Technical Report 03-EMIS-01 Practical Integrated Design Strategies for Opaque and All- Optical DWDM Networks: Optimization Models and Solution Procedures

Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) networks that use expensive optical/electrical/optical (O/E/O) conversion at each end of a fiber link are called opaque networks. In an attempt to reduce the O/E/O conversion cost component, a combination of technological advances has been used. Improved optical amplifiers using distributed Raman amplification allow signals to traverse longer distances without amplification and/or regeneration. Optical switches are also available so that most of the processing at nodes can be accomplished in the optical domain. Networks that use this equipment to eliminate some of the O/E/O conversions are called transparent or all-optical networks. Capital costs for these types of networks are less expensive, however operational costs and complexity increases in order to handle adjustments in traffic demand. In this investigation we develop optimization-based algorithms to route traffic and design DWDM links for both opaque and all-optical networks. We compare the performance of AMPL/CPLEX implementations of both algorithms on realistically sized networks with up to 36 nodes and 67 links. In all test cases the all-optical network design is substantially less expensive than the traditional opaque network design with cost reductions in the range of 12% to 26%. (Integer Programming Applications; Network Provisioning; DWDM Network Design; Polarization Mode Dispersion) * Corresponding author. Fax: +1-214-768-1122 Email address: [email protected] (J. L. Kennington) 02/20/05