The current thinking about IP over WDM by outlining a path to optical data networking, that includes multiple data networking protocol coupled with a protocol-neutral optical networking infrastructure is challenged. This tutorial discusses the diversity of data networking protocols and network architectures for optical data networking.

The bandwidth explosion ushered in by the popularity of the Internet has led to a paradigm shift in the telecommunication industry from voice-optimized circuit-switched services to data-optimized packet-switched services. The notation of supporting “data directly over optics” has been fueled by the promise that elimination of unnecessary network layers will lead to a vast reduction in the cost and complexity of the network.

In this view of reduced or collapsed network layers, existing TDM systems such as Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) plays a diminishing role, and optical transport networking emerges as the underlying transport infrastructure for the resultant “network of networks”.

Optical Internet

Optical internet working, for example, as defined by the Optical Interworking Forum (OIF), is a data-optimized network infrastructure in which switches and routers have integrated optical interfaces and are directly connected by fiber or optical network elements, such as Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexers (DWDMs).

At present, however, the notion of IP directly over WDM is little more than cleverly disguised marketing. Almost invariably, IP over WDM is IP packets mapped into SDH, coupled with SDH based point-to-point DWDM systems. SDH standalone elements, often referred to as Time-Division Multiplexer (TDMs), are not required, but SDH remains an integral element of the data networking equipment interface.

Ever-increasing reliance on the presence of SDH in DWDM systems limits technological innovation. For example, it may inhibit packet over fiber applications such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 10 GbE over DWDM. Nor does it bring us any closer to realizing the ultimate vision of optical transport networking.

As compared to the present view of IP over WDM, there is a more balanced view of data/transport network evolution. This balanced view is based on two fundamental principles −

• Every data network is unique, in a marketplace governed by differentiation.

• The Optical Transport Network (OTN), as the underlying infrastructure “network of networks” should be capable of transporting a wide variety of client signals, independent of their format.

Together, these fundamental principles form the basis for the notion of optical data networking.