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BSHR (bidirectional self healing ring)

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Introduction

A Bidirectional Self Healing Ring (BSHR) is a type of network topology that provides high availability, redundancy, and fault tolerance for data communication. It is a ring-based network that uses two counter-rotating transmission paths to avoid network failures. In this topology, data travels in both directions around the ring, which provides redundancy and ensures that if one path fails, data can still be transmitted through the other path.

BSHR Topology

A BSHR topology consists of two fiber optic cables that form a ring, with two transmission paths traveling in opposite directions. The two paths are known as the primary and secondary paths, and they carry data in opposite directions around the ring. Each device in the network is connected to both the primary and secondary paths using a pair of network interfaces. The devices that form the network are typically routers, switches, or other networking devices.

BSHR Operation

The BSHR topology uses a mechanism called Automatic Protection Switching (APS) to ensure that data transmission continues even in the event of a network failure. APS monitors the status of the network and automatically switches traffic to the secondary path if the primary path fails. The APS mechanism operates in two modes, known as protection and restoration modes.

In protection mode, the APS mechanism monitors the status of the primary path and switches traffic to the secondary path if it detects a fault in the primary path. The APS mechanism uses a protocol called Link Access Protocol with Automatic Protection Switching (LAPS) to monitor the status of the primary and secondary paths.

In restoration mode, the APS mechanism restores traffic to the primary path once the fault in the primary path has been resolved. The restoration process is automatic, and it does not require manual intervention. The APS mechanism uses a protocol called Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to detect network failures and restore traffic to the primary path.

BSHR Advantages

BSHR topology has several advantages over other network topologies, such as the star topology and mesh topology. Some of the advantages of BSHR topology are:

  1. High Availability: BSHR topology provides high availability and fault tolerance for data communication. If a network failure occurs, data transmission can continue using the secondary path.
  2. Redundancy: BSHR topology provides redundancy by using two counter-rotating transmission paths. This ensures that data can be transmitted even if one path fails.
  3. Fast Restoration: BSHR topology uses automatic restoration mechanisms that quickly restore traffic to the primary path once the fault in the primary path has been resolved.
  4. Easy to Expand: BSHR topology is easy to expand because it only requires the addition of new devices to the ring. There is no need to reconfigure the network, which makes it a cost-effective solution.
  5. Scalability: BSHR topology is scalable because it can support a large number of devices without compromising performance.

BSHR Disadvantages

Although BSHR topology has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages, such as:

  1. Cost: BSHR topology is more expensive than other network topologies, such as star topology or mesh topology, because it requires two fiber optic cables to form the ring.
  2. Complexity: BSHR topology is more complex than other network topologies because it requires the implementation of Automatic Protection Switching (APS) mechanism, which adds complexity to the network.
  3. Bandwidth: BSHR topology requires the use of two fiber optic cables, which can reduce the available bandwidth for data transmission.
  4. Maintenance: BSHR topology requires regular maintenance to ensure that the APS mechanism is functioning correctly. This can add to the cost and complexity of the network.

Conclusion

A Bidirectional Self Healing Ring (BSHR) is a type of network topology that provides high availability, redundancy, and fault tolerance for data communication. It uses two counter-rotating transmission paths to ensure that data can still be transmitted through the other path in the event of a network failure. BSHR topology uses a mechanism called Automatic Protection Switching (APS) to ensure that data transmission continues even in the event of a network failure. APS monitors the status of the network and automatically switches traffic to the secondary path if the primary path fails.

BSHR topology has several advantages over other network topologies, such as high availability, redundancy, fast restoration, easy to expand, and scalability. However, it also has some disadvantages, such as cost, complexity, bandwidth, and maintenance.

Overall, BSHR topology is a suitable solution for critical applications where high availability, redundancy, and fault tolerance are essential. It is commonly used in industries such as telecommunications, banking, and healthcare, where network failures can result in significant financial or health-related losses. Despite its cost and complexity, BSHR topology is an effective and reliable network topology that ensures data communication continues uninterrupted in the event of a network failure.