What does AON mean in NETWORKING

An active optical network (AON) is a type of fiber-optic network where signals are modulated in the optical domain for data transmission rather than being processed in the electrical domain. In other words, the network uses Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) to convert electrical signals to optical signals and then send them over passive Optical Distribution Networks (ODNs). These networks are highly reliable and offer significantly higher bandwidth capacity than traditional copper cable connections.

An AON provides several key advantages over traditional copper cable connections, including reduced power consumption, increased security, larger bandwidth capacity, more efficient signal amplification, greater scalability and improved interference suppression. Additionally, since an AON is primarily composed of passive components such as fiber optics and waveguides, it can be deployed with minimal installation costs compared to traditional copper cables.

Security is one of the significant advantages of installing an AON over a conventional copper connection since it eliminates the risk of physical tapping into the line by malicious actors. Additionally, because light travels faster than electricity over a fiber optic line, any form of eavesdropping or sniffing would require more complex and expensive tools making it far less likely that unauthorized persons can gain access to your data.

Yes! While installing a new active optical network may be necessary for some applications due to its increased performance capabilities compared to traditional copper cables, it's also possible to extend existing sites using an AON as well. This allows you to take advantage of the benefits provided by fiber optics while still preserving your current investments in legacy infrastructure.

An active optical network typically consists of Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) that convert electrical signals into optical ones, Passive Optical Distribution Networks (ODNs) for transmitting those signals across long distances via fiber optic cables and transceivers at either end that receive or transmit data from or to other hardware components such as computers or storage devices.

The cost of installing an AON will depend on factors such as distance covered by the ODN, number of users connected to the network and other requirements specific for each application site. Overall however installing an active optical network usually requires lower deployment costs than deploying conventional copper cabling due to its simpler structure and lack of need for power outlets or additional components along its length.

In order for information transfer between nodes within a LAN or WAN environment using an active optical network, data frames are modulated onto light pulses using either Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) or Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) techniques depending on requirements related topology etc..

Generally speaking active optical networks feature very low latency since they don't rely on digital processing as part of signal transmission unlike conventional copper cabling systems which must do so before sending it out across their respective mediums. That said however if large amounts data are being transmitted through multiple nodes within a single ODN there may be minor delays due to multiple stages involved in receiving/transmitting these packets between source/destination points