On the importance of time-synchronized operations in Software-Defined electronic and optical networks

Abstract

The utilization of time-synchronized operations (TSO) is gaining interest in the research community on Software-Defined Networking (SDN). This paper discusses TSO applicability in electronic packet and optical networks. In electronic packet networks, the TSO approach has been shown to improve network performance, thanks to timed network updates. In optical networks, this approach enables novel security applications and permits to reduce lightpath disruption time. We finally discuss TSO further potentialities and requirements regarding clock availability in network elements.

Towards programmable on‐demand lightpath services: current state‐of‐the‐art and open research areas

“…More recently, a number of studies on lightpath provisioning using SDN have been conducted [52][53][54]. Garrich et al [52] proposed an SDN-based optical network that focused on timesynchronisation operations with an objective to reduce lightpath disruption time. Matrakidis and co-authors [53] proposed a framework for dynamic multi-layer resource allocation for SDNbased optical networks using lightpath as an application.…”

“…More recently, a number of studies on lightpath provisioning using SDN have been conducted [52–54]. Garrich et al .…”

“…Matrakidis and co‐authors [53] proposed a framework for dynamic multi‐layer resource allocation for SDN‐based optical networks using lightpath as an application. In some studies [52], it has been shown that lightpath routing cannot be initiated until RWA is completed and relevant resources required for establishing connections are reserved and configured. In SDN, configuration and reservation are done by configuring all nodes that form part of the lightpath route, thereby adding flows onto each node.…”