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

Impairment Aware Routing in Translucent Optical Networks

Optical networks are ideally suited to meet today\u27s rapidly increasing bandwidth demands due to the large fiber bandwidth capacity, low attenuation, low distortion and low cost. When an optical signal propagates along the fiber links, its quality degrades due to physical layer impairments such as optical noise, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion and nonlinear effects. As a result, bit error rate (BER) may become so high that signal may not be properly detected at the receiver. In order to address this problem, we have developed an impairment aware dynamic routing and wavelength assignment (IA-RWA) algorithm. Our algorithm not only takes into account the physical layer impairments but also resolves any wavelength conflict if there is a cycle in the path from a source to a destination. Our results indicate that the proposed algorithm significantly reduce the blocking probability in dynamic lightpath allocation if the impact of physical layer impairments is compensated by the use of regenerators

A Test-Bed for Comparing Impairment Aware Routing & Wavelength Assignment Algorithms in WDM Networks

When an optical signal propagates through optical fibers, the quality of the signal degrades due to a number of physical phenomena. Traditional Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) approaches assume an ideal physical layer medium and ignore the effects of physical layer impairments on the lightpath feasibility. In the last few years investigators have started taking into account the fact that the quality of transmission (QoT) of an optical signal propagating through an optical network degrades, due to physical layer considerations. To measure the extent of this degradation due to physical layer impairments (PLI), metrics such as the Bit Error Rate (BER) used. In a translucent network, when the quality of a signal is reduced sufficiently, the signal has to be regenerated. In a transparent network, regenerators are not allowed so that lightpaths with high bit error rates are disallowed. A number of heuristic approaches for impairment aware RWA have been proposed for transparent and for translucent networks. As a result of this investigation a test-bed ahs been developed for Impairment Aware Static Route and Wavelength Assignment (IA-RWA) in transparent networks. This includes a tool for computing BER values and allows the user to run a new heuristic for IA-RWA and study its performance against a number of existing heuristics for IA-RWA

IMPAIRMENT AWARE DYNAMIC ROUTING AND WAVELENGTH ASSIGNMENT IN WDM NETWORKS

Optical networks play a major role in supporting the traffic in backbone computer networks. Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) is the technique used to establish a light-path from a source node to a destination node in a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical network. As an optical signal propagates through the network, the quality of the signal degrades due to physical layer impairments. To address this problem, in translucent WDM networks, the signal is regenerated at intervals. The main objective of this research is to propose a fast heuristic for dynamic lightpath allocation in translucent WDM networks and to compare the heuristic with an optimal algorithm that was proposed recently

A congestion aware ant colony optimisation-based routing and wavelength assignment algorithm for transparent flexi-grid optical burst switched networks

Optical Burst Switching (OBS) over transparent exi-grid optical networks, is considered a potential solution to the increasing pressure on backbone networks due to the increase in internet use and widespread adoption of various high bandwidth applications. Both technologies allow for more e cient usage of a networks resources. However, transmissions over exi-grid networks are more susceptible to optical impairments than transmissions made over xed-grid networks, and OBS suers from high burst loss due to contention. These issues need to be solved in order to reap the full benets of both technologies. An open issue for OBS whose solution would mitigate both issues is the Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) algorithm. Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO) is a method of interest for solving the RWA problem on OBS networks. This study aims to improve on current dynamic ACO-based solutions to the Routing and Wavelength Assignment problem on transparent exi-grid Optical Burst Switched networks

Cross-layer modeling and optimization of next-generation internet networks

Scaling traditional telecommunication networks so that they are able to cope with the volume of future traffic demands and the stringent European Commission (EC) regulations on emissions would entail unaffordable investments. For this very reason, the design of an innovative ultra-high bandwidth power-efficient network architecture is nowadays a bold topic within the research community. So far, the independent evolution of network layers has resulted in isolated, and hence, far-from-optimal contributions, which have eventually led to the issues today's networks are facing such as inefficient energy strategy, limited network scalability and flexibility, reduced network manageability and increased overall network and customer services costs. Consequently, there is currently large consensus among network operators and the research community that cross-layer interaction and coordination is fundamental for the proper architectural design of next-generation Internet networks. This thesis actively contributes to the this goal by addressing the modeling, optimization and performance analysis of a set of potential technologies to be deployed in future cross-layer network architectures. By applying a transversal design approach (i.e., joint consideration of several network layers), we aim for achieving the maximization of the integration of the different network layers involved in each specific problem. To this end, Part I provides a comprehensive evaluation of optical transport networks (OTNs) based on layer 2 (L2) sub-wavelength switching (SWS) technologies, also taking into consideration the impact of physical layer impairments (PLIs) (L0 phenomena). Indeed, the recent and relevant advances in optical technologies have dramatically increased the impact that PLIs have on the optical signal quality, particularly in the context of SWS networks. Then, in Part II of the thesis, we present a set of case studies where it is shown that the application of operations research (OR) methodologies in the desing/planning stage of future cross-layer Internet network architectures leads to the successful joint optimization of key network performance indicators (KPIs) such as cost (i.e., CAPEX/OPEX), resources usage and energy consumption. OR can definitely play an important role by allowing network designers/architects to obtain good near-optimal solutions to real-sized problems within practical running times

Physical Layer Aware Optical Networks

This thesis describes novel contributions in the field of physical layer aware optical networks. IP traffic increase and revenue compression in the Telecom industry is putting a lot of pressure on the optical community to develop novel solutions that must both increase total capacity while being cost effective. This requirement is pushing operators towards network disaggregation, where optical network infrastructure is built by mix and match different physical layer technologies from different vendors. In such a novel context, every equipment and transmission technique at the physical layer impacts the overall network behavior. Hence, methods giving quantitative evaluations of individual merit of physical layer equipment at network level are a firm request during network design phases as well as during network lifetime. Therefore, physical layer awareness in network design and operation is fundamental to fairly assess the potentialities, and exploit the capabilities of different technologies. From this perspective, propagation impairments modeling is essential. In this work propagation impairments in transparent optical networks are summarized, with a special focus on nonlinear effects. The Gaussian Noise model is reviewed, then extended for wideband scenarios. To do so, the impact of polarization mode dispersion on nonlinear interference (NLI) generation is assessed for the first time through simulation, showing its negligible impact on NLI generation. Thanks to this result, the Gaussian Noise model is generalized to assess the impact of space and frequency amplitude variations along the fiber, mainly due to stimulated Raman scattering, on NLI generation. The proposed Generalized GN (GGN) model is experimentally validated on a setup with commercial linecards, compared with other modeling options, and an example of application is shown. Then, network-level power optimization strategies are discussed, and the Locally Optimization Global Optimization (LOGO) approach reviewed. After that, a novel framework of analysis for optical networks that leverages detailed propagation impairment modeling called the Statistical Network Assessment Process (SNAP) is presented. SNAP is motivated by the need of having a general framework to assess the impact of different physical layer technologies on network performance, without relying on rigid optimization approaches, that are not well-suited for technology comparison. Several examples of applications of SNAP are given, including comparisons of transceivers, amplifiers and node technologies. SNAP is also used to highlight topological bottlenecks in progressively loaded network scenarios and to derive possible solutions for them. The final work presented in this thesis is related to the implementation of a vendor agnostic quality of transmission estimator for multi-vendor optical networks developed in the context of the Physical Simulation Environment group of the Telecom Infra Project. The implementation of a module based on the GN model is briefly described, then results of a multi-vendor experimental validation performed in collaboration with Microsoft are shown