Analysis of a dynamically wavelength-routed optical burst switchednetwork architecture

The concept of optical burst switching (OBS) aims to allow access to optical bandwidth in dense wavelength division multiplexed (DWDM) networks at fractions of the optical line rate to improve bandwidth utilization efficiency. This paper studies an alternative network architecture combining OBS with dynamic wavelength allocation under fast circuit switching to provide a scalable optical architecture with a guaranteed QoS in the presence of dynamic and bursty traffic loads. In the proposed architecture, all processing and buffering are concentrated at the network edge and bursts are routed over an optical transport core using dynamic wavelength assignment. It is assumed that there are no buffers or wavelength conversion in core nodes and that fast tuneable laser sources are used in the edge routers. This eliminates the forwarding bottleneck of electronic routers in DWDM networks for terabit-per-second throughput and guarantees forwarding with predefined delay at the edge and latency due only to propagation time in the core. The edge burst aggregation mechanisms are evaluated for a range of traffic statistics to identify their impact on the allowable burst lengths, required buffer size and achievable edge delays. Bandwidth utilization and wavelength reuse are introduced as new parameters characterizing the network performance in the case of dynamic wavelength allocation. Based on an analytical model, upper bounds for these parameters are derived to quantify the advantages of wavelength channel reuse, including the influence of the signaling round-trip time required for lightpath reservation. The results allow to quantify the operational gain achievable with fast wavelength switching compared to quasistatic wavelength-routed optical networks and can be applied to the design of future optical network architectures     

The application of optical packet switching in future communicationnetworks

Telecommunication networks are experiencing a dramatic increase in demand for capacity, much of it related to the exponential takeup of the Internet and associated services. To support this demand economically, transport networks are evolving to provide a reconfigurable optical layer which, with optical cross-connects, will realize a high-bandwidth flexible core. As well as providing large capacity, this new layer will be required to support new services such as rapid provisioning of an end-to-end connection under customer control. The first phase of network evolution, therefore, will provide a circuit-switched optical layer characterized by high capacity and fast circuit provisioning. In the longer term, it is currently envisaged that the bandwidth efficiency associated with optical packet switching (a transport technology that matches the bursty nature of multimedia traffic) will be required to ensure economic use of network resources. This article considers possible network application scenarios for optical packet switching. In particular, it focuses on the concept of an optical packet router as an edge network device, functioning as an interface between the electronic and optical domains. In this application it can provide a scalable and efficient IP traffic aggregator that may provide greater flexibility and efficiency than an electronic terabit router with reduced cost. The discussion considers the main technical issues relating to the concept and its implementation     

An Optical Network Architecture With Distributed Switching Inside Node Clusters Features Improved Loss, Efficiency, and Cost

The novel core network architecture presented in this paper realizes distributed all-optical switching of payload by partitioning the network into a number of geographically limited domains, where two-way reservations are effective. Thus, inside each domain, loss is eliminated, while traffic from many nodes can be aggregated into single bursts, improving efficiency. Clustered nodes contribute contiguous optical slots, which are marshaled into composite optical frames destined for other clusters, under the guidance of a reservation-based control protocol. The lossless aggregation of traffic from several core nodes allows the use of cost-effective bufferless all-optical transport among the domains with electrical buffers employed at the periphery of the system. The end result is a triple improvement in loss probabilities, efficiency, and cost. This is achieved by exploiting three features of the architecture: the distributed switching functionality (as in early LANs when centralized switching was expensive), localized reservations (avoiding the intolerable delays of end-to-end reservations), and a reduced number of source-destination pairs (by means of node clustering into reservation domains)     

Constrained and Unconstrained overspill routing in optical networks: a detailed performance evaluation

