GMPLS Control Plane for G.709 OTN
The Optical Transport Network (OTN), defined by the ITU-T G.709 and G.872
specifications, creates a transparent, hierarchical network designed for use on both
Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) and Wavelength Switched Optical Network (WSON) devices.
It provides an efficient way to carry both next-generation packet services (for example
any of the MPLS services described in MPLS Services)
and legacy circuit services.
OTN uses GMPLS for the control plane - and OTN extensions to GMPLS are defined
by the IETF in RFC 4328.
Metaswitch is heavily involved in the development of GMPLS standards including those
for OTN. Metaswitch's MPLS solution, DC-MPLS, fully supports
the OTN extensions, and in combination with
DC-OSPF and
DC-ISIS, provides a complete
control plane solution that can be used in G.709 compliant OTN devices.
G.709 OTN Model
OTN is a flexible way of carrying different types of digital signal across
an optical core using Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and/or
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM).
In more detail, OTN uses an optical fiber network which provides optical channels
to carry digital client signals independent of the client signals' characteristics.
To each channel, it provides the functions of transport, multiplexing, routing, management,
supervision and survivability. The OTN control plane automates many of these functions,
with corresponding operational benefits relative to a statically provisioned OTN network.
- The control plane automatically calculates an optimal path for each client connection
when the connection is established.
- It can also automatically calculate a path for a diversely routed protecting connection,
on which resources can either be held in reserve or preempted when required.
- When resources are added to or removed from the network, the control plane
can automatically recalculate optimal routes for all existing connections to make
best use of the newly available resources.
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