Integrated OpenFlow–GMPLS control plane: an overlay model for software defined packet over optical networks

Bandwidth demands resulting from generated traffics by emerging applications, when aggregated at the edge of the networks for transport over core networks can only be met with high-capacity WDM circuit switched optical networks. An efficient end-to-end delivery of packet streams in terms of network control, operation and management is one of the key challenges for the network operators. Therefore, a unified control and management plane for both packet and optical circuit switch domains is a good candidate to address this need. In this paper a novel software-defined packet over optical networks solution based on the integration of OpenFlow and GMPLS control plane is experimentally demonstrated. The proposed architecture, experimental setup, and average flow setup time for different optical flows are reported. The performance of the extended OpenFlow controller is also presented and discussed.