Experimental evaluation of GMPLS enhanced routing for differentiated survivability in all-optical networks

Future intelligent optical networks (IONs) are devised to support a wide variety of clients, each having their own reliability requirements, such as availability. These networks thus need to support differentiated recovery schemes fulfilling those requirements while achieving efficient network performance (e.g., resource usage). We specifically focus on dedicated path protection (DPP) and shared path protection (SPP) recovery within generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) all-optical networks. In this context, the standard GMPLS open shortest path first-traffic engineering (OSPF-TE) protocol does not convey the required routing information in order to achieve a desirable network performance. The novelty of this work is twofold. First, to present enhanced GMPLS routing approaches for both SPP and DPP recovery schemes that, besides maximizing resource usage, also address connection blocking mostly due to the wavelength continuity constraint. Second, to evaluate these implemented schemes in a real experimental ION named ADRENALINE testbed. A detailed description of the routing approaches along with their required extensions to current GMPLS OSPF-TE is provided. The experimental performance comparison is conducted considering three figures of merit: connection blocking probability, restoration overbuild, and connection setup delay. The evaluation of the aforementioned schemes may help network operators to select a survivability scheme for a given client.