Optical Network Control: Architecture, Protocols, and Standards

5.2. Control Plane Architecture and Functional Model

To describe the architecture of the control plane, it is useful to first consider the functional structure of an optical network. From both a control and transport point of view, an optical network consists of layers and partitions. Layering is inherent in SONET/SDH technology and optical transport. This layering was described in Chapter 2, where it was shown that SONET (for instance) has Path, Line, and Section layers. Figure 5-2 illustrates equipment that operate at different layers. For example, the WDM equipment shown in the figure terminates the section layer overhead, the OXCs shown are line and section terminating, and the routers terminate path, line, and section overheads. Layering ...