Software emulation of programmable optical routers

Abstract

Programmable optical networks are a key solution to high performance dynamic network services in Future Internet scenario. Modular router architecture which meets this concept is here defined and represented in a flexible software context, using Click! tools. Evaluation of logical performance and testing of physical characteristics of information forwarding within this framework is shown as feasible. The approach allows also to easily test functions and interactions of control and data planes to support enhanced future Internet services. Sample implementations of programmable router subsystems are given and discussed.

Programmable Multi-Granular Optical Router: Modular Architecture and Testing

“…The hardware resources assigned to packets are released in each time slot; ii) OPS reservation is a one-way procedure, so the FM OPS scheduler checks the wavelength availability on the OFs, not on the IFs; iii) the FM OPS is executed when a PH arrives, so up to NM times per slot. An example of FM OPS scheduler can be found in [9].…”

“…The software-based emulation of this switching fabric by using Click! elements is extensively presented in [9]. However, the control primitives that will be defined here could also support a possible integration with real photonic test-beds, as the one described in [5].…”

“…The emulation of an optical switching fabric using Click! elements is detailed in [9], where optical devices are represented by software functional blocks that try to reproduce both their logical and physical features, allowing a complete system characterization. This represents the added value of an emulation approach with respect to traditional simulation environments, where many of the implementation details are simply neglected.…”