Multi-layer traffic engineering in data-centric optical networks - illustration of concepts and benefits (IST LION)

Intelligent Optical Networks (IONs) allow setting up or tearing down lightpaths dynamically. The logical topology in multi-layer networks (such as IP-over-OTN scenarios) is supported by these lightpaths, and thus dynamically configurable. Consequently, traffic engineering functionality is extended with cross-layer capabilities, leading to multi-layer traffic engineering (MTE). This paper explains the concepts behind MTE, how typical MTE strategies function and what issues arise while developing such strategies. The benefits are illustrated by means of the results from two case studies.