Evolution towards an all-optically switched packet network: the LASAGNE viewpoint

The IST-LASAGNE project [1], investigates all-optical label swapping employing optical logic gates in network nodes: in other words, the intention is not only to switch the payload of a burst or packet optically, but also to process the accompanying header in the optical domain. All-optical packet-switching forms in that way the logical evolution of optical packet-switched (OPS) networks. It overcomes the speed limitations that are posed by costly and difficult optical/electronic/optical conversions of the packet’s header and payload. Notwithstanding the research efforts that are done in the fields of all-optical networking and the progress that is made towards a feasible design of an all-optical label swapping router, truly all-optical networks are still considered to be a distant future. The main focus now lies with the design of a migration path from current networking technologies towards (all-optical) packet switching networks. Which migration strategy to follow and how the future networks will look like, depends on the requirements posed by different drivers as business, disaster recovery, userservices...