RFC 7698
Framework and Requirements for GMPLS-Based Control of Flexi-Grid Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Networks
Pages: 42
Informational
Informational
Part 1 of 3 – Pages 1 to 13
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) O. Gonzalez de Dios, Ed. Request for Comments: 7698 Telefonica I+D Category: Informational R. Casellas, Ed. ISSN: 2070-1721 CTTC F. Zhang Huawei X. Fu Stairnote D. Ceccarelli Ericsson I. Hussain Infinera November 2015 Framework and Requirements for GMPLS-Based Control of Flexi-Grid Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) NetworksAbstract
To allow efficient allocation of optical spectral bandwidth for systems that have high bit-rates, the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) has extended its Recommendations G.694.1 and G.872 to include a new Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) grid by defining a set of nominal central frequencies, channel spacings, and the concept of the "frequency slot". In such an environment, a data-plane connection is switched based on allocated, variable-sized frequency ranges within the optical spectrum, creating what is known as a flexible grid (flexi-grid). Given the specific characteristics of flexi-grid optical networks and their associated technology, this document defines a framework and the associated control-plane requirements for the application of the existing GMPLS architecture and control-plane protocols to the control of flexi-grid DWDM networks. The actual extensions to the GMPLS protocols will be defined in companion documents.
Status of This Memo This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is published for informational purposes. This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has received public review and has been approved for publication by the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Not all documents approved by the IESG are a candidate for any level of Internet Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741. Information about the current status of this document, any errata, and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7698. Copyright Notice Copyright (c) 2015 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved. This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Simplified BSD License.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................4 2. Terminology .....................................................5 2.1. Requirements Language ......................................5 2.2. Abbreviations ..............................................5 3. Overview of Flexi-Grid Networks .................................6 3.1. Flexi-Grid in the Context of OTN ...........................6 3.2. Flexi-Grid Terminology .....................................6 3.2.1. Frequency Slots .....................................7 3.2.2. Media-Layer Elements ................................9 3.2.3. Media Channels .....................................10 3.2.4. Optical Tributary Signals ..........................10 3.2.5. Composite Media Channels ...........................11 3.3. Hierarchy in the Media Layer ..............................11 3.4. Flexi-Grid Layered Network Model ..........................12 3.4.1. DWDM Flexi-Grid Enabled Network Element Models .....13 4. GMPLS Applicability ............................................14 4.1. General Considerations ....................................14 4.2. Consideration of TE Links .................................14 4.3. Consideration of LSPs in Flexi-Grid .......................17 4.4. Control-Plane Modeling of Network Elements ................22 4.5. Media Layer Resource Allocation Considerations ............22 4.6. Neighbor Discovery and Link Property Correlation ..........26 4.7. Path Computation, Routing and Spectrum Assignment (RSA) ...27 4.7.1. Architectural Approaches to RSA ....................28 4.8. Routing and Topology Dissemination ........................29 4.8.1. Available Frequency Ranges (Frequency Slots) of DWDM Links ...............................29 4.8.2. Available Slot Width Ranges of DWDM Links ..........29 4.8.3. Spectrum Management ................................29 4.8.4. Information Model ..................................30 5. Control-Plane Requirements .....................................31 5.1. Support for Media Channels ................................31 5.1.1. Signaling ..........................................32 5.1.2. Routing ............................................32 5.2. Support for Media Channel Resizing ........................33 5.3. Support for Logical Associations of Multiple Media Channels ..................................................33 5.4. Support for Composite Media Channels ......................33 5.5. Support for Neighbor Discovery and Link Property Correlation ...............................................34 6. Security Considerations ........................................34 7. Manageability Considerations ...................................35
