Abstract: A network configuration and method provide communication setup between neighbor nodes in a communication network, without broadcasting this setup information over the network. A signaling bandwidth separated from the data communication channel bandwidth facilitates address resolution over a common transmission medium. The user is not required to know any physical address properties of the neighbor nodes. This reduces the complexity of the information that a network administrator is required to manage. This processing feeds into a complete address resolution table, which is employed for controlling network communication over the main data communication channel bandwidth. Typically, substantially continuous transmission and/or reception over the signaling bandwidth is useful not only to determine the neighbor node's active address upon startup, but also while the network is running, to detect if a signaling element has been exchanged or has changed activity.

Abstract: An optical fiber ring network includes a plurality of interconnected nodes, each pair of neighboring nodes being interconnected by a pair of optical links. Using coarse wavelength division multiplexing, data is transmitted in both directions over each link, using a first wavelength &lgr;1 to transmit data in a first direction over the link and a second wavelength &lgr;2 to transmit data in a second, opposite direction over the link. The two wavelengths &lgr;1 and &lgr;2 differ by at least 10 nm. Each of the data streams transmitted over the optical link has a bandwidth of at least 2.5 Gbps. Further, each data stream has at least two logical streams embedded therein. A link multiplexer at each node of the network includes one or more link cards for coupling the link multiplexer to client devices, and one or more multiplexer units for coupling the link multiplexer to the optical links.

Abstract: A first network element includes or is associated with a query engine that allows it to retrieve operating parameters from a second network element even when the first and second network elements are not participating in a common routing protocol. The first element is thereby able to infer the quality of data signals passing through it and take configuration action in response to an operational problems. In one embodiment, a preexisting management agent in the second element is utilized by the first element and modification or enhancement of the second element is not necessary.