Experimental demonstration of an OpenFlow based software-defined optical network employing packet, fixed and flexible DWDM grid technologies on an international multi-domain testbed

Abstract

Software defined networking (SDN) and flexible grid optical transport technology are two key technologies that allow network operators to customize their infrastructure based on application requirements and therefore minimizing the extra capital and operational costs required for hosting new applications. In this paper, for the first time we report on design, implementation & demonstration of a novel OpenFlow based SDN unified control plane allowing seamless operation across heterogeneous state-of-the-art optical and packet transport domains. We verify and experimentally evaluate OpenFlow protocol extensions for flexible DWDM grid transport technology along with its integration with fixed DWDM grid and layer-2 packet switching.

Intelligence on Optical Transport SDN

“…In [3], it compared the distributed and centralized control methods and suggests an SDN application for multilayer network. In [4], it introduced a novel unified control plane for multi-domain and multi-transport networks based on SDN framework with pure OpenFlow as a protocol enabler, and also compared it with hybrid GMPLS and OpenFlow approach which taking advantages of the rich network control functionalities of GMPLS, then evaluate the blocking rate, path setup time, hardware setup time and throughput performance for the two approaches, the results shown pure OpenFlow got better performance. Other SDN application such as access networks and data center were studies on [5] and [6] respectively.…”

Can open flow make transport networks smarter and dynamic? An overview on transport SDN

“…The European project OFELIA proposed OpenFlow-based transport SDN which includes for the first time both fixed and flexible grid optical networks [15][16][17][18]. The support of flexible grid DWDM technology (Flexi-Grid) in OFELIA's proposal follows the progressive advances and promises of this technology.…”

“…Two methods for lightpath establishment were considered, called loose and explicit [15]. In the loose lightpath establishment only the edge nodes and ports are specified by OpenFlow and the GMPLS control plane manage the path computation and establishment.…”

“…The second approach is to insert a generic agent in order to enable OpenFlow in the optical nodes. ML-MG [24] only considers a hardware agent using virtualization of ports and TL1, while OFELIA [15] considers both the introduction of hardware and software agents using the NE management interface. The interfacing agent represents a short-to mid-term approach in order to enable deployed optical devices into the OpenFlow network and to allow a smoother transition towards SDN.…”

“…The first extensions to the OpenFlow Protocol in support of circuit switching [11] only consider TDM circuits and fixed DWDM grid; however the evolution of transport SDN has lead to field trials with fixed and flexible DWDM grid technologies [15,24] and even several switching paradigms like burst switching [22].…”