GEYSERS: A novel architecture for virtualization and co-provisioning of dynamic optical networks and IT services

GEYSERS aims at defining an end-to-end network architecture that offers a novel planning, provisioning and operational framework for optical network and IT infrastructure providers and operators. In this framework, physical infrastructure resources (network and IT) are dynamically partitioned to virtual resources and then composed into a Virtual Infrastructure offered to operators as a service. The operator will be able to operate a virtual infrastructure with an enhanced Network Control Plane (NCP) able to offer coupled, optimized and dynamic on-demand Network and IT provisioning services (i.e., interconnections between multiple IT resources and end-users). The scope and novelty of the GEYSERS architecture is focused on the functional definition and description of two innovative layers, the enhanced Network Control Plane (NCP) and the Logical Infrastructure Composition Layer (LICL). The Service Middleware Layer (SML) and the physical layer (PHY) are part of the overall GEYSERS architecture but are based on existing developments that will be appropriately adapted or extended.