Performance modelling and analysis of dynamic virtual optical network composition

High-capacity networks based on optical technologies enable global delivery of high-performance network-based applications driven by Future Internet services. Due to the accelerated evolution of these applications, dynamic adaptability of the underlying optical infrastructure becomes crucial to support efficient data transport through the operators' networks. Optical network virtualization can be considered as a key technology for addressing this challenge. This paper presents a novel architecture enabled by optical network virtualization that adopts the concept of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). For the IaaS framework, three intelligent and dynamic composition mechanisms, employing Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP), K-Shortest Path (K-SP) and Random path routing algorithms are proposed. The performance of these algorithms in terms of the virtual optical network (VON) composition performance and the algorithm computational complexity is evaluated and compared in this study. The results show that MILP can provide optimal solutions for VON composition but it takes the longest time to execute, while the proposed Random algorithm can achieve the shortest running time. © 2012 IEEE.