An analysis of path recovery schemes in GMPLS optical networks with various levels of pre-provisioning

Abstract

The amount of resource provisioning prior to failure events to support optical path recovery has a significant impact on network performance, and so designing recovery mechanisms for any large network necessitates balancing multiple (in some cases, competing) requirements. The Common Control and Measurement Plane (CCAMP) working group's Protection and Restoration Design Team conducted a qualitative analysis of path protection schemes using different degrees of backup resource pre-provisioning. The resulting analysis grid highlights some of the trade-offs between the different approaches. In this paper, we describe the results of a simulation study that we conducted using the NIST GMPLS/Lightwave Agile Switching Simulator (GLASS) simulation tool. By measuring network performance with respect to the metrics used by the design team, we were able to produce quantitative results that confirm the design team's qualitative analysis and provide additional information for carriers and service providers who are designing optical networks.