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Rigid fixed-grid wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks can no longer keep up with the emerging bandwidth-hungry and highly dynamic services in an efficient manner. As the available spectrum in optical fibers becomes occupied and is approaching fundamental limits, the research community has focused on seeking more advanced optical transmission and networking solutions that utilize the available bandwidth more effectively. To this end, the flexible/elastic optical networking paradigm has emerged as a way to offer efficient use of the available optical resources. In this work, we provide a comprehensive view of the different pieces composing the “flexible networking puzzle” with special attention given to capturing the occurring interactions between different research fields. Only when these interrelations are clearly defined, an optimal network-wide solution can be offered. Physical layer technological aspects, network optimization for flexible networks, and control plane aspects are examined. Furthermore, future research directions and open issues are discussed.

Cloud computing materializes the vision of utility computing. Tenants can benefit from on-demand provisioning of compute, storage, and networking resources according to a pay-per-use business model. Tenants have only limited visibility and control over network resources. The owners of cloud computing facilities are also facing challenges in various aspects of providing and efficiently managing IaaS facilities. In this work we present the networking issues in IaaS and federation challenges that are currently addressed with existing technologies. We also present innovative software-defined networking proposals, which are applied to some of the challenges and could be used in future deployments as efficient solutions.

Dynamic optical networking allows operators to effectively maximize the capacity of their physical infrastructure and cope with the rapid growth rates of the Internet traffic. In the framework of the European DICONET project we proposed and developed a comprehensive solution that utilizes the dynamicity as well as the valuable physical layer information of a reconfigurable WDM core network to provide a smooth transition from the quasi-static networking of today to an intelligent reconfigurable and physical impairment-aware architecture. In this work we discuss the benefits of implementing the DICONET solution and present some of the major achievements of the project that support both the planning and operation phase of a core optical network.

The impact of physical layer impairments in the planning and operation of all-optical (and translucent) networks is the consideration of the DICONET project. The impairment-aware network planning and operation tool (NPOT) is the main outcome of the DICONET project, and is explained in detail in this paper. We describe the key building blocks of NPOT, consisting of the network description repositories, the physical layer performance evaluator, the impairment-aware routing and wavelength assignment (IA-RWA) engines, the component placement modules, the failure handling and the integration of NPOT in the control plane. Also, we present several experimental results for NPOT, evaluating the performance of its IA-RWA engines.

Core networks of the future will have a translucent and eventually transparent optical structure. Ultra-high-speed end-to-end connectivity with high quality of service and high reliability will be realized through the exploitation of optimized protocols and lightpath routing algorithms. These algorithms will complement a flexible control and management plane integrated in the proposed solution. Physical layer impairments and optical performance are monitored and incorporated in impairment-aware lightpath routing algorithms. These algorithms will be integrated into a novel dynamic network planning tool that will consider dynamic traffic characteristics, a reconfigurable optical layer, and varying physical impairment and component characteristics. The network planning tool along with extended control planes will make it possible to realize the vision of optical transparency. This article presents a novel framework that addresses dynamic cross-layer network planning and optimization while considering the development of a future transport network infrastructure.

A vertical perspective, ranging from management and routing to physical layer options, concerning dynamic network monitoring and compensation of impairments (M&C), is given. Feasibility, reliability, and performance improvements on reconfigurable transparent networks are expected to arise from the consolidated assessment of network management and control specifications, as a more accurate evaluation of available M&C techniques. In the network layer, physical parameters aware algorithms are foreseen to pursue reliable network performance. In the physical layer, some new M&C methods were developed and rating of the state-of-the-art reported in literature is given. Optical monitoring implementation and viability is discussed. Publicado

