The Internet transport infrastructure is evolving toward a model of high-speed routers interconnected by intelligent optical networks. In this article we review current optical networking architectures and describe a new concept proposed in A. Gumaste and I. Chlamtac [2003]: light-trails. We develop light-trails as a novel and amenable control and management solution to address IP-centric communication problems at the optical layer. We implement a testbed to demonstrate light-trail feasibility. We also present three medium access control protocols for light-trails and evaluate their performance. The goal of light-trails and our solution is to combine commercially available components with emerging network technologies to provide a transparent, reliable, and highly scalable communication network.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/arun-somani/42/
This is a manuscript of an article published as VanderHorn, Nathan A., Srivatsan Balasubramanian, Mani Mina, and Arun K. Somani. "Light-trail testbed for IP-centric applications." IEEE Communications Magazine 43, no. 8 (2005): S5-S10. DOI: 10.1109/MCOM.2005.1497550. Posted with permission.