An optical network includes top networking ports coupled to a packet switch, first media converters, second media converters, and bottom networking ports. The first media converters are coupled to top networking ports, each of the first media converters including a first ASIC transceiver that has a circuit switch function. The second media converters are coupled to the first media converter via optical cables to receive the optical signals. Each of the second media converters includes a second ASIC transceiver that has a circuit switch function. The bottom networking ports are coupled to the second media converters. The first ASIC transceiver and the second ASIC transceiver are configured to transmit a signal from one of the top networking ports to any one of the bottom networking ports, and transmit a signal from one of the bottom networking ports to any one of the top networking ports.

A data communication network includes a plurality of network nodes coupled together via optical links and a network controller. Each network node includes a reflectometry analyzer that provides a characterization of physical properties of the optical links coupled to the associated network node. The characterization for each particular optical link provides a unique fingerprint of the physical properties of the particular optical link. The network controller determines a network path between a first network node and a second network node, wherein the network path traverses a first optical link, receives a first fingerprint for the first optical link from a first reflectometry analyzer, defines a signature for the path, the signature including the first fingerprint, receives a second fingerprint for the first optical link from the first reflectometry analyzer, the second fingerprint being different from the first fingerprint, and determines that the network path is not secure based upon the difference between the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint.

An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.

An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.

An apparatus includes a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) having an input port to receive a first optical signal from a second device. The ROADM also includes a first wavelength selective switch (WSS), in optical communication with the input port, to convert the first optical signal into a second optical signal, a loopback, in optical communication with the first WSS, to transmit the second optical signal, and a second WSS, in optical communication with the loopback, to convert the second optical signal to a third optical signal and direct the third optical signal back to the second device via the input port.

An optical network includes top networking ports coupled to a packet switch, first media converters, second media converters, and bottom networking ports. The first media converters are coupled to top networking ports, each of the first media converters including a first ASIC transceiver that has a circuit switch function. The second media converters are coupled to the first media converter via optical cables to receive the optical signals. Each of the second media converters includes a second ASIC transceiver that has a circuit switch function. The bottom networking ports are coupled to the second media converters. The first ASIC transceiver and the second ASIC transceiver are configured to transmit a signal from one of the top networking ports to any one of the bottom networking ports, and transmit a signal from one of the bottom networking ports to any one of the top networking ports.

A data communication network includes a plurality of network nodes coupled together via optical links and a network controller. Each network node includes a reflectometry analyzer that provides a characterization of physical properties of the optical links coupled to the associated network node. The characterization for each particular optical link provides a unique fingerprint of the physical properties of the particular optical link. The network controller determines a network path between a first network node and a second network node, wherein the network path traverses a first optical link, receives a first fingerprint for the first optical link from a first reflectometry analyzer, defines a signature for the path, the signature including the first fingerprint, receives a second fingerprint for the first optical link from the first reflectometry analyzer, the second fingerprint being different from the first fingerprint, and determines that the network path is not secure based upon the difference between the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint.

Systems and methods are provided for determining an optical bypass for an inter-regional wide area network (WAN) for regions of server facilities of a cloud service provider. In particular, the optical bypass connects non-adjacent regional server centers of the WAN by eliminating needs of data conversions at intermediate regional server centers. The determining the optical bypass includes receiving a WAN topology data, capacity and demand information about the WAN. The determining includes an objective function to maximize a number of network resources to free up by determining a revised data flow and bandwidth allocations by introducing the optical bypass in the WAN. The disclosed technology transmits the determined data traffic flow and resource allocation information of the optical bypass, causing a network traffic enforcers to reconfigure the WAN.

This disclosure provides a network control method, an apparatus, and a system, to manage an IP network and an optical network together, thereby properly controlling use of resources of an entire network. The method includes: obtaining first link state information and second link state information, where the first link state information is used to indicate a link state of an Internet Protocol IP network, and the second link state information is used to indicate a link state of an optical network; determining third link state information based on the first link state information and the second link state information, where the third link state information includes the link state of the IP network and the link state of the optical network; and computing a path based on the third link state information.

A dark fiber design tool for hardware, circuits, and paths is provided. A method can include generating, by a system comprising a processor, a data record that identifies respective equipment of a group of dark fiber equipment that have been assigned for a development of new dark fiber network infrastructure usable via a communication network; generating, by the system, a circuit plan representing optical connections between the respective ones of the group of dark fiber equipment as determined based on a first constraint defined by rules; and associating, by the system, respective optical wavelength paths with respective connections of the optical connections of the circuit plan based on a second constraint defined by the rules.