In this article, we present a detailed performance evaluation of a hybrid optical switching (HOS) architecture called Overspill Routing in Optical Networks (ORION). The ORION architecture combines (optical) wavelength and (electronic) packet switching, so as to obtain the individual advantages of both switching paradigms. In particular, ORION exploits the possible idle periods of established lightpaths to transmit packets destined to the next common node, or even directly to their common end-destination. Depending on whether all lightpaths are allowed to simultaneously carry and terminate overspill traffic or overspill is restricted to a sub-set of wavelengths, the architecture limits itself to constrained or un-constrained ORION. To evaluate both cases, we developed an extensive network simulator where the basic features of the ORION architecture were modeled, including suitable edge/core node switches and load-varying sources to simulate overloading traffic conditions. Further, we have assessed various aspects of the ORION architecture including two basic routing/forwarding policies and various buffering schemes. The complete network study shows that ORION can absorb temporal traffic overloads, as intended, provided sufficient buffering is present. We also demonstrate that the restriction of simultaneous packet insertions/extractions, to reduce the necessary interfaces, do not deteriorate performance and thus the use of traffic concentrators assure ORION’s economic viability.     

High-capacity multiservice optical label switching for the next-generation Internet

This article presents an optical label switching technology geared toward the next-generation Internet, and highlights its promising potential to accommodate packet, burst, and circuit traffic in a unified optical layer. In particular, we provide detailed discussions on an architecture design for a high capacity optical label switching router by considering enabling optical technologies. In pursuit of an effective contention resolution scheme, we investigate an end-to-end solution by incorporating a traffic shaping function at the network edge with wavelength, time, and space dimensions contention resolution in the core network. Experimental results indicate that this scheme is capable of achieving very low packet loss rates. Furthermore, due to its natural compatibility with GMPLS architecture, optical label switching has great potential for a seamless upgrade of today's optical networks toward the next generation Internet.     

Photonic burst switching (PBS) architecture for hop and span-constrained optical networks

The paper presents a new architecture, called photonic burst switching (PBS), with variable time slot provisioning, supporting high-speed bursty data transmission within hop and span-constrained networks. First, the edge and switching node architecture for in-band and out-of-band signaling is defined with optical switch fabric performance parameters. Second, the edge router regions of operation for burst assembly are studied via simulations. Third, we introduce: (i) a GMPLS-based PBS software architecture in terms of control and data plane operations that is extended to enable the PBS optical interfaces with software building blocks for edge and switching nodes; (ii) an adaptive PBS MAC layer functionality and framing of multiple generic payloads. The integration of the proposed PBS network architecture with low-cost optical switching fabrics and GMPLS-based software architecture should provide the means for robust and efficient optical transport of bandwidth-demanding applications within enterprise networks.     

A novel optical burst switching scheme—logical cascaded private subnet with start wavelength assignment policy

Many recent studies have convincingly demonstrated that network traffic exhibits a noticeable self-similar nature, which has a considerable impact on network performance, and most studies of optical burst switching (OBS) networks are under a fundamental assumption that full wavelength conversion is available throughout the network. In practice, however, economic and technical considerations are likely to dictate a more limited and sparse deployment of wavelength converters in the optical network. Therefore, we present a novel scheme for OBS networks, called logical cascaded private subnet (LCPN) with start wavelength assignment policy. We define the concept of canoe relative to cluster in self-similar traffic, and introduce a new device named payload segregator at the edge node as a gateway to the core node in OBS Networks. According to the changes in the edge node framework, we put forward the concept of cluster private subnet and canoe private subnet in the core node correspondingly. A new start wavelength assignment policy is proposed for the absence of (full) wavelength conversion capabilities in the core node of OBS Networks. The performance study indicates that, our new scheme is robust under self-similar traffic and wavelength continuity constraint.     

