4A0-220 Nokia GMPLS-Controlled Optical Networks Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

The Upstream Label Object in RSVP-TE is an optional object that allows a node to suggest a label to its upstream neighbor for the purpose of provisioning bidirectional LSPs. The upstream label object is carried in the Resv message and contains the label value that the node wants to use for receiving traffic from its upstream neighbor. The upstream neighbor can accept or reject the suggested label based on its local policy and resource availability. The upstream label object simplifies the label allocation process for bidirectional LSPs and avoids the need for additional signaling messages. References : RSVP-TE - Hewlett Packard Enterprise, RSVP - Nokia

GMPLS is a protocol suite that extends the MPLS signaling and routing capabilities to control different types of switching technologies, such as optical, TDM, and packet switching1. GMPLS has several key features, such as self-discovery, fast protection, and restoration. Self-discovery allows GMPLS nodes to automatically discover their neighbors and exchange information about their capabilities and resources2. Fast protection enables GMPLS nodes to quickly switch to backup paths in case of a failure, without relying on the control plane3. Restoration allows GMPLS nodes to dynamically establish new paths in the network after a failure, using the control plane3. Resource optimization is not a key feature of GMPLS, but rather a potential benefit of using GMPLS to efficiently utilize the network resources and avoid over-provisioning. References:

1: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia

2: GMPLS - Nokia

3: Traffic survivability through Protection and Restoration Combined (PRC) - YouTube

[4]: GMPLS: Architecture and Applications - Google Books

Tunnel Property Heritage is a feature of GMRE that allows the propagation of certain properties from higher order (HO) LSPs to lower order (LO) LSPs in a multi-layer network. These properties include cost, SRLG, and color. Cost is a metric that reflects the preference of using a certain link or path for routing. SRLG is a set of links that share a common risk of failure. Color is an attribute that can be used to group or filter LSPs based on service classes or customer profiles. By propagating these properties from HO to LO LSPs, GMRE can ensure that the end-to-end LSPs are consistent and optimal across different layers34. References:

3: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia

4: GMPLS - Nokia

 Coordination of L0 and L1 resources in case of a failure in an MRN is achieved by setting the color constraints. Color constraints are used to specify which wavelengths or timeslots can be used by a given LSP request. By setting the color constraints, the NFM-T can ensure that the L0 and L1 resources are compatible and consistent across the network. For example, if an L0 LSP request requires a specific wavelength, the NFM-T can set the color constraint to match that wavelength and assign it to the L0 LSP. Similarly, if an L1 LSP request requires a specific timeslot, the NFM-T can set the color constraint to match that timeslot and assign it to the L1 LSP. This way, the coordination of L0 and L1 resources is achieved by ensuring that the same color is used by both layers. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, 3. GMPLS - Nokia

The Feasibility File is a file that contains a set of target values for various optical impairment parameters, such as OSNR, CD, PMD, and PDL, that are used to determine whether a given LSP can be routed through the GMRE network. The Feasibility File is generated by the Network Planning Application (NPA) based on the network design and the service requirements. The Feasibility File is then loaded into the GMRE nodes and used by the GMPLS routing engine to perform feasibility checks for LSP requests. The Feasibility File ensures that the LSPs are routed in accordance with the network plan and the optical performance criteria12. References:

1: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia

2: GMPLS - Nokia

GMPLS stands for Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching, which is a protocol suite that extends MPLS to control different types of switching technologies, such as optical, TDM, and packet switching1. The meaning of Generalized in GMPLS is that it can be used for traffic types other than data packets, such as wavelengths, time slots, or fibers2. GMPLS can also use implicit labels that are derived from the physical properties of the data stream, such as wavelength or timeslot, instead of explicit labels that are carried in the packet header3. This allows GMPLS to support various transport networks and applications, such as optical transport networks (OTN), wavelength switched optical networks (WSON), and automatic switched optical networks (ASON)4. References:

1: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia

2: What is MPLS and GMPLS? - Metaswitch

3: Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching - Wikipedia

4: GMPLS - Nokia

The GMRE functionality is guaranteed in Nokia equipment by controller redundancy. The controller is the hardware component that runs the GMPLS software and controls the switching fabric of the node. Each node has two controllers, one active and one standby, that synchronize their states and databases. If the active controller fails, the standby controller takes over and ensures the continuity of the GMRE functionality. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) | Nokia

 The Wait for Server Restoration (WSR) parameter in the MRN is a boolean parameter that determines whether an LI service should wait for the LO restoration or not in case of a failure.When WSR is false, the LI services do not wait for the LO restoration and restore through LI switching. This means that if an LO optical channel fails, the LI services that use that channel will switch to another available optical channel at LI layer without waiting for the LO layer to restore the failed channel. This option provides faster restoration time for LI services, but may result in suboptimal resource utilization at LO layer. When WSR is true, the LI services wait for the LO restoration and do not switch at LI layer. This means that if an LO optical channel fails, the LI services that use that channel will remain in that channel until the LO layer restores it or until a timeout occurs. This option provides optimal resource utilization at LO layer, but may result in longer restoration time for LI services. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, 3. GMPLS - Nokia

GMPLS-enabled nodes use routing protocols, such as OSPF-TE or ISIS-TE, to exchange information about the topology and the state of the links in the network12. This information includes the link attributes, such as bandwidth, wavelength, protection, and shared risk link groups (SRLGs)3. The state of each link indicates whether it is up or down, available or reserved, and so on. This information is used by GMPLS-enabled nodes to compute feasible paths for LSPs and to avoid routing loops or conflicts. The bandwidth and the frequency of each client path are not present in every GMPLS-enabled node, but only in the ingress and egress nodes that initiate and terminate the LSPs. The list of LSPs created in the entire network is also not present in every GMPLS-enabled node, but only in the nodes that are involved in the LSPs or that maintain a global view of the network. References:

1: GMPLS - Nokia

2: Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching - Wikipedia

3: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia

The 3R resource is a type of optical regeneration resource that can be used to extend the reach of optical signals in a GMPLS-controlled optical network. The 3R resource performs three functions: reshaping, retiming, and reamplifying the optical signal. The 3R resource can be added to the Network Planning Application (NPA) in the Nokia Network Functions Manager for Transport (NFM-T) through the Constraint Wizard. The Constraint Wizard is a tool that allows the user to define various constraints and parameters for the network design, such as optical impairments, wavelength availability, protection schemes, and regeneration resources. The user can select the 3R resource from the list of available resources and specify its location, capacity, and cost. The NPA then uses this information to perform feasibility checks and path computation for the LSP requests12. References:

1: Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia

2: Nokia Network Functions Manager for Transport User Guide | Nokia

The provisioning steps that are common in both CP to plain MP networks are node creation, CPB provisioning process, node synchronization, and CPB power balance. These steps are required to create and commission the nodes, provision the cross-connect boards (CPBs), associate the links between the nodes, synchronize the network elements (NEs) with the NFM-T, and balance the power levels of the CPBs. References : Nokia GMPLS-controlled Optical Networks Course | Nokia, Nokia Advanced Optical Network Management with NFM-T Course | Nokia