In this letter, a hardware accelerated GMPLS based and impairment-aware control plane suitable for optical networks with concurrent lightpath requests support is proposed and evaluated. It outperforms the software version by 80 times in the order of sub-seconds. The high acceleration rate, simultaneous requests support, scalability and low computation time variance are the key features of this tool.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging paradigm that promises to change this state of affairs, by breaking vertical integration, separating the network's control logic from the underlying routers and switches, promoting (logical) centralization of network control, and introducing the ability to program the network. The separation of concerns introduced between the definition of network policies, their implementation in switching hardware, and the forwarding of traffic, is key to the desired flexibility: by breaking the network control problem into tractable pieces, SDN makes it easier to create and introduce new abstractions in networking, simplifying network management and facilitating network evolution. In this paper we present a comprehensive survey on SDN. We start by introducing the motivation for SDN, explain its main concepts and how it differs from traditional networking, its roots, and the standardization activities regarding this novel paradigm. Next, we present the key building blocks of an SDN infrastructure using a bottom-up, layered approach. We provide an in-depth analysis of the hardware infrastructure, southbound and northbound APIs, network virtualization layers, network operating systems (SDN controllers), network programming languages, and network applications. We also look at cross-layer problems such as debugging and troubleshooting. In an effort to anticipate the future evolution of this new paradigm, we discuss the main ongoing research efforts and challenges of SDN. In particular, we address the design of switches and control platforms -- with a focus on aspects such as resiliency, scalability, performance, security and dependability -- as well as new opportunities for carrier transport networks and cloud providers. Last but not least, we analyze the position of SDN as a key enabler of a software-defined environment., Comment: Version 2.01: 61 pages, 11 figures, 17 tables, 579 references

Software defined networking (SDN) and OpenFlow as the outcome of recent research and development efforts provided unprecedented access into the forwarding plane of networking elements. This is achieved by decoupling the network control out of the forwarding devices. This separation paves the way for a more flexible and innovative networking. While SDN concept and OpenFlow find their ways into commercial deployments, performance evaluation of the SDN concept and its scalability, delay bounds, buffer sizing and similar performance metrics are not investigated in recent researches. In spite of usage of benchmark tools (like OFlops and Cbench), simulation studies and very few analytical models, there is a lack of analytical models to express the boundary condition of SDN deployment. In this work we present a model based on network calculus theory to describe the functionality of an SDN switch and controller. To the best of our knowledge, this is for the first time that network calculus framework is utilized to model the behavior of an SDN switch in terms of delay and queue length boundaries and the analysis of the buffer length of SDN controller and SDN switch. The presented model can be used for network designers and architects to get a quick view of the overall SDN network deployment performance and buffer sizing of SDN switches and controllers.

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is a concept which provides the network operators and data centres to flexibly manage their networking equipment using software running on external servers. According to the SDN framework, the control and management of the networks, which is usually implemented in software, is decoupled from the data plane. On the other hand cloud computing materializes the vision of utility computing. Tenants can benefit from on-demand provisioning of networking, storage and compute resources according to a pay-per-use business model. In this work we present the networking issues in IaaS and networking and federation challenges that are currently addressed with existing technologies. We also present innovative software-define networking proposals, which are applied to some of the challenges and could be used in future deployments as efficient solutions. cloud computing networking and the potential contribution of software-defined networking along with some performance evaluation results are presented in this paper.

Dynamic impairment-aware routing and wavelength assignment (IA-RWA) applies to dynamic core wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) networks and refers to the process that is responsible for the computation of lightpaths (LPs) for traffic demands arriving during network operation. During this process, the effect of single-channel and multichannel impairments needs to be taken into account so as to compute LPs with strong quality of transmission (QoT) and not to disrupt the traffic that is already established in the network. In addition to ensuring acceptable QoT, the online application of IA-RWA seeks also to minimize the execution time needed per connection. Minimizing the LP setup time is critical during network operation, and the delay experienced due to the LP computation depends largely on the algorithmic implementation and particularly on the way physical-layer impairments (PLIs) are considered. Finally IA-RWA needs to be supported by a properly enhanced control plane that essentially enables the dynamic impairment-aware networking vision.

