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

TL;DR

This paper surveys existing optical network models used in software-defined networking, compares their features, and proposes an intent interface for virtual topology creation to enhance management and automation.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of optical network models and introduces a new intent interface integrated into the existing ecosystem.

Findings

Existing models vary in abstraction and vendor support

The proposed intent interface enables flexible virtual topology management

Integration of the interface improves automation in optical networks

Abstract

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. A fundamental component for software-defined optical networking are common abstractions and interfaces. 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 that is integrated in the existing model ecosystem.