ICFA Report

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The DRAGON architecture utilizes Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS) as the

basic building block for network element control and provisioning. The two key elements are the

Virtual Label Switching Router (VLSR) and the Network Aware Resource Broker (NARB). They

are complemented by the OSCARS Inter-Domain Controller (IDC) for provisioning of circuits

spanning multiple domains.

The VLSR provides a mechanism to integrate non GMPLS equipment and network regions into

the end-to-end GMPLS provisioned services, as shown in Figure 21. The VLSR translates

standard GMPLS protocols into device specific protocols, to allow dynamic reconfiguration of

non-GMPLS aware devices. The combination of a PC which runs the GMPLS based control

plane software and a switch fabric is referred to as a VLSR. The VLSR PC consists of a control

plane stack which includes OSPF-TE and RSVP-TE protocols and acts as a proxy agent for the

non-GMPLS capable devices. This allows non-GMPLS devices to be included in end-to-end path

instantiations.

NARB is an entity that represents the local Autonomous System (AS) or domain. The NARB

serves as path computation engine from which end-systems or other devices can query to find out

about availability of traffic engineered paths between specified source and destination pairs. A

stand-alone subcomponent of the NARB called the Resource Computation Element (RCE)

performs the path computation tasks.

Figure 21: DRAGON Virtual Label Switching Router.

ESnet Science Data Network:

The ESNet Science Data Network (SDN) 0 is a circuit oriented network using Layer 2/3 MPLS

capable switches. The On-Demand Secure Circuits and Advance Reservation System (OSCARS)

control plane software 0 is used for circuit reservation and provisioning.

The architecture of the OSCARS system is shown in Figure 22. OSCARS utilizes the Web

services model and standards to implement communication with the system and between

domains, and for authentication, authorization, and auditing (AAA). The management and

operation of end-to-end virtual circuits within the network is done at the layer 3 network level.

Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP) are used