Following are the benefits of using a planning tool:

• It enables optimal planning of the DWDM infrastructure capable of any-to-any service delivery for linear, ring, and mesh networks taking into account the list of SRLG (Shared Risk Link Group).
• One central database for all planners giving better control, visibility, and uniform functionality.
• Every single network change can be tested in a simulated environment before deploying in the field.
• Easy add-on of new resources (e.g., DWDM parts and OTN parts) through pre-configured templates.
• Provides resource inventory visibility for better utilization of existing resources.
• Planner provides content beneficial to both the design and deployment phases, including bill-of-materials (BoM) generation, graphical layouts of racks and shelf configurations, the cards installed, the slots taken and also the interfaces/ports available and connectivity diagram.
• Link engineering and usage of different components (e.g., DWDM and OTN parts) to ensure end-to-end traffic is flowing, taking into account all possible sources of loss and compensation.
• It enables performing Fault analysis and Bottle Neck analysis to get better visibility on the resiliency of the network.

The planning tool provides these benefits without having to invest costly hardware to validate the power levels and OSNR margin which can be expected across the network.