Issues of resource management in two-layer GMPLS networks with virtual network services

We discuss several aspects of two-layer resource management in a novel networking scenario in which virtual network services are dynamically, and on-demand, provisioned in automatically switched optical transport networks. We consider a number of resource management mechanisms characteristic of the automatic switching paradigm in a heterogeneous transport optical network. Those mechanisms provide the basis for defining different operational strategies or service level agreements for on-demand resource provisioning. We perform a simulation study to illustrate, in terms of blocking probability, the impact of different implementation decisions, such as selective switching capability offerings, different link weighting and link bundling schemes, resource latency, bidirectionality of resources and resource sharing approaches.