MUPBED: ASON/GMPLS Architecture, Interworking Solutions and Test Network Implementations

European research networks are often seen as "early adopters" of new network functions, which is mostly due to their goal to support future looking, highly demanding applications in terms of e.g. bandwidth, availability, or dynamic behaviour. In the IST project MUPBED („Multi-Partner European Test Beds for Research Networking“) ASON/GMPLS solutions for next generation research networks are evaluated and a European scale test network is setup for experimental assessments. This paper gives an overview on the MUPBED ASON/GMPLS network architecture and network solutions, and their relation to the European research networks, enabling seamless multi-domain multi-layer interworking among multiple network domains for supporting new, upcoming applications. The paper also describes the implementation of the pan-European MUPBED test bed and how this test bed allows to investigate the developed networking concepts in a field trial environment.