Metro & Access OTN Platform – APX-AOTN-2U
Product Overview
The Apex APX-AOTN-2U is the compact member of the metro and access OTN platform family, an 8-slot shelf for sites where only a few rack units are available but OTN-class grooming and protection are still needed.
It aggregates 10G, GE and E1 services with high-order and low-order cross-connection on a redundant design, and schedules OTN services using OSU and fgODUflex. Line cards include 4-port OTU2/OTU2e OTU cards, 4-port 10GE EoO and 8-port GE EoO/EoS cards with 32 VCGS, and STM-1/4/16/64 SDH access cards.
The shelf provides 1+1 control redundancy and OTN electrical layer protection, and is managed over SNMP with an in-band OSC channel. Power is fed as DC -40 to -72V or AC 100-240V.
Key Features
- 8-slot chassis for compact metro and access sites
- Service access rates of 10G, GE and E1
- High-order and low-order cross-connection with redundant design
- System control, traffic scheduling and clock management in one shelf
- OTN service scheduling with OSU and fgODUflex
- 4-port OTU2/OTU2e OTU line cards (2-port version available)
- 4-port 10GE EoO and 8-port GE EoO/EoS cards with 32 VCGS
- STM-1/4/16/64 SDH access cards
- 1+1 control redundancy and OTN electrical layer protection
- SNMP management with in-band OSC management channel
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Part Number | APX-AOTN-2U |
| Brand | Apex |
| Product Type | Metro and access OTN platform |
| Chassis Slots | 8 |
| Service Access Rates | 10G, GE, E1 |
| Cross-Connect | High-order and low-order cross-connection, redundant design |
| Control and Scheduling | System control, traffic scheduling, clock management |
| OTN Service Scheduling | OSU, fgODUflex |
| OTU Line Cards | 4-port OTU2/OTU2e (2-port version available) |
| Ethernet Line Cards | 4-port 10GE EoO; 8-port GE EoO/EoS (8xFE/GE, 32 VCGS) |
| SDH Line Cards | STM-1/4/16/64 access card |
| Protection | 1+1 control redundancy; OTN electrical layer protection |
| Management | SNMP; OSC in-band management channel |
| Power Supply | DC -40 to -72V or AC 100-240V, 47-63Hz |
| Deployment Layer | Metro aggregation and access, DCI |
Available Configurations
APX-AOTN-2U – 8-Slot Chassis
The 2U shelf carries eight slots for OTU, Ethernet, SDH and tributary cards. It delivers the same cross-connect, OSU and fgODUflex scheduling and OSC management as the 20-slot APX-AOTN-5U, in a footprint suited to access nodes, street cabinets and small POPs.
Applications
Carrier Metro Aggregation and Access
Aggregates 10G, GE and E1 services from access sites into metro OTN rings, with high-order and low-order cross-connection for flexible grooming.
Power and Transport Private Networks
Utility and transport operators run dedicated OTN transport over owned fiber, using redundant cross-connect and control for continuous operation.
Data Center Interconnect
Compact shelves link data centers and POP sites where rack space is limited but OTN-class protection is required.
Compatibility
Interoperable with major optical transport and networking platforms. Line cards follow mainstream OTN and Ethernet interface specifications and the OTN layer conforms to ITU-T G.709, so the platform integrates into mixed-vendor metro transport networks and existing management systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many slots does the APX-AOTN-2U have?
Eight slots, shared between OTU line cards, Ethernet line cards, SDH access cards and tributary cards.
Which services does it aggregate?
10G, GE and E1 services, with high-order and low-order cross-connection for grooming between them.
Does it support OTN protection?
Yes. The shelf provides 1+1 control redundancy and OTN electrical layer protection.
Can it be used at a street cabinet or small POP?
Yes. The 2U, eight-slot design targets sites with limited rack space, while keeping the same management and scheduling features as the 20-slot chassis.
How is it managed?
Over SNMP with an in-band OSC management channel.
Why Choose Apex
- Compact 8-slot shelf for access nodes and small POPs
- 10G, GE and E1 aggregation with high-order and low-order cross-connect
- OSU and fgODUflex scheduling with 1+1 control redundancy
- Same line cards and management as the 20-slot chassis