Future Internet services are characterized by global delivery of heterogeneous network-based applications over high performance dynamic networks. To meet these applications needs, architectural enhancements and changes in the current Internet are essential. However, since there exists multiple stakeholders in the current Internet, it is almost impossible to reach an agreement among them on necessary architecture alterations and improvements. Network virtualization has been proposed as a technology that aims at solving this limitation enabling Infrastructure Providers to partition their physical network infrastructures based on user/application requirements into virtual networks. This paper proposes a novel architectural solution for future IP networks based on the concept of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) framework and core IP network virtualization. Virtual IP network composition and virtual IP infrastructure Marketplace are two key innovative mechanisms, which are proposed in this architecture. The proposed virtual IP network composition instantiates multiple concurrent and isolated virtual networks coexisting over the same underlying physical infrastructure. Each of these network instances has its own distinctive topology and independent control/routing mechanism. The proposed Marketplace performs IP resource brokering between IP infrastructure providers and their users (i.e. service providers) as well as virtual IP network composition. Design and performance evaluation of the required mechanisms along with the functional building blocks of the proposed architecture with focus on Marketplace functionality are presented in this paper.

International audience; In October 2011 a new, ambitious project was launched, named FIBRE (Future Internet testbeds experimentation between Brazil and Europe). Its main goal is to create common space between Brazil and EU for Future Internet experimental research into network infrastructure and distributed applications, by building and operating a federated EU-Brazil Future Internet experimental facility. Apart from bridging partners from two continents, the project brings together different technologies, including OpenFlow, wireless and optical communications. To demonstrate the public utility of the facility, FIBRE will design and implement a set of pilot applications ranging from seamless wireless connectivity to high-definition content delivery. The poster to be presented describes FIBRE’s goals, its testbed facilities and a schema of the envisioned architecture embracing the functionalities of the individual testbeds, as well as their federation. This schema has resulted from the collaborative work of the partners in order to define the functional requirements related to such an architecture. Our ambition with this poster is to attract new users for the facility from the experimental research community, but also to stimulate interest for FIBRE’s activities among the conference’s attendees.

Today, experimentally driven research is central to future Internet research and innovation. A major challenge for this type of research is providing a mechanism for efficient sharing of the experimental infrastructure among several research experiments while ensuring experiments are run in complete separation without interfering with each other. This paper address these issues by proposing a cross-layer infrastructure virtualization solution based on OpenFlow technology. The proposed solution enables creation of multiple isolated virtual experimental infrastructures all sharing same physical infrastructure. Furthermore, it allows an experimenter to manipulate behavior of the network elements belonging to his/her virtual infrastructure without interfering with other virtual infrastructures.

In this paper, a novel Infrastructure as a Service architecture for future Internet enabled by optical network virtualization is proposed. Central to this architecture is a novel virtual optical network (VON) composition mechanism capable of taking physical layer impairments (PLIs) into account. The impact of PLIs on VON composition is investigated based on both analytical model of PLIs and industrial parameters. Furthermore, the impact of network topology on VON composition is evaluated.

Novel impairment and cost aware optical network virtualization mechanisms are investigated over single-line-rate and mixed-line-rate optical networks. Fundamental challenges are addressed by the proposed virtual optical network composition mechanisms utilizing optimization algorithms.

Hybrid GMPLS-OpenFlow and novel Extended OpenFlow approaches are presented and experimentally evaluated on a converged packet and circuit switching setup. Extended OpenFlow agents, controllers and network application are developed & their performance evaluated on commercial ROADMs for the first time.

Transparent and translucent optical networks are widely considered as the prime candidates for the core network technology of the future. These networks provide ultra high speed end-to-end connectivity with high quality of service (QoS) and resilience to failures. This will be achieved through appropriate network planning techniques. A downside of transparency, however, is the accumulation of physical layer impairments over long distances, which are difficult to mitigate using purely physical-layer techniques. Considering the impact of physical layer impairments on network planning and operation has received considerable attention from research community. A novel physical layer impairment aware network planning tool is presented in this paper. Its performance is quantitatively compared with results obtained by a state-of-the-art tool under a common network scenario. The differences between the two planning approaches are illustrated and discussed.

