Yanni Ou

Software defined networking (SDN) over space division multiplexing (SDM) optical networks: features, benefits and experimental demonstration

We present results from the first demonstration of a fully integrated SDN-controlled bandwidth-flexible and programmable SDM optical network utilizing sliceable self-homodyne spatial superchannels to support dynamic bandwidth and QoT provisioning, infrastructure slicing and isolation. Results show that SDN is a suitable control plane solution for the high-capacity flexible SDM network. It is able to provision end-to-end bandwidth and QoT requests according to user requirements, considering the unique characteristics of the underlying SDM infrastructure.

Demonstration of Virtualizeable and Software-Defined Optical Transceiver

In order to serve the future high-performance network-based Internet applications, optical network virtualization is proposed to offer each application type a dedicated virtual optical network (VON). Virtualizeable bandwidth variable transceiver (V-BVT) is a key enabler in supporting the creation of multiple VONs. In this paper, we present a feasible V-BVT architecture that can be a part of a software-defined optical network. The proposed V-BVT has a novelty to offer independent operation, control, and management abilities to the clients or higher level network controllers. In addition, a specific V-BVT virtualization algorithm is proposed, in order to enable the efficient creation of multiple coexisting, but independent virtual transceivers that share the same V-BVT physical resources. The virtual transceiver can provide specific bit rate, subcarrier, modulation format, and a corresponding baud rate to each VON, based on the requirement of the VON demand, V-BVT resources availability, and optical network status. We further realize the proposed V-VBT architecture on an experimental platform with a software-defined network controller. The V-BVT resource allocation through the proposed virtualization algorithm is also performed using the extended OpenFlow protocol. The proposed and experimentally demonstrated V-BVT achieves independence in virtual transceivers control and management in the control plane, while maintaining the coexisting and isolation features in the physical layer.

Online and offline virtualization of optical transceiver

Future high-performance network-based applications are delivered over the high-capacity dynamic optical network. Each of these applications requires dedicated network service, which can be provided by the virtual optical network (VON) created by optical network virtualization. The virtualizable bandwidth variable transceiver (V-BVT) is a key enabling technology for optical network virtualization. In this paper, we propose the virtualization of V-BVT to support the virtualization of optical orthogonal frequency-division-multiplexing-based elastic optical network. We present a novel V-BVT architecture, and introduce both online and offline virtualization algorithms for V-BVT. Accordingly, multiple independent but coexisting virtual transceivers that share the same physical transceiver resources are created, in order to serve separate VONs. To guarantee the isolation of the created virtual transceivers together with their quality of transmission (QoT), the impact of physical layer impairments on different V-BVT solutions is also considered and integrated into the virtualization algorithms. In the offline virtualization, both heuristic and integral linear programming methods are proposed, in order to maximize the VON demand accommodation using the given physical V-BVT resources. In the online virtualization, a heuristic method is proposed to accommodate real-time received VON demands. By applying both algorithms, multiple virtual transceivers can be dynamically created based on the bandwidth and QoT of the VON demands. Finally, we evaluate and compare the performance of the proposed algorithms, and also verify the V-BVT transmission performance through simulation studies.

Demonstration of optical virtualize-able transceiver using extended OpenFlow control

A feasible optical virtualize-able transceiver is proposed to support virtual optical networks by creating multiple co-existing virtual transceivers controlled by SDN. This solution is experimentally demonstrated, showing on-demand selection of subcarriers, channel spacing and modulation formats.

Optical network virtualization using multi-technology monitoring and optical virtualize-able transceiver

We introduce multi-technology transport layer monitoring to facilitate coordinated virtualization of optical and packet networks supported by optical virtualize-able transceivers. The scheme is experimentally demonstrated to show a holistic configuration across both layers.

Fully SDN-enabled all-optical architecture for data center virtualization with time and space multiplexing

Virtual data center (VDC) solutions provide an environment that is able to quickly scale up, and where virtual machines and network resources can be quickly added on-demand through self-service procedures. VDC providers must support multiple simultaneous tenants with isolated networks on the same physical substrate. The provider must make efficient use of its available physical resources while providing high-bandwidth and low-latency connections to tenants with a variety of VDC configurations. This paper utilizes state-of-the-art optical network elements to provide high-bandwidth optical interconnections and develop a VDC architecture to slice the network and the compute resources dynamically, to efficiently divide the physical network between tenants. We present a data center virtualization architecture with a softwaredefined networking controlled all-optical data plane combining optical circuit switching and a time-shared optical network. Developed network orchestration dynamically translates and provisions VDCs requests onto the optical physical layer. The experimental results show the provisioned bandwidth can be varied by adjusting the number of time slots allocated in the time-division multiplexing (TDM) network. These results lead to recommendations for provisioning TDM connections with different performance characteristics. Moreover, application-level optical switch reconfiguration time is also evaluated to fully understand the impact on application performance in VDC provision. The experimental demonstration confirmed that the developed VDC approach introduces negligible delay and complexity on the network side.

Demonstration of an SDN based monitoring framework for converged packet and optical networks analytics

An SDN based monitoring framework is proposed and demonstrated to aggregate multilayer monitoring information and enable end-to-end network analytics for converged packet and optical networks. New network functions are demonstrated with the proposed framework.

Hardware-programmable optical networks

For future multi-dimensional optical networks, vast network resources provided by space division multiplexing and wavelength division multiplexing technologies, require new network architectures to scale up current network functions. The huge switch-granularity range requires a more dynamic way to deploy network resources. In this paper, we proposed a hardware-programmable optical network which deploys network resources according to incoming traffic requests. The proposed network supports node function programmability and node architecture adaptability, which are critical for dynamic function and resources deployments. Architecture-on-Demand based node architecture adapts node architectures and also enables network function programmability by incorporating with several flexible node functions. Other enabling technologies, such as ubiquitous power monitoring and dynamic optical power management, assures the programmable optical node work properly. Based on all these technologies, we established a hardware-programmable optical network testbed. Several use cases were demonstrated successfully, such as dynamic power equalization and optical debugging. These work verified the feasibility of hardware-programmable optical network, which dynamically allocate network resources for service provision. The proposed hardware programmable optical network will lead to a better hardware utilization and provide a possible solution for the future multi-dimensional optical network.创新点本文提出了一种基于大阵列光开关和全光监控技术实现的硬件可编程光网络。该光网络能够依据网络的流量特性和规模,动态配置光节点的网络功能和节点规模。硬件可编程光网络大大提高了光网络的灵活性,并能够针对网络需求优化网络硬件配置,从而可以应对未来多维度光网络中多样化的动态需求,提高光网络硬件的利用效率。