新型互联网交换中心组网架构研究

随着以数字经济为代表的新兴互联网产业快速崛起,消费互联网向产业互联网转型升级,众多企业信息系统分散部署于多个云平台以及传统IDC中,它们需要一个“平等的”、“互利的”场所进行企业信息上云和云间互联业务流量疏导,需要实现高效、快速、灵活的与各类型云服务商互联。然而互联网发展初期就已经形成的层级化网络架构决定了下层中小网络为了实现跨网流量转发需要向上层网络缴纳高昂的流量转接费用,并且内容源和用户之间分属不同网络,流量绕行时延较大,影响网络质量。互联网交换中心应运而生,并且已经成为国际上重要的网络信息基础设施和流量交互节点,本文旨在研究国内互联网交换中心建设环境,提出新型互联网交换中心组网架构方案建议。     

High-performance optical-label switching packet routers and smart edge routers for the next-generation Internet

This paper discusses the architecture, protocol, analysis, and experimentation of optical packet switching routers incorporating optical-label switching (OLS) technologies and electronic edge routers with traffic shaping capabilities. The core optical router incorporates all-optical switching with contention resolution in wavelength, time, and space domains. It is also capable of accommodating traffic of any protocol and format, and supports packet, flow, burst, and circuit traffic. The edge router is designed to achieve traffic shaping with consideration for quality of service and priority based class-of-service. Simulation results show packet loss rates below 0.3% at load 0.7 and jitter values below 18 /spl mu/s. The traffic shaping reduces the packet loss rate by a factor of /spl sim/5 while adding negligible additional latency. The OLS core routers and the electronic edge routers are constructed including the field-programmable-gate-arrays incorporating the wavelength-aware forwarding and contention resolution algorithms. The experiment shows optical-label-based packet switching with a packet loss rate near 0.2%.     

SEAL2: An SDN‐enabled all‐Layer2 packet forwarding network architecture for multitenant datacenter networks

This paper presents the design and development of a new network virtualization scheme to support multitenant datacenter networking (MT‐DCN) based on software‐defined networking (SDN) technologies. Effective multitenancy supports are essential and challenging for datacenter networking designs. In this study, we propose a new network virtualization architecture framework for efficient packet forwarding in MT‐DCN. Traditionally, an internet host uses IP addresses for both host identification and location information, which causes mobile IP problems whenever the host is moved from one IP subnet to another. Unfortunately, virtual machine (VM) mobility is inevitable for cloud computing in datacenters for reasons such as server consolidation and network traffic flow optimization. To solve the problems, we decouple VM identification and location information with two independent values neither by IP addresses. We redefine the semantics of Ethernet MAC address to embed tenant ID information to the MAC address field without violating its original functionality. We also replace traditional Layer2/Layer3 two‐stage routing schemes (MAC/IP) with an all‐Layer2 packet forwarding mechanism that combines MAC addresses (for VM identification and forwarding in local server groups under an edge switch gateway) and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) labels (for packet transportation between edge switch gateways across the core label switching network connecting all the edge gateways). To accommodate conventional IP packet architecture in a multitenant environment, SDN (OpenFlow) technology is used to handle all this complex network traffics. We verified the design concepts by a simple system prototype in which all the major system components were implemented. Based on the prototype system, we evaluated packet forwarding efficiency under the proposed network architecture and compared it with conventional IP subnet routing approaches. We also evaluated the incurred packet processing overhead caused by each of the packet routing components.     

On Architecture and Limitation of Optical Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Networks Using Optical-Orthogonal-Code (OOC)/Wavelength Label

To accommodate the explosive packet-based data traffic in WDM networks, intelligent optical routing and switching are required in optical transport networks. Optical multiprotocol label switching networks emerged to meet this demand. In this paper, different schemes for implementing an OMPLS network are introduced. An optical MPLS network using OOC/wavelengths as labels is proposed. Based on an all-optical code converter, the architecture of the optical core router is demonstrated. The fundamental limits on scalability of the proposed core router, namely the label capacity, and the blocking probability of the label switched path setup are investigated, and closed-form solutions are derived.     

