On the offline physical layer impairment aware RWA algorithms in transparent optical networks: state-of-the-art and beyond

In transparent optical networks with no regeneration, the problem of capacity allocation to traffic demands is called "Roting and Wavelength Assignment". Much work on this topic recently has focused on the dynamic case, whereby demands arrive and must be served in real-time. In addition, due to lack of regeneration, physical impairments accumulate as light propagates and QoT may become inappropiate (e.g., too high Bit Error Rate). Considering the physical layer impairments in the network planning phase gives rise to a class of RWA algorithms: offline Physical Layer Impairment Aware- (PLIA-)RWA. This paper makes a survey of such algorithms, proposes a taxonomy, and a comparison between these algorithms for common metrics. We also propose a novel offline PLIA-RWA algorithm, called POLIO-RWA, and show through simulations that it decreases blocking rate compared with other PLIA-RWA algorithms.Postprint (published version

Experimental comparison of impairment-aware RWA algorithms in a GMPLS-controlled dynamic optical network

The European research project DICONET proposed and implemented a multi-plane impairment-aware solution for flexible, robust and cost-effective core optical networks. The vision of DICONET was realized via a set of cross-layer optimization algorithms designed to serve the network during planning and operation. The cross-layer modules were incorporated in a common software platform forming a planning and operation tool that takes into account physical-layer impairments in the decision making. The overall solution relies on a GMPLS-based control plane that was extended to disseminate the physical layer information required by the cross-layer modules. One of the key activities in DICONET concerns the routing and wavelength assignment of traffic demands that arrive dynamically during the network operation. Identifying the important role of dynamic lightpath provisioning, in this work we focused on the performance of routing algorithms in dynamic optical networks. We tested the suitability and performance of two different online IA-RWA algorithms in a 14-node experimental test-bed that employed centralized control-plane architecture under the same network and traffic conditions. The parameters used to evaluate the two routing engines included the lightpath setup time and the blocking ratio in a traffic scenario where connections arrive and depart from the network dynamically. Results for different traffic loads showed that optimum impairment-aware decisions are made at the expense of higher lightpath setup times.Postprint (published version

Challenges and Requirements for Introducing Impairment-awareness into the Management and Control Planes of ASON/GMPLS WDM Networks

The absence of electrical regenerators in transparent WDM networks significantly contributes to reduce the overall network cost. In transparent WDM networks, a proper resource allocation requires that the presence of physical impairments in Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) and lightpath provisioning be taken into account. In this article a centralized, a hybrid centralized-distributed and two distributed approaches that integrate information about most relevant physical impairments in RWA and lightpath provisioning are presented and assessed. Both centralized and hybrid approaches perform a centralized path computation at the management-plane level, utilizing physical impairment information, while the lightpath provisioning is done by the management plane or the control plane, respectively. The distributed approaches fall entirely within the scope of the ASON/GMPLS control plane. For these two approaches, we provide functional requirements, architectural functional blocks, and protocol extensions for implementing either an impairment-aware real-time RWA, or a lighpath provisioning based on impairment-aware signaling

Impairment -Aware Static Route and Wavelength Assignment in WDM Networks

Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) is a fundamentally important aspect of WDM optical network design. RWA is performed to determine a route and wavelength for each demand requesting resources between a given source and destination node. Classic RWA has only been concerned with determining a route while only taking into account network layer wavelength availability constraints. In recent years the size of WDM optical communication networks has exponentially increased in size. Resulting in the use of very long fibers for interconnecting nodes. On these modern WDM networks, researchers have identified at the physical layer, linear and non-linear impairments. Impairment occurs during the propagation of optical signals across a fiber cable and within the optical switching fabric of routing equipment. These impairments have the potential to either, greatly reduce the efficiency of WDM optical networks, or to completely render lightpaths unusable. Impairment-aware routing and wavelength assignment (IA-RWA) takes different types of impairments of lightpaths into account, while performing the RWA. The use of IA-RWA improves the quality of transmission among lightpaths as well as reduce the blocking ratio. A new heuristic for IA-RWA has been reported in this thesis for use in WDM optical network planning and design. This heuristic takes both linear and non-linear impairments into account during the RWA process. The heuristic uses existing techniques from graph theory, operations research, and optical network design, to determine an IA-RWA in an efficient manner

An integrated view on monitoring and compensation for dynamic optical networks: from management to physical layer

A vertical perspective, ranging from management and routing to physical layer options, concerning dynamic network monitoring and compensation of impairments (M&C), is given. Feasibility, reliability, and performance improvements on reconfigurable transparent networks are expected to arise from the consolidated assessment of network management and control specifications, as a more accurate evaluation of available M&C techniques. In the network layer, physical parameters aware algorithms are foreseen to pursue reliable network performance. In the physical layer, some new M&C methods were developed and rating of the state-of-the-art reported in literature is given. Optical monitoring implementation and viability is discussed.Publicad

Physical layer aware open optical networking

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