CHEETAH virtual label switching router for dynamic provisioning in IP optical networks

Enabling new IP-based services such as triple and quad-play, as well as eScience applications at predetermined quality of service (QoS) measures, require the provisioning of guaranteed bandwidth pipes at varying granularities (e.g. from few Mbps to several Gbps and above). Dynamic provisioning of bandwidth pipes, whereby a connection is dynamically setup and released upon signalling, is a cost-effective method of enabling such services. Dynamic provisioning is a new paradigm in network control and management (NC&M) that requires the introduction of control plane (i.e. routing and signaling) capabilities within network elements such as routers, layer 2 switches and layer 1 cross-connects.In this paper we share our experience in the design and deployment of a Generalized Multiple Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) control plane for layer 2 switches in the experimental Circuit-Switched High-Speed End-to-End Transport Architecture (CHEETAH). We call this software engine CHEETAH Virtual Label Switching Router (CVLSR). CVLSR allows non-GMPLS devices (e.g. Ethernet switches, routers and other cross-connects) to participate in the dynamic provisioning of end-to-end bandwidth-guaranteed connections. It extends the dynamic provisioning of connections to the end-users across different administrative domains. We have successfully deployed the CVLSR in CHEETAH optical network across HOPI/DRAGON network. The interoperability of the CVLSR with commercial GMPLS SONET-based cross-connect switches has been demonstrated.