Abstract:
The introduction of software-defined networking (SDN) has revolutionized the way net works are configured and managed. By decoupling the control plane from the data
plane, SDN allows for greater flexibility and programmability in network design and de ployment. In the realm of optical networking, this has led to the emergence of software defined optical networks (SDONs), which offer dynamic configuration and end-to-end
provisioning of optical network resources.
Optical networks are traditionally characterized by fixed, inflexible architectures that
are difficult and time-consuming to reconfigure. This is due in part to the inherent
properties of light, which is used to transmit data over long distances at high speeds.
In contrast, SDONs leverage the flexibility of software-defined technologies to enable
real-time, on-demand provisioning of optical network resources. This allows for more
efficient utilization of network resources and improved network performance.
One type of SDON is the disaggregated optical network, which involves the separation of
different network functions into modular components that can be independently man aged and orchestrated. Disaggregated optical networks can be further classified into
two main categories: full disaggregation and partial disaggregation. Full disaggregation
refers to the complete separation of all network functions, while partial disaggregation
involves the separation of only certain network functions. Partial disaggregation has
emerged as a popular approach due to its ability to provide many of the benefits of full
disaggregation while mitigating some of the challenges associated with its implementa tion.
This paper focuses on the configuration and test of a partially disaggregated network.
The setup involves using an Open source operating system as the main OS with a
custom-built optical network adapter. By combining the benefits of software-defined technologies with the high-speed, long-distance capabilities of optical networks, SDONs
offer dynamic, end-to-end provisioning of network resources, enabling more efficient and
effective networking. Disaggregated optical networks, particularly partial disaggrega tion, offer additional benefits and flexibility in network design and deployment.
