sample is applicable for NCS 1010 node until Release 7.11.1.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show olc span-loss 
 Mon Jun 20 04:21:34.543 IST
controller name                           : Ots0/0/0/0
Neighbour RID                             : 10.1.1.2
Apparent Rx Span Loss                     : 7.7 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 23.2 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2022-04-11 07:42:26
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : 23.5 dB
Apparent Tx Span Loss                     : 17.5 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 33.3 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2022-04-11 07:42:56
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : 33.5 dB

This is a sample output that includes OSC span loss and Signal span loss measurements.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show olc span-loss 
Sat Nov  2 00:38:53.498 IST

Controller                                : Ots0/0/0/0
Neighbour RID                             : 25.1.1.4
Apparent Rx Span Loss                     : 6.88 dB
Apparent Rx OSC Span Loss                 : 12.65 dB
Apparent Rx Signal Span Loss              : 6.82 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 18.80 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2024-10-29 20:19:28
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : 20.08 dB
Apparent Tx Span Loss                     : 8.84 dB
Apparent Tx OSC Span Loss                 : 15.20 dB
Apparent Tx Signal Span Loss              : 8.78 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 23.50 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2024-10-29 20:19:36
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : 24.74 dB

This sample shows the output of the show olc span-loss command on a Raman span with Raman tuning disabled. In this sample output, Raman tuning is disabled on both Ots0/0/0/0 and Ots0/0/0/2 on the near end node. The far end nodes have Raman tuning enabled.

This sample is applicable for NCS 1010 node until Release 7.11.1.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show olc span-loss 
Mon Jun 20 06:51:58.601 UTC

Controller name                           : Ots0/0/0/0
Neighbour RID                             : 10.1.1.5
Apparent Rx Span Loss                     : 16.3 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 16.4 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2022-06-20 05:53:52
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : NA
Apparent Tx Span Loss                     : 5.8 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 21.6 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2022-06-20 05:54:08
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : 18.6 dB


Controller name                           : Ots0/0/0/2
Neighbour RID                             : 10.1.1.3
Apparent Rx Span Loss                     : 27.1 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 30.3 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2022-06-20 06:51:22
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : NA
Apparent Tx Span Loss                     : 6.4 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 19.2 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2022-06-20 05:54:08
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : 19.6 dB

This is a sample output that includes OSC span loss and Signal span loss measurements.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show olc span-loss 
Mon Sep  9 17:14:26.149 IST

Controller                                : Ots0/0/0/0
Neighbour RID                             : 24.1.1.2
Apparent Rx Span Loss                     : 23.9 dB
Apparent Rx OSC Span Loss                 : 26.8 dB
Apparent Rx Signal Span Loss              : 23.9 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 23.8 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2024-09-06 19:01:50
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : NA
Apparent Tx Span Loss                     : 24.7 dB
Apparent Tx OSC Span Loss                 : 27.9 dB
Apparent Tx Signal Span Loss              : 24.7 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : 24.4 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : 2024-09-06 15:57:12
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : NA

This sample shows the output of the show olc span-loss command on a non-Raman span.

This sample is applicable for NCS 1010 node until Release 7.11.1.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios#show olc span-loss
Mon Apr 11 09:37:31.950 UTC

Controller name                           : Ots0/0/0/0
Neighbour RID                             : 10.91.1.90
Rx Span Loss                              : 10.2 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : NA
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : NA
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : NA
Tx Span Loss                              : 9.7 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : NA
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off) measured at : NA
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : NA

This is a sample output that includes OSC span loss and Signal span loss measurements.

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:P2C_DT_04#show olc span-loss 
Tue Nov  5 11:09:06.736 IST

Controller                                : Ots0/0/0/0
Neighbour RID                             : 24.1.1.3
Rx Span Loss                              : 4.56 dB
Rx OSC Span Loss                          : 4.50 dB
Rx Signal Span Loss                       : 4.57 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : NA
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : NA
Tx Span Loss                              : 6.13 dB
Tx OSC Span Loss                          : 6.54 dB
Tx Signal Span Loss                       : 6.12 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : NA
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : NA

Controller                                : Ots0/0/0/2
Neighbour RID                             : 24.1.1.5
Rx Span Loss                              : 5.84 dB
Rx OSC Span Loss                          : 6.02 dB
Rx Signal Span Loss                       : 5.84 dB
Rx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : NA
Estimated Rx Span Loss                    : NA
Tx Span Loss                              : 5.65 dB
Tx OSC Span Loss                          : 6.08 dB
Tx Signal Span Loss                       : 5.64 dB
Tx Span Loss (with pumps off)             : NA
Estimated Tx Span Loss                    : NA

Configure span loss thresholds

Use this task to configure the minimum and maximum span loss threshold values for optical spans between nodes.

Procedure


Step 1

Enter the optical applications configuration mode and select the controller on which the span loss thresholds must be configured.

Example:


RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#optical-line-control 
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-olc)#controller ots 0/0/0/0

Step 2

Configure the minimum and maximum span loss threshold values for the span.

Example:


RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#span-loss min 100
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#span-loss max 200

This example sets the minimum threshold to 10 dB and maximum threshold to 20 dB.

The system raises a SPAN-LOSS-OUT-OF-RANGE alarm if span loss is greater than the maximum threshold or less than the minimum threshold.

Step 3

Commit the changes and exit all the configuration modes.

Example:

RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-olc-ots)#commit
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config-olc)#exit
RP/0/RP0/CPU0:ios(config)#exit