OFC/NFOEC 2008

a717_1.pdf
OThQ1.pdf

Core Network Design and Planning: Challenges and

Technology Trend
Shinya Nakamura1, Osamu Matsuda1, Yoshihiko Suemura1, Koichiro Fujimoto1, Milorad Cvijetic1,
Ting Wang2
1
NEC Corporation of America, 14040 Park Center Rd., Herndon, VA 20171
2
NEC Laboratories America, 4 Independence Way, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA;.
Email: shinya.nakamura@necam.com

Abstract: The next generation network architectures are inherently related to packet
transport and Ethernet technology. In this presentation authors will discuss various
technologies and review existing issues in packet aware networks based on optical
technology.
© 2008 Optical Society of America
OCIS codes: (060.4250) Networks ; (060.4254) Networks, combinatorial network design (060.2330)

1. Introduction
The introduction of the NGN (Next Generation Network) has been accompanied with deployment of open
interfaces, while a horizontal separation of functions for different network layers (stratums)has been performed. The
materialization of the abstractive functions defined by the NGN standards and the optimization of their physical
distribution are being implemented as the part of this process.
Communication networks have always been fundamental basis of human activities. The networks became wide
spread, and everyday life and all economic activities can not be imagined without networking. As the results, the
capacity volume in network is growing constantly. In early days, traffics has been generated and terminated between
computers. From around year 2000, people began to use networks as a part of daily life with chatting together,
downloading music, and viewing videos. This change in contents of the networks gives huge impacts on both traffic
volume and requirements for quality and reliability of the traffic. The computers are tolerant to some traffic
disruptions since retransmission can repair the traffic loss, but any communication between people (voice, video)
does not tolerate any disturbance. Today’s carriers are facing big challenge to provide huge amount of traffic with
managed quality and reliability.
Volume and quality are not the only challenges for carriers. Considering the carrier revenue trend in general,
traffic volume is continuously growing while the carrier’s revenue shows almost constant or even decreased level
for fixed wire line services. Providing the growing traffic volume with managed quality itself is already difficult
challenge. The limited revenue makes it even more difficult. As the means to overcome this difficult situation, IP or
Ethernet technologies are expected to provide efficient networking with a reasonable cost. The way in which the
original Internet was build and introduced in carrier networks was not suitable for more demanding real time
services. The issues are related to scalability, stability, predictability, manageability, and so on. The examples of
these original technologies are STP protocols in Ethernet and simple IP routing in IP networks..

2. Connection-less and Connection-oriented network

To overcome those issues, there is a discussion to include the connection oriented features into packet/Ethernet
technologies. Currently, there are two types of networks in terms of connection management, connection oriented
networks, and connection less networks. Connection oriented networks include IP based MPLS networks and
ATM/TDM transport networks. Connection-less networks are basically IP/Ethernet networks. In order to enhance
the visibility in service management in IP/MPLS networks, T-MPLS has been proposed to avoid unmanaged
distributed IP routing. The ATM/TDM networks are characterized by well established management scheme, but
these networks are not optimized to data traffic but voice. These networks are moving toward data centric networks
with adding L2 packet functions.
Connection-less networks as well as IP/Ethernet transport, are expected to be the cost effective means to carry
huge amount of data. The application for wide area networks is still limited because of their scalability constrains.
The PBB-TE, or PBT technology, is proposed to overcome the scalability limitation, and is expected to apply
Ethernet technologies to connection oriented networks.

978-1-55752-855-1/08/$25.00 ©2008 IEEE

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3. Optical Network and Packet Network

The future transport networks are going to be optimized for data traffic and to have carrier grade centralized
management scheme. In reality, the most of the new services, which have been introduced recently, are depending
on IP and packet technologies. It is estimated that packet-based traffic is becoming more dominant compared to the
time-division multiplexing (TDM) based traffic, which means that it is important to optimize the transport networks
for packet transport.

3.1. Physical Layer : All Optical Network

Fig-1 shows the “all optical network” concept, which consists of all-optical core for transport and adaptive
shells for service adaptation and aggregation [1].

No service dependency!

