Evaluation of dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithms for G-PON systems using a reconfigurable hardware testbed

The capabilities of passive optical networks (PONs) are strongly influenced by the quality of the used dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) algorithm. DBA algorithms control the assignment of available upstream bandwidth to the users connected to the PON. In an oversubscribed environment, that poses a challenge regarding the selection of an appropriate DBA algorithm. Therefore, DBA algorithms are subject of continuous research. To support efficient development and realistic evaluation of DBA algorithms, an FPGA-based hardware evaluation platform is presented. It supports fast implementation and evaluation of both hardware- and software-based algorithms. The evaluation process is featured by software tools, which are used to control stimulus creation. Furthermore, the results of changes in simulated user traffic can be analyzed on a connected workstation.