8. References .....................................................36 8.1. Normative References ......................................36 8.2. Informative References ....................................37 Acknowledgments ...................................................39 Contributors ......................................................39 Authors' Addresses ................................................411. Introduction
The term "flexible grid" ("flexi-grid" for short), as defined by the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Study Group 15 in the latest version of [G.694.1], refers to the updated set of nominal central frequencies (a frequency grid), channel spacing, and optical spectrum management and allocation considerations that have been defined in order to allow an efficient and flexible allocation and configuration of optical spectral bandwidth for systems that have high bit-rates. A key concept of flexi-grid is the "frequency slot": a variable-sized optical frequency range that can be allocated to a data connection. As detailed later in the document, a frequency slot is characterized by its nominal central frequency and its slot width, which, as per [G.694.1], is constrained to be a multiple of a given slot width granularity. Compared to a traditional fixed-grid network, which uses fixed-size optical spectrum frequency ranges or frequency slots with typical channel separations of 50 GHz, a flexible-grid network can select its media channels with a more flexible choice of slot widths, allocating as much optical spectrum as required. From a networking perspective, a flexible-grid network is assumed to be a layered network [G.872] [G.800] in which the media layer is the server layer and the optical signal layer is the client layer. In the media layer, switching is based on a frequency slot, and the size of a media channel is given by the properties of the associated frequency slot. In this layered network, a media channel can transport more than one Optical Tributary Signal (OTSi), as defined later in this document. A Wavelength Switched Optical Network (WSON), addressed in [RFC6163], is a term commonly used to refer to the application/deployment of a GMPLS-based control plane for the control (e.g., provisioning and recovery) of a fixed-grid Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network in which media (spectrum) and signal are jointly considered.
This document defines the framework for a GMPLS-based control of flexi-grid enabled Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) networks (in the scope defined by ITU-T layered Optical Transport Networks [G.872]), as well as a set of associated control-plane requirements. An important design consideration relates to the decoupling of the management of the optical spectrum resource and the client signals to be transported.2. Terminology
Further terminology specific to flexi-grid networks can be found in Section 3.2.2.1. Requirements Language
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119]. While [RFC2119] describes interpretations of these key words in terms of protocol specifications and implementations, they are used in this document to describe design requirements for protocol extensions.2.2. Abbreviations
FS: Frequency Slot FSC: Fiber-Switch Capable LSR: Label Switching Router NCF: Nominal Central Frequency OCC: Optical Channel Carrier OCh: Optical Channel OCh-P: Optical Channel Payload OTN: Optical Transport Network OTSi: Optical Tributary Signal OTSiG: OTSi Group is a set of OTSi PCE: Path Computation Element
ROADM: Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer SSON: Spectrum-Switched Optical Network SWG: Slot Width Granularity3. Overview of Flexi-Grid Networks
3.1. Flexi-Grid in the Context of OTN
[G.872] describes, from a network level, the functional architecture of an OTN. It is decomposed into independent-layer networks with client/layer relationships among them. A simplified view of the OTN layers is shown in Figure 1. +----------------+ | Digital Layer | +----------------+ | Signal Layer | +----------------+ | Media Layer | +----------------+ Figure 1: Generic OTN Overview In the OTN layering context, the media layer is the server layer of the optical signal layer. The optical signal is guided to its destination by the media layer by means of a network media channel. In the media layer, switching is based on a frequency slot. In this scope, this document uses the term "flexi-grid enabled DWDM network" to refer to a network in which switching is based on frequency slots defined using the flexible grid. This document mainly covers the media layer, as well as the required adaptations from the signal layer. The present document is thus focused on the control and management of the media layer.3.2. Flexi-Grid Terminology
This section presents the definitions of the terms used in flexi-grid networks. More details about these terms can be found in ITU-T Recommendations [G.694.1], [G.872], [G.870], [G.8080], and [G.959.1-2013]. Where appropriate, this document also uses terminology and lexicography from [RFC4397].