Service
adaptation at
the edge SONET/SDH SONET/SDH Accommodation
of future services
GbE All-Optical Network GbE with new edge
devices
Future Service Future Service

„ Bit-rate independent „ Protocol independent „ Future proof

Fig. 1 All-Optical Network

All-optical core transmission link can provide an “end to end” path monitoring and path / link fault localization
using OTN standards [2][3], while adaptive shell can provide adaptive function for the various type of services.
However, there are some issues related to the interworking with L2 and L3 (layers). Discussion of the GMPLS and
ASON [4] are covering some of the issues, however, the total manageability of the network (OAM) had not been
resolved yet.

3.2. IP/MPLS Network

The internet is facing scalability and reliability issues for the guaranteed services [5]. These are the issues
related to internet technology, however, as we discussed earlier, it has become the issue for carrier’s network. The
carrier’s network architecture for this layer is illustrated in Fig.2. The networking is done by L3/MPLS routing
equipment (routers). Any introduction of new technology (i. e. adaptation of new services) is accompanied by
introduction of new headers to effectively use IP/L3 technology.
Metro NW

Core NW

Ether
IP-VPN
ATM
Metro NW MPLS Core FR
PL

e s FR
ic se
rv rv
se ic
r es
he
Et

Fig. 2 IP/MPLS Core Network

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4. Counter measures, new approach?

Traditionally, optical networking technologies are providing firm, reliable, and secure method of monitoring
and management of the network connections, while IP/MPLS networking has provided many necessary adaptation
functions. To combine those characteristics of the network technologies and to avoid multiple overlay networks
(Fig.3), it is essential to consider interworking of Layers 0-2 with existing IP/MPLS based network [6]. It is also
important to consider generic key interoperability issues for carriers operations, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Up to now,
the most of optical-packet (or optical Ethernet) discussion was focused to mapping of MAC (L2) layer into optical
framings. However, it should be designed with taking into account existing IP/MPLS networking and its migrations.

Interoperability – Key issues for Carriers

Existing Overlay Network
Key Issues Requirements
Each
EachService,
Service,Each
EachNetwork
Network Scalability
Reduced carrier–specific management
IP Distributed Intelligence system development
IP VPN
L3 Network
Edge Router Core Router Technology reuse
TLS
GbE Services Mesh topologies Reduced capital expenditure
Ether Switch Mesh restoration
Ether Switch Overlay Reduced inventory and dependence on
forecasts
ATM Switch Dynamic Network Reconfigurability
FR/ATM
ATM Improved customer service : reduced
L2 L2 VPN Network provisioning times
ATM Switch
Reduced management system development
ADSL/FTTH Metro Network costs
DSLAM/ Overlay Network is “database”
Accurate, real-time state information
PON
Private Line Bandwidth on Demand
SDH
Network Optical VPNs
New service enabler
L1 Voice Lines SDH ADM SDH ADM Scheduled connections and SANs

Fig. 3 Multiple overlay network Fig.4 Key issues for carriers

5. Summary
The issues mentioned above will be resolved with following approach, as shown in Fig 5:

NMS

NE Operation and Management through out-of- band OAM network

UNI UNI

Existing MPLS Core

Network
UNI
UNI L2 Aggregation + Transport

Redundant Access Line End-to-end redundant path

Core Router: MPLS Core (LSR)

Edge Router: MPLS Edge (LER)

CPE : Ethernet SW with Ethernet-OAM (no MPLS)

Fig.5 Example Network Architecture

z Centralized management of IP/MPLS/Optical using out-of-band management plane
z End-to-end connection monitoring with Ethernet OAM and protection/restoration
z Introduce L2 aggregation and transport layer into the existing IP/MPLS+ Optical Network.

As a conclusion, there is still some way to go towards widespread packet aware networks.

References:
[1] Hirosaki, B.; Emura, K.; Hayano, S.; Tsutsumi, H.;Communications Magazine, IEEE Volume 41, Issue 9, Sept. 2003 page(s):65 – 71
[2] ITU-T Rec. G.872, “Architecture of Optical Transport Networks”
[3] ITU-T Rec. G.709, “Network Node Interface for the Optical Transport
[4] ITU-T Rec. G.8080/Y.1304: “Architecture Of The Automatically Switched Optical Network”
[5] IAB(Internet Architecture Board) held workshop, Routing and Addressing Workshop, 2006 Oct 18-19 held at Amsterdam, Netherlands
http://www.iab.org/about/workshops/routingandaddressing/index.html, Workshop report(draft-iab-raws-report-02.txt )
[6] M. Cvijetic, S. Nakamura ” ROADM Expansion and its Cross-Layer Applications, Invited paper, Optics East, Boston , 2006