Protection Switching Mechanism Research Articles

Cost of Loop-Free Alternates in IP-Over-WDM Networks

In Internet protocol (IP) networks, the failure recovery time of IP restoration, of several hundreds of milliseconds or up to seconds, is sufficient for most applications. But protection switching is needed for services that require very short recovery times of at most 50 ms. Loop-free alternates (LFAs) is a protection switching mechanism that is in the IP layer. We consider IP-over-WDM (wavelength division multiplexed) networks where IP routing eventually restores all traffic, while LFAs protect the fraction of the traffic that has high priority. Simulations show that if 50% of the traffic has high priority, then the additional cost to protect the high-priority traffic using LFAs is just a percent on average, under a particular cost model. Thus, with very little additional network cost, LFAs can guarantee that a large fraction of traffic will be protected between all source-destination pairs. In addition, a network design algorithm is presented that, given a traffic matrix and a physical network topology, will find a low-cost network design that includes determining the IP network topology, IP-link capacities, lightpath routing, and LFAs.

Four-path multiple ∞-shaped fiber protection mechanism for cable television networks

Traditional cable television (CATV) network configuration is mainly a branch topology. When fibers break, there are always disconnections of CATV and Internet access. Meanwhile, network service providers usually cannot be instantly informed of network breakage; network problems are noticed only after the users call for services. Network breakage location detection and repair are, in general, costly and time-consuming. This paper proposes a new framework to protect CATV fiber optic networks, where a HUB with multiple optical protection switching (OPS) is constructed between the head end and the fiber nodes. The first layer ranging from the head end to the HUB forms a 1+1 protection path ring structure. The second layer ranging from the HUB to the fiber nodes forms multiple 1+1 protection path ring structures. The framework can form a four fiber optic path protection architecture with multiple ∞-shapes between the head end and the fiber nodes. When the CATV network system experiences a malfunction, such as fiber optic cable breakage or poor signal quality, OPS can immediately switch the fiber transmission path in order to maintain uninterrupted CATV network traffic. After simulation tests on fiber path switching time automatic protection switching, frame loss, packet jitter, latency, bit errors, and system traffic flow monitoring by manually switching OPS and pulling broken fiber optic cable, results show that the fiber path protection switching mechanism can react immediately, and test data results show that network traffic is unaffected, so the proposed framework can effectively enhance the survivability and quality of service of CATV network systems.

MPLS-TP linear protection for ITU-T and IETF

The MPLS Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) is a framework for the construction and operation of reliable packet-switched transport networks based on the architectures for MPLS and Pseudowires. Its development has been shared between the IETF, where the MPLS expertise resides, and the ITU-T, with its historic understanding of transport networks. MPLS-TP adds two significant features to the MPLS toolkit: Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM), and linear protection switching. Unlike OAM, which resulted in two application specific and incompatible standards being approved at the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) in November 2012, the MPLS-TP linear protection specification has resulted in a single unified solution that has been published in IETF RFCs and in ITU-T Recommendation G.8131. This article outlines the novel concepts and operation principles of the unified MPLS-TP linear protection switching mechanism and discusses how it differs from pre-existing solutions. In addition, the issues of compatibility with pre-existing solutions and the applicability to other network topologies are discussed.

The Research on Ethernet Ring Protection Switching

TU-T has recommended a standardized scheme for achieving sub-50ms service protection in ring topologies through Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) specified in G.8032 recommendation[. ERPS provides a means to reliably achieve carrier-class network requirements for Ethernet topologies forming a closed loop. This article outlines an Ethernet ring protection switching mechanism and explains how its automatic protection switching (APS) protocol works. In addition, this article illustrates a sample scenario with failure and recovery.

Resilience Analysis of Packet-Switched Communication Networks

In the presence of local network outages, restoration and protection switching mechanisms redirect the traffic over alternative paths to mitigate the effect of failures. However, some failure combinations still lead to loss of ingress-egress connectivity within a network or to severe congestion due to rerouted traffic. Congestion may also be caused by unexpected traffic shifts due to changed user behavior or due to changes of interdomain routing. This paper presents a framework for the analysis of ingress-egress unavailability and link congestion due to: 1) failures; 2) changes of user behavior; and 3) changed interdomain routing. It proposes algorithms to find the most probable combinations of 1)-3) according to some models, and to evaluate the connectivity and the relative link load of the network under these conditions. We have implemented this concept in a software tool and its visualization of the results leads to a comprehensive view of the network's resilience. It helps to anticipate potential ingress-egress disconnection and congestion before failures and overload occur or before planned modifications (new infrastructure, new routing, new customers) take effect. Thus, it detects weak points in a network, predicts the effectiveness of potential upgrades, and thereby supports careful bandwidth overprovisioning.

Ethernet ring protection for carrier ethernet networks

Ethernet technologies are rapidly gaining importance as a prevailing solution for carrier networks. Ethernet ring protection switching, defined in ITU-T Recommendation G.8032, provides a means of achieving carrier network requirements for ring network topologies. This article outlines the novel concepts in this Ethernet ring protection switching mechanism and discusses the fundamental operating principles by which the automatic protection switching (APS) protocol works. In addition, several feature enhancements in protection behavior and solutions being considered for the next phase of standardization are discussed.

End-to-end survivable broadband networks

Within the EC-sponsored RACE program, the IMMUNE project was established to analyze and specify appropriate strategies for introducing end-to-end survivability into corporate and public broadband networks to support these strategies by proper techniques and evaluation tools, and to demonstrate distributed restoration on PSN (public switched networks) and CPN (customer premises networks) laboratory models. The first objective was to define a set of survivability requirements and metrics to be used in the rest of the project. This has led to the identification of a range of survivability strategy options ann how they can be mapped onto user, service provider and operator requirements. The next step on the road to integral survivability is designing and planning survivable networks, and the evaluation of the restoration and protection mechanisms that will be applied in these networks. An overview is given of this part of the project. Most protection and restoration mechanisms operate within a single network layer and network part, autonomous from network management. The interaction of mechanisms in different network layers or in different network parts, and the role of network management, are discussed. For the demonstration lab models, two techniques have been selected for implementation: a distributed restoration mechanism for a meshed ATM PSN, and a CPN ATM ring protection switching mechanism. These techniques are described and an overview is given of the ongoing activities within the IMMUNE project, with a summary of the status of the demo models.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>