Sycamore Demos GMPLS Control Plane Interoperability

Sycamore Networks' SN 16000 intelligent optical switch has successfully demonstrated standards-based control plane interoperability in a multi-vendor event that featured a diverse range of next-generation IP/MPLS applications and services running over a dynamic optical core.



Held in conjunction with the MPLS 2006 conference, the Isocore Leading Edge Code (LEC) test event showcased the current state of multiservice interworking and multicast applications across a resilient, hybrid optical transport network, and included participation from industry-leading IP, MPLS and optical networking equipment vendors.



During the test event, Sycamore SN 16000 intelligent optical switches demonstrated multi-vendor IP/Optical control plane interworking using standards-based Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS). The scope of the test effort, which included validation of GMPLS UNI models and MPLS-to-GMPLS migration strategies, reinforces the carrier-class performance, scalability and reliability of Sycamore intelligent optical switching solutions.



Among the highlights of the event was Control Plane Resiliency, which included the ability of the optical transport network to recover from control plane failures using Graceful Restart mechanisms as defined for IETF-based GMPLS signaling.



With multiple network services carried across GMPLS LSPs, participating vendors successfully demonstrated Graceful Restart interoperability and the ability of network services to remain unaffected in the event of a control plane failure. The IP/Optical application testing also included the industry's first validation of graceful recovery mechanisms for dynamically signaled 10-GigE-over-SONET LSPs.
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