A management architecture for IP over WDM integration Dr. Fotis Karayannis 1 , Mr. Lampros Raptis 2 , Dr. Joan Serrat 3 , Mr. Giorgos Chatzilias 2 , Mr. Dimitris Chronis 4 1 OTE Consulting 2 National Technical University of Athens 3 Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya 4 Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation SA Abstract Most trends in IP-WDM integration exhibit the volition to extend the distributed Internet network control approach to the Optical Layer using signalling mechanisms either in an Overlay model or a Peer model. This paper proposes an alternative approach for providing Internet services over the Optical Transport Network by extending the telecom-style network management approach to the IP layer with the cooperation of MPLS Internet protocol. The appropriate synergy and integration of the two layers is performed with management functions capable of performing integrated provisioning of Label Switched Paths (LSPs) over optical channels, as well as integrated multi-layer fault and performance management. This approach is a mid-term solution, followed by a transition period where the control and management plane will interact with each other, till the signalling mechanisms gradually dominate the IP over optical area. The proposed management solution has been adopted and is being investigated by WINMAN 1, an ongoing European research and development project, whose aim is to offer an integrated network management solution for the provisioning of end- to-end IP connectivity services derived from Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Keywords: Integrated Network Management System (INMS), CORBA, TMN, IP, MPLS, LSP, WDM, Och, ASON, MPlambdaS, Overlay, Peer 1 Introduction Today’s efforts in the telecom industry and the Internet community are characterised by the trend to automate the provisioning of connectivity in terms of Optical Channels (OCh) in the WDM layer or Label Switched Paths in the MPLS layer through the use of the control plane using signalling protocols. The frameworks working in this direction are the ASON/ASTN towards the first and MplambdaS and GMPLS towards the latter. ASON is pursued among other standardisation bodies by the ITU-T SG 13 and 15, while MPLambdaS and GMPLS are more related to the IETF technical groups like IP over Optics (IPO). One of the basic reasons for using the control plane is to speed up circuit provision, which otherwise can take up to months in the case of OChs. However, this is not the case with the network operators that have developed their own management systems, either WDM or IP/MPLS that allow hundreds of OChs or LSPs to be up or taken down each day by means of autorouting and network configuration tools. WINMAN is based on the latter approach, i.e. using the management plane for fast and efficient establishment of MPLS LSP or Optical Channels not only separately for each layer, but in an integrated way for both layers, providing integrated configuration, performance and fault management functionality. 1 The "WDM and IP Network Management (WINMAN)" project http://www.telecom.ntua.gr/winman, started on July 2000, and is co-funded by the European Community under the IST Programme. The partners of the WINMAN consortium are: Lucent Technologies Nederland, Ellemedia Technologies Ltd., Telefónica I+D, Portugal Telecom Inovaçao, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) SA, OTE Consulting, National Technical University of Athens, University College of London, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and TTI Telecom. The views presented in this paper reflect the authors’ opinions.