Spectrum-efficient and scalable elastic optical path network: architecture, benefits, and enabling technologies

The sustained growth of data traffic volume calls for an introduction of an efficient and scalable transport platform for links of 100 Gb/s and beyond in the future optical network. In this article, after briefly reviewing the existing major technology options, we propose a novel, spectrum- efficient, and scalable optical transport network architecture called SLICE. The SLICE architecture enables sub-wavelength, superwavelength, and multiple-rate data traffic accommodation in a highly spectrum-efficient manner, thereby providing a fractional bandwidth service. Dynamic bandwidth variation of elastic optical paths provides network operators with new business opportunities offering cost-effective and highly available connectivity services through time-dependent bandwidth sharing, energy-efficient network operation, and highly survivable restoration with bandwidth squeezing. We also discuss an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing-based flexible-rate transponder and a bandwidth-variable wavelength cross-connect as the enabling technologies of SLICE concept. Finally, we present the performance evaluation and technical challenges that arise in this new network architecture.     

Evolution toward the next-generation core optical network

With high-bandwidth and on-demand applications continuing to emerge, next-generation core optical networks will require significant improvements in capacity, configurability, and resiliency. These advancements need to be achieved with architectures and technologies that are scalable with respect to network cost, size, and power requirements. To investigate the limitations of extending today's solutions to meet these goals, a North American backbone network with a tenfold growth in traffic is modeled. The results of this paper illuminate at least three areas that will potentially require innovative solutions, namely 1) transmission modulation formats, 2) switching granularity, and 3) edge traffic grooming. In addition to probing issues related to increased capacity, configurability is also examined, mainly in the context of switching architectures. Advanced network protection is discussed as well, at a high level. A central theme is how to harness the trend of optics scaling better than electronics. Throughout this paper, potential advancements in architecture and technology are enumerated to serve as a foundation for the research needed to attain the goals of next-generation core networks.     

The building blocks of a data-aware transport network: deploying viable Ethernet and virtual wire services via multiservice ADMs

SONET/SDH technologies constitute the core transport infrastructure of major telecom service providers worldwide. As the percentage of packet-oriented traffic in the overall traffic demand continues to rise, prompted by the widespread adoption of the Internet protocol suite, and recently by the fast adoption of Ethernet services, there is increasing pressure to improve the service provider's transport infrastructure in ways that make it data-aware and cost-effective for packet-oriented applications. Steps in this direction include the adoption of native physical interfaces, for Ethernet and storage area networks as service interfaces, or full integration of packet switching capabilities from Ethernet, resilient packet ring, and MPLS technologies. This article discusses the emerging building blocks for next-generation data-aware transport networks and next-generation transport network elements.     

Survivability and reliability of a composite-star transport network with disconnected core switches

This paper deals with the design and dimensioning of a novel survivable optical network structure, called Petaweb, that can reach a total capacity of several Pb/s (10¹⁵ bit/s). The Petaweb has a composite-star architecture that allows two-hop connections between edge nodes through disconnected core nodes. Prior studies of the same authors have tackled the optimization of a Petaweb network architecture with regular and quasi-regular topologies. In this paper, reliability and survivability issues are addressed by introducing a dedicated path protection strategy into the design model. We present by extensive numerical results the reliability and survivability properties of the Petaweb core architecture with respect to single fiber link, core node, or switching plane failure and to switching site disconnection.     

A simple bandwidth management scheme for multiservice ATM networks

In this paper we outline a simple strategy to manage bandwidth allocation and congestion control and to guarantee service requirements in a multiservice ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network. We propose a network architecture based on a core network, making available a limited number of quality of service profiles, and an access network, made of edge adapters in charge to match the user's requirements with the network's available quality of service profiles and to shape input traffic to achieve high network throughput. The connection admission rule is presented, and edge adapter architecture and design examples are given. The effectiveness of the scheme is demonstrated by numerical results which report the network utilization performance when the proposed core network policies and edge adapter design apply.     