In optical networks the effect of physical layer impairments can play an important role in the routing and wavelength assignment decisions that are taken in the control layer. Furthermore, as networks evolve to support more bandwidth-intensive applications, and as rich multimedia and real-time services become more popular, next-generation networks are expected to support traffic that will be heterogeneous in nature with both unicast and multicast applications. In this chapter we investigate the problems of routing and wavelength assignment in transparent optical networks that support unicast and multicast applications, while taking into consideration the physical layer impairments during the provisioning of each application.

Cloud computing is a new model of consuming and delivering IT and infrastructure resources. It enables users to obtain what they need, as they need it, from advanced applications to IT infrastructure and platform services, including virtual infrastructure, servers and storage. It can provide significant economies of scale and greater business agility, while accelerating the pace of innovation. Network virtualization, as a key enabling technology in resource provisioning for cloud, has attracted extensive attention from both academia and industry. It takes cloud services to the next level by delivering optimised resources, on-demand utilisation, flexibility and scalability. This paper proposes a novel architectural solution for future cloud service providers based on the concept of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) framework and IP network virtualization. A number of associated schemes have also been designed as building blocks for the proposed framework, including resource description and abstraction mechanisms, virtual network request method and a resource broker mechanism named Marketplace. The proposed framework is able to respond quickly to the infrastructure needs for those cloud services with dynamic resizing of the infrastructure by aggregation or partition to meet capacity requirements of services. At the same time, it improves the utilisation of providers' resources with the creation of an infrastructure incorporating the heterogeneous resources in the data centre. In addition, the proposed marketplace, which also allows the trading of IP network resources between infrastructure providers and cloud service providers, is an important and complementary innovation within the cloud landscape.

This paper proposes an optical networking paradigm suitable for future Internet services enabled by OpenFlow. The OpenFlow technology supports the programmability of network functions and protocols by separating the data plane and the control plane, which are currently vertically integrated in routers and switches. OpenFlow facilitates fundamental changes in the behaviour of networks and their associated protocols. This paper introduces an OpenFlow optical network architecture enabled by optical flow, optical flow switching elements and programmable OpenFlow controllers. The proposed solution allows intelligent, user controlled and programmable optical network service provisioning with the capability to operate any user defined network protocol and scenario.

International audience; Core optical networks using reconfigurable optical switches and tunable lasers appear to be on the road towards widespread deployment and could evolve to all-optical mesh networks in the coming future. Considering the impact of physical layer impairments in the planning and operation of all-optical (and translucent) networks is the main focus of the Dynamic Impairment Constraint Optical Networking (DICONET) project. The impairment aware network planning and operation tool (NPOT) is the main outcome of DICONET project, which is explained in detail in this paper. The key building blocks of the NPOT, consisting of network description repositories, the physical layer performance evaluator, the impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment engines, the component placement modules, failure handling, and the integration of NPOT in the control plane are the main contributions of this study. Besides, the experimental result of DICONET proposal for centralized and distributed control plane integration schemes and the performance of the failure handling in terms of restoration time is presented in this study.

The paper presents some results from the experimental validation of the achievements of the EU DICONET project. Specifically, the DICONET test-bed is presented and the experiments conducted for the performance evaluation of the control plane approaches designed to include the Physical layer Information (PLI) in the Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) problem are discussed.

Bandwidth demands resulting from generated traffics by emerging applications, when aggregated at the edge of the networks for transport over core networks can only be met with high-capacity WDM circuit switched optical networks. An efficient end-to-end delivery of packet streams in terms of network control, operation and management is one of the key challenges for the network operators. Therefore, a unified control and management plane for both packet and optical circuit switch domains is a good candidate to address this need. In this paper a novel software-defined packet over optical networks solution based on the integration of OpenFlow and GMPLS control plane is experimentally demonstrated. The proposed architecture, experimental setup, and average flow setup time for different optical flows are reported. The performance of the extended OpenFlow controller is also presented and discussed.

