Optical Network Control: Architecture, Protocols, and Standards

6.5. Summary

Neighbor discovery is a very practical feature in an optical network whether or not a distributed control plane is used. It solves the messy problem of keeping track of connectivity between adjacent network elements. The protocol mechanisms for neighbor discovery can be very simple if the appropriate overhead bytes are available for use. Neighbor discovery standardization efforts have been progressing in the ITU-T, the OIF, and the IETF. The ITU-T G.7714 recommendation is a formal description of the problem and functional description of the solution. The OIF has specified neighbor discovery procedures to be used across the UNI (see Chapter 7 for a description of the UNI). The IETF has focussed on LMP, whose design is based on accommodating ...