3.2.1. Frequency Slots
This subsection is focused on the frequency slot and related terms. o Frequency Slot [G.694.1]: The frequency range allocated to a slot within the flexible grid and unavailable to other slots. A frequency slot is defined by its nominal central frequency and its slot width. o Nominal Central Frequency: Each of the allowed frequencies as per the definition of the flexible DWDM grid in [G.694.1]. The set of nominal central frequencies can be built using the following expression: f = 193.1 THz + n x 0.00625 THz where 193.1 THz is the ITU-T "anchor frequency" for transmission over the C-band and 'n' is a positive or negative integer including 0. -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 <- values of n ...+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+- ^ 193.1 THz <- anchor frequency Figure 2: Anchor Frequency and Set of Nominal Central Frequencies o Nominal Central Frequency Granularity: The spacing between allowed nominal central frequencies. It is set to 6.25 GHz [G.694.1]. o Slot Width Granularity (SWG): 12.5 GHz, as defined in [G.694.1].
o Slot Width: Determines the "amount" of optical spectrum,
regardless of its actual "position" in the frequency axis. A slot
width is constrained to be m x SWG (that is, m x 12.5 GHz),
where 'm' is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
Frequency Slot 1 Frequency Slot 2
------------- -------------------
| | | |
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
...--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--...
------------- -------------------
^ ^
Slot NCF = 193.1 THz Slot NCF = 193.14375 THz
Slot width = 25 GHz Slot width = 37.5 GHz
n = 0, m = 2 n = 7, m = 3
Figure 3: Example Frequency Slots
* The symbol '+' represents the allowed nominal central
frequencies.
* The '--' represents the nominal central frequency granularity
in units of 6.25 GHz.
* The '^' represents the slot nominal central frequency.
* The number on the top of the '+' symbol represents the 'n' in
the frequency calculation formula.
* The nominal central frequency is 193.1 THz when n equals zero.
o Effective Frequency Slot [G.870]: That part of the frequency slots
of the filters along the media channel that is common to all of
the filters' frequency slots. Note that both the terms "frequency
slot" and "effective frequency slot" are applied locally.
o Figure 4 shows the effect of combining two filters along a channel. The combination of Frequency Slot 1 and Frequency Slot 2 applied to the media channel is the effective frequency slot shown. Frequency Slot 1 ------------- | | -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ..--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--... Frequency Slot 2 ------------------- | | -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ..--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--... =============================================== Effective Frequency Slot ------------- | | -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ..--+--+--+--+--X--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--... Figure 4: Effective Frequency Slot3.2.2. Media-Layer Elements
o Media Element: A media element directs an optical signal or affects the properties of an optical signal. It does not modify the properties of the information that has been modulated to produce the optical signal [G.870]. Examples of media elements include fibers, amplifiers, filters, and switching matrices. o Media Channel Matrix: The media channel matrix provides flexible connectivity for the media channels. That is, it represents a point of flexibility where relationships between the media ports at the edge of a media channel matrix may be created and broken. The relationship between these ports is called a "matrix channel". (Network) media channels are switched in a media channel matrix.
3.2.3. Media Channels
This section defines concepts such as the (network) media channel; the mapping to GMPLS constructs (i.e., LSP) is detailed in Section 4. o Media Channel: A media association that represents both the topology (i.e., path through the media) and the resource (frequency slot) that it occupies. As a topological construct, it represents a frequency slot (an effective frequency slot) supported by a concatenation of media elements (fibers, amplifiers, filters, switching matrices...). This term is used to identify the end-to-end physical-layer entity with its corresponding (one or more) frequency slots local at each link filter. o Network Media Channel: Defined in [G.870] as a media channel that transports a single OTSi (defined in the next subsection).3.2.4. Optical Tributary Signals
o Optical Tributary Signal (OTSi): The optical signal that is placed within a network media channel for transport across the optical network. This may consist of a single modulated optical carrier or a group of modulated optical carriers or subcarriers. To provide a connection between the OTSi source and the OTSi sink, the optical signal must be assigned to a network media channel (see also [G.959.1-2013]). o OTSi Group (OTSiG): The set of OTSi that are carried by a group of network media channels. Each OTSi is carried by one network media channel. From a management perspective, it SHOULD be possible to manage both the OTSiG and a group of network media channels as single entities.
