Deep data analysis in gigabit passive optical networks

This paper focuses on practical aspects of gigabit passive optical networks (GPON) diagnostics during deployment, for root-cause analysis and for research purposes. While GPON signalling analysis is already quite commonly used for diagnostics, the aim of this work is a holistic approach, including both signalling and user plane (payload) analysis. User plane analysis, especially if targeted at payload Ethernet, IP and transport layers, enables detection of additional group of problems that could limit or even prevent GPON internetworking and thus degrade the user perceived service quality. Integrated signalling and payload analysis is also interesting from the research point of view, leading to the ability to study equipment idiosyncrasies that would be hard to detect otherwise and it is also one of the enablers of equipment security verification. The mentioned theories were tested during a practical diagnostic session on a real GPON network deployment and this paper presents the findings.