Dynamic reconfiguration and routing algorithms for IP-over-WDM networks with stochastic traffic

We develop algorithms for joint IP-layer routing and WDM logical topology reconfiguration in IP-over-WDM networks experiencing stochastic traffic. At the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) layer, we associate a nonnegligible overhead with WDM reconfiguration, during which time tuned transceivers cannot service backlogged data. The Internet Protocol (IP) layer is modeled as a queueing system. We demonstrate that the proposed algorithms achieve asymptotic throughput optimality by using frame-based maximum weight scheduling decisions. We study both fixed and variable frame durations. In addition to dynamically triggering WDM reconfiguration, our algorithms specify precisely how to route packets over the IP layer during the phases in which the WDM layer remains fixed. We demonstrate that optical-layer constraints do not affect the results, and provide an analysis of the specific case of WDM networks with multiple ports per node. In order to gauge the delay properties of our algorithms, we conduct a simulation study and demonstrate an important tradeoff between WDM reconfiguration and IP-layer routing. We find that multihop routing is extremely beneficial at low-throughput levels, while single-hop routing achieves improved delay at high-throughput levels. For a simple access network, we demonstrate through simulation the benefit of employing multihop IP-layer routes.