Optical Network Models and Their Application to Software-Defined Network Management

Abstract EN

Software-defined networking is finding its way into optical networks.

Here, it promises a simplification and unification of network management for optical networks allowing automation of operational tasks despite the highly diverse and vendor-specific commercial systems and the complexity and analog nature of optical transmission.

Common abstractions and interfaces are a fundamental component for software-defined optical networking.

Currently, a number of models for optical networks are available.

They all claim to provide open and vendor agnostic management of optical equipment.

In this work, we survey and compare the most important models and propose an intent interface for creating virtual topologies which is integrated in the existing model ecosystem.