VPIlinkDesigner provides an intuitive graphical approach to optical link design, provisioning and performance assessment. It represents a replacement for and, more significantly, a tremendous enhancement to the usual tedious manual network design.
While enabling the placement of photonic items such as EDFAs and dispersion compensating elements, VPIlinkDesigner provides performance analysis every step of the way. Thus, for each channel, the user obtains an instant calculation of numerous performance metrics, as elements are placed in the design.
The collection of metrics by far exceeds that of any spreadsheet analysis and includes power, dispersion and OSNR as well as SPM, XPM, FWM and SBS. Macros assisting in various design aspects, such as equalization, padding and gain setting for EDFAs, the placement of OADMs/ROADMs and transceivers, and a tool for creating regeneration points are included in the software.
VPIlinkDesigner is streamlined and intuitive, and yet it is well suited to handling everything from a simple point-to-point link to a network consisting of a collection of interconnected rings. All major design topologies such as linear, branched, mesh and rings are supported. With the help of VPIlinkDesigner, DWDM networks consisting of a large number of nodes and repeater huts can be designed in a small fraction of time in comparison with conventional design methods.
This tool allows you to build a library of network elements by dragging and dropping them into a design. Furthermore, VPIlinkDesigner includes templates for all major optical components typically comprising optical networks today, ranging from attenuators to WSS based ROADMs. Owing to constant changes in optical communications, VPIlinkDesigner is conceived to be technology agnostic.
VPIlinkDesigner assists in the complete design process by including built-in tools that create customizable performance reports as well as bills of material.