Comparison of two optical-core networks

The resource requirements for two optical-core network architectures are compared. One architecture is a highly optimized, multihop mesh of optical switches, in which the number of optical nodes traversed by a light path is bounded. The other is a single-hop composite-star structure. We show in a case study that although the composite star may require a higher fiber-distance value than the optimized mesh structure, it needs many fewer ports and a smaller optical switching fabric to achieve the same throughput. The single-hop network does not require any wavelngth conversion, it eliminates the need for traffic engineering, and is resilient to changes in the spatial distribution of traffic. Results are quantified through simulation.