Performance of WDM Networks with Photonic Switching and Resource Distribution Planning Indayara B. Martins, Perez-Sanchez G., Phillipe Gallion École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications TELECOM ParisTech, CNRS, LTCI Paris, France indayara.bertoldi-martins@telecom-paristech.fr grethell.perez-sanchez@telecom-paristech.fr philippe.gallion@telecom-paristech.fr Felipe Rudge, Edson Moschim University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil rudge;moschim@fee.unicamp.br d Abstract—This article evaluates the performance of Wavelength Division Multiplex (WDM) networks considering two different modes of photonic Switching: Optical Packet Switching (OPS) and Optical Circuit Switching (OCS). A resource distribution planning is proposed including wavelength/amplifier allocation to improve the blocking probability and to ensure signal quality. The present study considered the effects of signal attenuation and dispersion in mesh topology networks, and the actual utilization of each network link for the distribution of wavelengths and amplifiers. The physical network parameters considered had average diameter and average distance, as well as ASE noise accumulation and channel cross-talk. In order to evaluate and compare the performance between WDM-OCS and WDM-OPS, the following parameters were analyzed: delay (latency), blocking probability, and effective network-capacity utilization. Results show a reduction of blocking probability with a small increase in latency in both OCS and OPS, but the WDM-OPS combination presents results with very positive impact. Work was carried out with both analytic modeling and computer simulations. Keywords-Photonic Switching, Optical Packet Switching, Optical Circuit Switching, WDM, Optical Fiber Communications I. INTRODUCTION The increase of online data services such as peer-to-peer, high-definition audiovisual services (VOD, HDTV, 3D- HDTV), social networks and development of broadband access through optical wireline or 4G mobile has resulted in an exponential growth of traffic in networks. This scenario presents a challenge for networks in the near future, having to face ever-increasing capacity demands, with additional constraints on reliability, flexibility and low cost with low energy consumption [1-4]. Optical network links can interconnect multiple locations with variable capacities and transmission rates via WDM systems having in excess of a hundred channels, each carrying data rates from 10 to 100 Gbit/s, leading to awesome Tb/s aggregates. These structures should easily cope with the ever- increasing amount of traffic impacting in all classes of telecom networks (mainly long-haul and backbone-metro, but extensible to metro-access [5],). Each network class can have various solutions; for example, in an optical access network, Gpon and Epon are established solutions for today’s “local” networks (extending up to 20 km or even more), using star topology and TDMA protocol [6]. On the other hand, it is clear that WDM should remain as the best solution for backbone traffic in the years to come. In metropolitan level we have a situation which is more complex to choose a cost- effective and high-performance technology, because different types of traffic and transmission rates are being transported, and high flexibility, adaptability and availability of transport capacity are required. Therefore, we also expect WDM to be both technically and economically the most attractive solution at the metropolitan level of optical networks [7-9]. Currently, most of the data traffic carried in networks is in the form of IP packets transmitted over optical fiber systems. All switching and routing are currently performed electronically, requiring multiple energetically and financially costly opto-electronic (O-E) conversions. Optical networks are usually optical-circuit switched (OCS), being able to provide circuits with a high level of QoS (quality of service), even though OCS is connection oriented. Optical packet/burst switching (OPS/OBS) is an interesting solution for applications in the near-future, especially taking away most of the OE conversions and related latency [9]. The switching techniques applied in this work were OCS and OPS, being that the main difference between them is the allocation mode of the path. The OCS allocates the path end- to-end between origin and destination nodes while the OPS allocates the path hop by hop. In this context, this work focuses on applying OPS in WDM network architectures considering medium-to-large size networks (metropolitan and intercities) and comparing this application with WDM-OCS network architectures. The performance of the OPS networks is analyzed according to packet-network parameters such as blocking probability, delay and the effective capacity utilized. It is noted that the presently proposed networks include physical constraints and noise penalties such as ASE, cross- talk, fiber dispersion and attenuation. The work is organized as follows. In Section 2 we present the theory and the basic concepts. In Section 3 we propose a resource distribution planning to improve the blocking probability. In Section 4, methodology and dynamics for simulation scenarios are presented. Finally, in Sections 5 and 6 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 18th European Conference on Network and Optical Communications & 8th Conference on Optical Cabling and Infrastructure - NOC/OC&I 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4673-5822-4, July 10-12, 2013, Graz, Austria 241