IP over WDM networks: a policy-based management approach

This paper describes the policy-based management architecture devised for management of IP over WDM networks and is part of the work carried out in the IST Project WINMAN, whose aim is to develop and validate an open and flexible integrated management system for this type of networks. The IETF has been working in the policy based management area, through two of its groups, in order to provide the means for managing IP based networks, offering some QoS guarantees. At the same time hybrid networks such as those placing IP directly over WDM are emerging as the solution to the increasing need for bandwidth. Management of such networks in an integrated fashion is a large research area. We are interested in integrating the policy management paradigm for managing integrated networks, such as IP over WDM networks.