GANCLES: A Network Level Simulator to Study Optical Routing, Wavelength Assignment and Grooming Algorithms

A novel tool for the study of IP over WDM networks is presented. The tool is a network level simulator named GANCLES that includes several innovative features allowing the study of realistic scenarios in IP over WDM networks, making it an ideal tool for traffic engineering purposes. GANCLES architecture enables the simulation of dynamic traffic grooming on top of a realistic network model that correctly describes the logical interaction between the optical and the IP layer, i.e., the mutual relationship between routing and lightpath assignment procedures at the optical layer and routing at the IP layer. Adding or removing lightpaths changes the logical IP topology, which affects IP routing and traffic patterns. In addition it is possible to use also realistic TCP-like traffic models that mimic the adaptability to the available resources of current data applications, making the overall simulation scenario very realistic and suited both for network analysis and planning/provisioning, either for WANs or for emerging metropolitan optical networks. Samples of the simulator capabilities are given at the end of the report.