Performance analysis and dimensioning of multi-granular optical networks

Recent years have demonstrated the limited scalability of electronic switching to realize transport networks. In response, all-optical switching has been identified as a candidate solution to enable high-capacity networking in the future. One of the fundamental challenges is to efficiently support a wide range of traffic patterns, and thus emerges the need for equipment that is both practical and economical to construct and deploy. We have previously proposed the use of multi-granular optical cross-connects (MG-OXC), which support switching on both the wavelength and sub-wavelength level. To this end, the MG-OXCs are equipped with cheap, highly scalable slow switching fabrics, as well as a small number of expensive fast switching ports. The goal of this work is two-fold: first to demonstrate that a small number of fast switching ports suffices to support a wide range of traffic requirements, and second that multi-granular optical switching can offer cost-benefits on a network-wide scale. The first objective is studied through simulation analysis of a single switching node, and results indicate that a limited number of fast switching ports can significantly improve burst blocking performance over slow only switches. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, the MG-OXC can even approach the performance of a fast only switch design. Secondly, we introduce an Integer Linear Programming model for the total network installation cost, and our evaluation indicates that multi-granular optical switching can be a cost-effective solution on the network level, in comparison to slow only or fast only approaches. Furthermore, we can achieve reduced costs of individual OXC nodes, which allows us to minimize scalability problems corresponding to emerging fast switching fabrics.     

Signaling Schemes for Distributed Connection Management in Wavelength-Routed Optical Mesh Networks

The next-generation optical transport network will evolve from point-to-point connectivity to mesh networking, which can provide fast and automatic provisioning with enhanced flexibility and survivability. Signaling is used to support connection setup, maintenance, and teardown in such a network. In this paper, we study the performance of two hop-by-hop and one parallel signaling schemes in wavelength-routed optical mesh networks. Based on the sequence between optical crossconnect (OXC) switching and signaling message processing, we classify hop-by-hop signaling into two types that comply with the requirements of GMPLS signaling protocols. These two types are forward before switching configuration (FBSC) and forward after switching configuration (FASC). Also, we propose a parallel signaling scheme that is different from the existing hop-by-hop GMPLS signaling protocols. Considering OXC architectures and traffic patterns, we compare the FBSC, FASC, and parallel signaling schemes using simulation experiments, in terms of network blocking probability and reservation time. The simulation data reveal that the performance of a signaling scheme depends on the nature of the signaling as well as the network setting (e.g., the OXC architecture and traffic pattern). We analyze reasons for this result and discuss tradeoffs between these signaling schemes. This work offers some insight into designing an efficient signaling protocol for wavelength-routed optical mesh networks.     

Broadband public network and switch architecture

The authors present a view of public network and switch architecture evolution to broadband capabilities, driven by the applications evolutions and built on a synchronous fiber transmission infrastructure such as SONET (synchronous optical network). The scenario is based on the partitioning of broadband network functions between synchronous fiber transmission systems and cell-based transport. The first stage of evolution incorporates frame-based switching to support increasing data traffic for LAN (local area network) interconnections. Cell-based technology appears first in the form of point-to-point high-speed data trunks and then as switched high-speed access. Centralized cell switching will provide interconnect between cell-based trunks and shared access lines. Remote cell multipliers will provide traffic concentration when the number of customers further increases. Since cell transport will first be introduced in the network as an extension of frame transport to higher speed, interworking between cells and frames will be necessary     

An IP transport and routing architecture for next-generationsatellite networks

Over the past several years, a number of new satellite systems have been proposed to provide high-speed Internet and multimedia services to businesses and home users. These proposals have been driven by the desire of network operators to reach end users that do not have cost effective access to other alternatives such as fiber, DSL, and cable, and by the availability of new spectrum (Ka-band) for use by new satellite services. The proposed systems generally employ multiple high-power spot beams, an onboard fast packet switch, and a demand-assigned multiple access scheme to provision IP-based services. In this article we concentrate on a geosynchronous satellite system where packet transport and switching within the satellite system are based on ATM. We describe an IP/ATM interworking and IP routing architecture that is driven by three main requirements: (1) the ability to support ATM SVCs between hundreds of thousands of satellite terminals by a single ATM switch located onboard; (2) a scalable IP routing architecture that does not result in large volumes of routing traffic to be transported over the satellite; and (3) the ability to segment the satellite terminals for routing and administrative control by ISPs and enterprise networks