Hose-model network virtualization in flexgrid optical networks

Network virtualization, which can flexibly and efficiently embed multiple client networks to a substrate network, is one of the most promising technologies to address the ossification problem of Internet infrastructure. This work focuses on studying the problem of hose-model network virtualization in general topology flexgrid optical networks. A mathematical model for this problem is presented, which integrates hose-model traffic routing and virtual network mapping into a unified integer linear programming (ILP) formulation. Considering the computational difficulty of an ILP algorithm, four heuristic algorithms are presented. They first optimize and allocate link bandwidths to transport hose-model traffic in the virtual network; second, the derived virtual network is mapped in a substrate flexgrid optical network, in which a virtual link is mapped to one or multiple optical connections with or without grooming being allowed. The performance of the mapping success rate and time-average revenue for these algorithms is assessed by extensive simulation.