Sedona researches SDN-based optical network automation with ACINO consortium

Sedona Systems, which provides software-defined networking (SDN) based multilayer network automation and control platforms (see, for example, "Sedona Systems upgrades NetFusion for IP/optical layer convergence, discovery"), says it has completed a successful trial of such technology within the Application-Centric IP/Optical Network Orchestration (ACINO) consortium. ACINO is an H2020 European Union consortium that comprises Sedona, Telefonica, ADVA, CREATE-NET, Acreo, and AIT.

The ACINO project aimed to develop and demonstrate a modular, open-source IP/optical control platform. The platform would enable intent-based service provisioning and multi-layer restoration and optimization between IP/MPLS and optical layers within an individual network's service constraints.

The ACINO hierarchical controller leveraged the open source ONOS platform as well as an open source planning tool, Net2Plan. ADVA provided an optical controller with a Transport Application Programming Interface (T-API) interface (see "OIF, ONF plan SDN T-API transport API interoperability demonstration"). Telefonica's hosted the testbed, which contained ADVA optical transport systems and Juniper Network routers using ADVA and Juniper controllers, in its lab.

The service-aware automation demonstration was the first of its kind, according to Sedona.

"Automation and optimization of network functions, while being aware of service needs is key in the service provider network architecture. Such capabilities are needed for service providers to stay competitive," said Victor Lopez, technology expert at Telefonica. "I'm very pleased with ACINO's demonstrations that have proven that this is possible in a realistic network setup."

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