A survey of WDM network reconfiguration: Strategies and triggering methods

Abstract We survey the state-of-the-art technologies in Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network reconfiguration. Our focus is the strategies and triggering methods. We compare the proposed technologies in the literature from different perspectives: traffic-changes triggered vs. other events triggered, centrally-managed strategies vs. distributed strategies, new lightpath demands known vs. future user traffic unknown, adaptive/reactive approaches vs. proactive approaches, traffic prediction based vs. traffic uncertainty proof approaches. We outline the entire landscape of the strategies and triggering methods of WDM network reconfiguration from WDM network operators’ point of view. There are gaps in research and in field trials, which must be addressed, so that the great potentials of WDM network reconfiguration may be realized to add significant flexibility in network operations.