An all-optical computer network: lessons learned

Rainbow-1, an all-optical WDMA network capable of supporting up to 1000 nodes, each operating at 1 Gb/s sustained bit rate, is described. The expression all-optical stems from the fact that in these systems the path between nodes has electronic signal-handling only at the two ends. The path between nodes may be topologically complex, but it is all optical. The all-optical approach opens up the possibility of systems with thousands of users per link or network, each running at gigabit speeds, and employing electronic and photonic components whose speed need not be greater than the per-node bit rate. The lessons learned by building the Rainbow-1 WDMA network are discussed.<>