Enhanced dynamic VNT configuration in GMPLS controlled ethernet over WSON with timer-based lightpath holding time

In this paper we focus on the dynamic Virtual Network Topology (VNT) configuration in a Connection-Oriented (CO) Ethernet over Wavelength Switched Optical Network (WSON), controlled by a single instance of the GMPLS control plane. We propose the usage of a FA (Forwarding Adjacency) link timer, which postpones the release of the induced link, avoiding the eventual new creation of the FA between the same two edge nodes, limiting excessive control plane overhead. The network performance evaluation is obtained through simulations and the results show that the usage of such a timer significantly reduces the control plane overhead and improves the setup delay, but at the cost of increased connection blocking probability.