MPLS fast reroute and optical mesh protection: a comparative analysis of the capacity required for packet link protection

Emerging IP/MPLS-based services, such as voice, require high availability. This could be provided either by the underlying optical network or by the packet network itself. Choosing which layer will apply protection is a key network design decision. Two methods are compared from the point of view of the bandwidth required: MPLS fast reroute and optical mesh protection. A packet and an optical network are co-modelled and analyzed using capacity assignment, flow assignment, and survivability algorithms provided by an integrated tool called NetCalc. Results show that for router-to-router link protection, optical mesh protection requires less bandwidth than MPLS fast reroute.