3.2.5. Composite Media Channels
o It is possible to construct an end-to-end media channel as a composite of more than one network media channel. A composite media channel carries a group of OTSi (i.e., OTSiG). Each OTSi is carried by one network media channel. This OTSiG is carried over a single fiber. o In this case, the effective frequency slots may be contiguous (i.e., there is no spectrum between them that can be used for other media channels) or non-contiguous. o It is not currently envisaged that such composite media channels may be constructed from slots carried on different fibers whether those fibers traverse the same hop-by-hop path through the network or not. o Furthermore, it is not considered likely that a media channel may be constructed from a different variation of slot composition on each hop. That is, the slot composition (i.e., the group of OTSi carried by the composite media channel) must be the same from one end of the media channel to the other, even if the specific slot for each OTSi and the spacing among slots may vary hop by hop. o How the signal is carried across such groups of network media channels is out of scope for this document.3.3. Hierarchy in the Media Layer
In summary, the concept of the frequency slot is a logical abstraction that represents a frequency range, while the media layer represents the underlying media support. Media channels are media associations, characterized by their respective (effective) frequency slots, and media channels are switched in media channel matrices. From the control and management perspective, a media channel can be logically split into network media channels.
In Figure 5, a media channel has been configured and dimensioned to support two network media channels, each of them carrying one OTSi. Media Channel Frequency Slot +-------------------------------X------------------------------+ | | | Frequency Slot Frequency Slot | | +-----------X-----------+ +----------X-----------+ | | | OTSi | | OTSi | | | | o | | o | | | | | | | | | | -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 --+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+-- <- Network Media Channel -> <- Network Media Channel -> <------------------------ Media Channel -----------------------> X - Frequency Slot Central Frequency o - Signal Central Frequency Figure 5: Example of Media Channel, Network Media Channels, and Associated Frequency Slots3.4. Flexi-Grid Layered Network Model
In the OTN layered network, the network media channel transports a single OTSi (see Figure 6). | OTSi | O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O | | | Channel Port Network Media Channel Channel Port | O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O | | +--------+ +-----------+ +--------+ | \ (1) | | (1) | | (1) / | | \----|-----------------|-----------|-------------------|-----/ | +--------+ Link Channel +-----------+ Link Channel +--------+ Media Channel Media Channel Media Channel Matrix Matrix Matrix The symbol (1) indicates a matrix channel Figure 6: Simplified Layered Network Model
Note that a particular example of OTSi is the OCh-P. Figure 7 shows this specific example as defined in G.805 [G.805]. OCh AP Trail (OCh) OCh AP O- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O | | --- OCh-P OCh-P --- \ / source sink \ / + + | OCh-P OCh-P Network Connection OCh-P | O TCP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -TCP O | | |Channel Port Network Media Channel Channel Port | O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - O | | +--------+ +-----------+ +---------+ | \ (1) | OCh-P LC | (1) | OCh-P LC | (1) / | | \----|-----------------|-----------|-----------------|------/ | +--------+ Link Channel +-----------+ Link Channel +---------+ Media Channel Media Channel Media Channel Matrix Matrix Matrix The symbol (1) indicates a matrix channel "LC" indicates a link connection Figure 7: Layered Network Model According to G.8053.4.1. DWDM Flexi-Grid Enabled Network Element Models
A flexible-grid network is constructed from subsystems that include WDM links, tunable transmitters, and receivers (i.e., media elements including media-layer switching elements that are media matrices), as well as electro-optical network elements. This is just the same as in a fixed-grid network, except that each element has flexible-grid characteristics. As stated in Clause 7 of [G.694.1], the flexible DWDM grid has a nominal central frequency granularity of 6.25 GHz and a slot width granularity of 12.5 GHz. However, devices or applications that make use of the flexible grid might not be capable of supporting every possible slot width or position. In other words, applications may be defined where only a subset of the possible slot widths and positions is required to be supported. For example, an application could be defined where the nominal central frequency granularity is 12.5 GHz (by only requiring values of n that are even) and where slot widths are a multiple of 25 GHz (by only requiring values of m that are even).
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