Wavelength Routed Wide Area Networks

This chapter focuses on the wavelength routed networks (WRNs) architecture where the optical media is not shared but the connection is directed from a source to its destination on a specific route, unlike in the case of B&S networks where the optical signal is broadcasted to all the connected nodes in the network. It discusses the design, analysis, and performance of the hybrid multi‐layered optical networks with electronically switched overlays. After explaining how connections are established in the all‐optical WRN with the basic constraints, the chapter explains the architecture of hybrid wavelength routed wavelength division multiplexing network followed by the optical layer concept. The chapter also gives the suboptimal heuristic solutions for WRN networks with single fiber connection from the different ports of the nodes. For optimally determining routes and assigning wavelengths for lightpath requests, integer linear programming formulations can be used.