We present a network operation tool called Impairment Aware Lightpath Computation Engine (IALCE) that incorporates an impairment-aware routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithm. We perform experiments illustrating the flexibility of the engine and the performance of the algorithm.

This paper evaluates a centralised impairment-aware path restoration approach for GMPLS-controlled transparent optical networks. Experimental results on a 14-node network test-bed show successful QoT compliant path restoration of around 3.6 seconds.

This paper presents a hardware accelerated QoT estimation tool used in the DICONET impairment-aware optical network. Performance evaluation is given by examining different network scenarios in terms of network size and number of wavelengths.

The evolution of optical networks should aim at improved cost economics, reduced operations efforts, scalability and adaptation to the future services and application requirements. Considering the evolution trend of optical networks, the core networks of the future will have a translucent and eventually transparent optical network structure. The realization of dynamic and fully automated transparent optical core networks is an important task that is required in order to provide cost (CAPEX and OPEX) reduction & performance benefits. This goal has not yet been fully achieved in commercial exploitation due to: a) limited transmission reach and overall performance of transparent optical networks and b) challenges related to the fault localization and isolation in transparent optical networks. These issues have been recognized within the DICONET project. In DICONET framework Physical layer impairments and optical performance are monitored and incorporated in impairment aware lightpath routing algorithms. These algorithms will be integrated into a novel dynamic network planning and operation tool that will consider dynamic traffic characteristics, a reconfigurable optical layer, varying physical impairment and component characteristics. The network planning and operation tool along with extended control planes will make possible to realize the vision of optical transparency. In this talk we focus on the impairment aware lightpath establishment problem. Two broad techniques are available to solve this problem: the utilization of a quality of transmission estimator based on real-time monitor measurements and analytical transmission models (called hereafter "Q-Tool"); and through the direct probing of candidate lightpaths. We present recent developments for these two techniques. The first technique, impairment aware routing and wavelength assignment (IA-RWA) using a Q-Tool, has been well investigated especially when lightpaths must be established under a single constraint (e.g., quality of signal transmission must be high enough, or accumulated noise must be below some threshold). Here, we present a multi-constraint IA-RWA algorithm, called “Rahyab”, which uses a single mixed cost metric per link, instead of multiple link costs. The performance of Rahyab algorithm in terms of blocking rate is presented. In the proposed IA-RWA algorithm, the Quality of Transmission (QoT) of a lightpath is calculated using the DICONET Q-Tool. However, this tool, as well as any other QoT estimator, has only a certain degree of accuracy and therefore it introduces errors and inefficiencies in the lightpath selection process. We also show how the Rahyab multi-constraint algorithm can be extended to handle the inaccuracies of the Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimators. In particular, we consider an inaccuracy margin parameter per link that depends on the availability of particular monitors on that link. Inaccuracies may lead to accept lightpaths for which the QoT is actually too low, but estimated as satisfying. We show via simulations that in case of inaccuracies, we successfully block such connection attempts with poor actual QoT but a good estimated (when inaccuracies are not accounted for) QoT. In the second category of lightpath establishment techniques, the quality of transmission is estimated from probing information, rather than analytical models. In particular we leverage an end-to-end estimation framework called "network kriging". The scheme relies on the exploitation of probing data from past lightpath establishments to estimate the Quality of Transmission (QoT) of new lightpaths before they are established. We use network kriging to estimate end-to-end metrics such as Quality of Transmission (QoT) for a lightpath to be established, based on measured data from other, previously established or probed, lightpaths. Network kriging exploits the correlation between QoT metrics of lightpaths that share the same links in order to perform QoT estimation. In our lightpath establishment scheme, several attempts are performed to establish a lightpath. Our technique does not attempt to establish lightpaths with estimated poor QoT. We show that the technique is more appropriate to centralized control planes, although it is still applicable to distributed control planes. Lightpath establishment is only one of the building blocks of the core network of the future. DICONET will integrate it into a more general framework to actually build a complete dynamic transparent optical network including a control plane and failure localization modules. A brief overview of the future activities of the DICONET project, culminating with the building of a prototype, will be outlined.

