Multi-layer Network Recovery: Avoiding Traffic Disruptions Against Fiber Failures

The next generation backbone networks, optical IP/MPLS networks, enable increasingly higher volumes of information to be transported. In this network architecture, a fiber failure can result in a loss of several terabits of data per second and leads to multiple failures in the upper network layer. Thus, the ability of the network to maintain an acceptable level of reliability has become crucial. In this paper, a dynamic cooperation between packet and wavelength switching domain is considered in order to provide protected paths cost effectively. A new multi-layer routing scheme that incorporates recovery mechanisms in order to guarantee connectivity against any single fiber failure is presented.