Dimensioning studies for transparent optical backbone networks

The ITEA TBONES (Transparent Optical Backbone Network Simulator) project aims at demonstrating the feasibility of a unified control plane using the innovative GMPLS-protocol suite and mechanisms. Within the scope of this project a dimensioning tool (DT) was implemented which calculates the dimensioning for a given topology of the network and a realistic traffic-trace over this network. With this DT, three research cases were investigated, considering the dimensioning of (multiple) logical layers over a physical layer, the techno-economical implications of grooming strategies and the design of an optimal logical topology when taking single failures into account. The DT can also be used for initializing the developed TBONES control plane emulator. This paper will give a general overview of the DT and the considered case studies, as well as some illustrative results obtained within the three separate research cases.