Signalling end-to-end optical services over multi-domain networks

This paper proposes a new UCLP (User-Controlled LightPath) architecture that offers end-to-end optical services provisioning in a multi-domain network. It also shows the experimental results of our UCLP software tool implemented on the Canarie optical network testbed. This work is motivated by the growing need for end-to-end lightpaths to support high volume data transferring applications such as GridFTP (GRID File Transfer Protocol) and SAN (Storage Area Networks) over multi-domain networks. The main problems encountred while provisioning end-to-end optical service in a multi-domain network are investigated and a review of the different interdomain signalling approaches is provided in comparison with our user-controlled lightpath provisioning approach. Various interdomain signalling approaches are discussed and compared to justify the necessity of signalling methods at the application level for long-duration applications.