Monitoring of optical performance in an optical data transmission network

The invention relates to a method for monitoring optical performance in an optical data transmission network, wherein the optical data transmission network comprises at least a first router node, a second router node and an optical data transmission line connecting the first router node with the second router node providing optical data transmission from the first router node to the second router node using at least two channels, each using a predetermined wavelength, wherein the optical data transmission network comprises a multitude of amplifier nodes arranged in series along the optical data transmission line between the first router node and the second router node, wherein the second router node comprises a monitoring functionality using a spare IP router interface, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: - in a measurement step, optical performance parameters of the at least two channels are provided at the spare IP router interface, - in a transmission step, subsequent to the measurement step, optical performance parameters are transmitted to a remote control unit, - in an analysis step, subsequent to the transmission step, optical performance parameters are analyzed and it is determined whether a corrective action is necessary to improve optical performance of the at least two channels. Furthermore the invention relates to an optical data transmission network, comprising at least a first router node, a second router node and an optical data transmission line connecting the first router node with the second router node providing optical data transmission from the first router node to the second router node using at least two channels, each using a predetermined wavelength, wherein the optical data transmission network comprises a multitude of amplifier nodes arranged in series along the optical data transmission line between the first router node and the second router node, wherein the second router node comprises a monitoring functionality using a spare IP router interface, and wherein the optical data transmission network is configured such that: - in a measurement step, optical performance parameters of the at least two channels are provided at the spare IP router interface, - in a transmission step, subsequent to the measurement step, optical performance parameters are transmitted to a remote control unit, - in an analysis step, subsequent to the transmission step, optical performance parameters are analyzed and it is determined whe