Description
Product Introduction & Engineering Value
The Alcatel-Lucent M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP, 3HE01364AA is a channelized MDA designed for legacy TDM and packet-service aggregation on the 7750 SR platform. Its four OC-3/STM-1 ports can be channelized down to DS0, making it useful where a carrier still needs to aggregate lower-rate services rather than dedicate an entire optical port to one high-level circuit.
This is an MDA, not a standalone optical transceiver. The SFP optics are separate components. The MDA accepts four OC-3/STM-1 SFP modules and is documented for IOM2-20G and IOM3-XP configurations.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Alcatel-Lucent |
| Part Number | 3HE01364AA |
| MDA Model | M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP |
| Equipment Family | 7750 Service Router |
| Supported Platform | 7750 SR; also listed for 7710 SR |
| MDA Type | Channelized ASAP MDA |
| Number of Ports | 4 |
| Optical Interface | OC-3 / STM-1 |
| Optical Modules | 4 × OC-3/STM-1 SFP |
| Channelization | Down to DS0 |
| Encapsulation | ATM / Frame Relay / PPP |
| Supported IOMs | IOM2-20G and IOM3-XP |
| Service Architecture | Any Service Any Port (ASAP) |
Alcatel-Lucent’s part-number documentation explicitly describes 3HE01364AA as a four-port channelized OC-3/STM-1 ASAP MDA and specifies support for IOM2-20G and IOM3-XP.
The 7710 SR software release documentation also lists the same part number as a 4-port Channelized OC-3/STM-1 (DS0) ASAP MDA – SFP.
Service Flexibility
The important feature here is channelization. The card can break an OC-3/ transport into lower-rate service channels, including DS0, while supporting ATM, Frame Relay, and PPP encapsulations. That makes the card particularly relevant to legacy carrier networks where TDM circuits and packet services coexist.
3HE01364AA M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP
3HE01364AA M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP
3HE01364AA M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP
Field Application & the “Trench” Experience
A typical maintenance situation involves a carrier aggregation router that still carries several legacy leased-line or TDM services. One OC-3 interface is showing errors, but the underlying service mix includes multiple DS0-level circuits. Replacing it with a conventional Ethernet MDA would solve nothing.
The engineer checks the failed card: M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP / 3HE01364AA. The replacement must support the same channelized OC-3/ architecture, and the four optical SFPs must also be compatible with the intended interfaces.
That distinction is easy to miss when an old equipment cabinet contains several cards with “OC-3” in their descriptions.
Specific application scenarios
- Legacy TDM aggregation — channelize OC-3/ transport into lower-rate DS0 services.
- ATM access aggregation — carry ATM services through an OC-3/ interface.
- Frame Relay service aggregation — maintain older FR circuits while the network is being migrated.
- PPP transport — support PPP encapsulation over the channelized optical infrastructure.
Transparency SOP — QA & Testing
For New Surplus or refurbished 3HE01364AA stock, I would separate the MDA test from the optical-module test.
MDA inspection
- Confirm
3HE01364AA. - Confirm the faceplate marking M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP.
- Inspect the backplane connector and card-edge contacts.
- Check the four SFP cages for mechanical damage.
- Record the hardware revision and serial number.
Optical interface verification
The MDA itself accepts four OC-3/ SFP optics, so the optics should be inspected and identified separately. Do not assume that SFPs included with a used card are automatically compatible or suitable for the required optical span.
System test
On a compatible 7750 SR or 7710 SR environment, verify:
- MDA recognition.
- All four ports.
- OC-3/ link establishment.
- Channelization configuration.
- DS0 service operation.
- ATM/FR/PPP service behavior.
- Alarm and performance-monitoring functions.
A current secondary-market source lists 3HE01364AA as a refurbished 7750 MDA, while another supplier currently lists stock for the same part. Condition should therefore be explicitly stated on the purchase order.
The Veteran’s Tech Trap Guide
⚠️ Trap #1 — Buying the MDA without checking the IOM
The card is documented for IOM2-20G and IOM3-XP. A physically compatible slot does not automatically mean the installed IOM/software combination supports the MDA.
PRO TIP: Verify the complete chain:
Chassis → IOM → MDA → SFP → Service configuration
⚠️ Trap #2 — Confusing the MDA with four SFPs
3HE01364AA is the MDA. It accepts four OC-3/ SFP optical modules; the SFPs are not simply synonymous with the MDA part number.
⚠️ Trap #3 — Forgetting DS0 channelization
If the existing installation uses DS0-level services, verify the channelization configuration before replacement. A card that merely supports OC-3/ at the physical layer may not provide the same service architecture.
⚠️ Trap #4 — Assuming any OC-3 MDA is equivalent
The 7750 SR family contains several OC-3/-related cards. 3HE01364AA is specifically the 4-port channelized ASAP SFP MDA. Its channelization and encapsulation capabilities are part of its identity.
Dynamic FAQ
Q1. What is Alcatel-Lucent 3HE01364AA?
It is the M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP, a four-port channelized OC-3/ ASAP MDA for Alcatel-Lucent 7750 SR-class equipment.
Q2. How many ports does the M4-CHOC3-AS-SFP have?
It provides four OC-3/ ports and accepts four corresponding SFP optical modules.
Q3. Can 3HE01364AA channelize down to DS0?
Yes. The official part-number description specifies channelization down to DS0.
Q4. Which protocols or encapsulations are supported?
The documented service options include ATM, Frame Relay, and PPP encapsulations.
Q5. Which IOM versions support this MDA?
The published Alcatel-Lucent description specifies IOM2-20G and IOM3-XP.
Q6. Is New Surplus 3HE01364AA available?
The secondary market currently has listings for this exact part, including refurbished inventory. A New Surplus purchase should be backed by label photographs, serial/traceability information, functional-test results, and written warranty/DOA terms.
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