Virtualization in Optical Networks from Network Level to Hardware Level [Invited]
- 8 August 2013
- journal article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in Journal of Optical Communications and Networking
- Vol. 5 (10), A46-A56
- https://doi.org/10.1364/jocn.5.000a46
Abstract
Elastic optical networking is attracting much attention as a promising solution to achieve spectrum-efficient transport of higher data rates at 100 Gbits/s and beyond. If we draw an analogy to virtualization in cloud computing, it can be seen as network level resource virtualization of optical networks where spectrum resources in optical links are segmented as shareable resources and adaptively aggregated to create a wide variety of optical channels (OChs). In this paper, we discuss the benefits of introducing virtualization into the optical domain from the viewpoints of the network level and the hardware level. In elastic optical networks, a frequency slot through which an OCh is transported and the OCh itself are explicitly decoupled. While the adaptability in the frequency slot is brought about by bandwidth variable wavelength-selective switches, the adaptability in an OCh is yielded by digital coherent technology that is employed in transponders and regenerators. It is emphasized that in order to achieve transponders and regenerators that accommodate heterogeneous traffic demands in an economical manner, simply being adaptive is not enough, and being shareable is essential. We refer to this concept as hardware level virtualization. As examples, we describe a multiflow transponder and an elastic regenerator with results that show proof of concept. Based on the hardware virtualization concept, we propose an elastic optical transport system (EOTS) architecture that enables cost- and energy-efficient IP traffic offloading to the optical domain and improves programmability and automation of optical networks.Keywords
This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit:
- Rapid and complete hitless defragmentation method using a coherent RX LO with fast wavelength tracking in elastic optical networks.Optics Express, 2012
- Multiflow optical transponder for efficient multilayer optical networkingIEEE Communications Magazine, 2012
- Elastic optical networking: a new dawn for the optical layer?IEEE Communications Magazine, 2012
- Elastic and adaptive optical networks: possible adoption scenarios and future standardization aspectsIEEE Communications Magazine, 2011
- Fast optical channel recovery in field demonstration of 100-Gbit/s Ethernet over OTN using real-time DSPOptics Express, 2011
- Flexible architectures for optical transport nodes and networksIEEE Communications Magazine, 2010
- Distance-adaptive spectrum resource allocation in spectrum-sliced elastic optical path network [Topics in Optical CommunicationsIEEE Communications Magazine, 2010
- A survey of network virtualizationComputer Networks, 2010
- Spectrum-efficient and scalable elastic optical path network: architecture, benefits, and enabling technologiesIEEE Communications Magazine, 2009