Japan’s “Open Innovation over Network Platforms” research and development (R&D) project, also known as the “O3 Project”, announced the first milestones in its development of multi-carrier, multi-layer SDN, including the development of a database of expressions for integrating the optical layer of the network with packet layer.
The O3 project is supported by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and includes the participation of Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC, NTT Communications and NTT.
NTT provided the following highlights of these first deliverables:
1) Unified network information database and resource allocation technology
- To permit management of each network comprising multiple wide area networks under unified rules, an expression system for common handling of necessary information (including network configuration and communications status information) was defined, and a network information database for handling it was built. This enables easy connection between the optical network as the lower layer and an upper layer (packet transport network), as well as coordination among related devices, which enables path-setting in multiple layers.
- Fast provision of network services was also enabled by automatic allocation of resources, including band frequency needed in the optical and packet layers, based on the network information database.
2) Technologies for common control and management of networks
- A software technology that permits operation management and control of multiple networks was developed using the above network information database.
- Specifically, the rapid building of a new virtual network compatible with an existing large-scale network was made possible. This was enabled by leveling the control load through virtualization of functions needed for the mutual connection between a new network and existing network. A network transfer technology, which supports gradual transfer from an existing network to a new network for their mutual connection, was also developed. Provision of optical core network resources optimal for band frequencies requested by end users was also enabled.
3) Technology for developing virtualization-compatible network devices
- Basic technologies for SDN network devices, which can be controlled by points 1 and 2 above, were also examined.
- SDN-compatible software transfer node: Targeted transfer performance at 100,000 flows was achieved.
- SDN-compatible optical core node: A prototype of a function for directing packet signals to line signals transferred on optical networks and housing the signals there was produced to fulfill quality requirements, such as reduced delay of packet signals.
- SDN-compatible packet transport node: PTN control and driver technologies were developed. These shorten the time needed to provide more than 10 types of service quality requested from a virtual network, from the previous several months to only a few minutes.
- SDN-compatible overlay switch: Setting of the optimal transfer path for each of the flows with different characteristics was enabled.
An outline of this project and the achievements made will be presented at “O3 Symposium 2014,” which will be held at Akihabara UDX on March 14, 2014.