Optical networks are moving from opaque and translucnet architectures towards all-optical (transparent) architecutres. In translucent architectures a small amount of regeneration (e.g. optical-electronic-optical conversion) is available in the network. The incorporation of the physical impairments in the routing and wavelenghth assignment (RWA) problem in transparent optical networks has recently received some attention from the research communities. this work compiles a comprehensive survey of the proposed algorithms that address this issue. the physical layer impairments and related classification in optical networks are initially presented followed by physical layer impairments (PLI) constrained and aware RWA algorithms. Algorithmic approach, current PLI-RWA proposals, impact of wavelenght conversation on these algorithms, protection and resilience considerations, and proposed extensions to control planes are covered in this work. Further research topics are presented in this study.

In transparent optical networks as the signal propagates through a transparent network it experiences the impact of a variety of quality degrading phenomena that are introduced by different types of signal distortions. In this chapter we present a new optical networking paradigm for mesh topology, in which the impact of physical layer impairments are considered in lightpath routing (routing and wavelength assignment) process and also is integrated in the control plane and network planning and operational tools. We also show that by taking into account both, the physical impairments characterized by the Q-factor, as we propose and the features of the electrical layer will have a strong impact onto the impairments constraints based routing The number of regenerator ports in optical nodes is another constraint which has a strong impact onto the routing. We show the impact of these ports to a routing that is based on impairment constraints where the electronic layer can support traffic grooming.

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01524-3_8, This chapter summarises the activities on optical packet switching (OPS) and optical burst switching (OBS) carried out by the COST 291 partners in the last 4 years. It consists of an introduction, five sections with contributions on five different specific topics, and a final section dedicated to the conclusions. Each section contains an introductive state-of-the-art description of the specific topic and at least one contribution on that topic. The conclusions give some points on the current situation of the OPS/OBS paradigms.

The issues and challenges associated with network planning and engineering of a dynamically reconfigurable all-optical network will be discussed. Possible solutions will be outlined and the effectiveness of some proposed solutions will be demonstrated.

Fast lightpath restoration becomes particularly challenging in all-optical networks. First, the optical transparency complicates failure localization and isolation procedures, as loss of light alarms stemming from a failure propagate downstream from the failure point. Besides, such a transparency implies that optical signals must traverse relatively long distances without electrical regeneration. In view of this, backup path computations must also account for all degradations introduced in the physical end-to-end path, thus ensuring their feasibility. Looking toward the optical core networks of the future, the EU DICONET Project has worked on cross-layer solutions to enhance network control and management with the impairment-awareness needed to govern the underlying optical layer. This includes a network planning and operation tool (NPOT) that implements impairment-aware routing and wavelength assignment algorithms, along with a failure localization mechanism. This paper reports the experimental demonstration of a dynamic impairment-aware restoration scheme that benefits from enhanced NPOT features for fast lightpath restoration. To this end, a prioritized scheduler to provide differentiated resilience support, the implementation of the quality of transmission estimator module on field programmable gate array hardware, and a fast resource pre-reservation protocol are presented in this work. The performance of the proposed impairment-aware lightpath restoration scheme has been evaluated experimentally on a 14-node all-optical network test-bed, showing average restoration times of 1.16 and 1.64 s for high and low priority traffic classes, respectively.

Context-aware ubiquitous computing environments tend to be highly distributed and heterogeneous, while also featuring increased dynamism as elements, devices and middleware components join, leave and change their status. In such environments, information is derived and fused with numerous sensors and context-aware middleware components. As a result, directory and naming services, along with reasoning mechanisms, are at the heart of any non-trivial ubiquitous computing application. In this paper, we argue that semantic web technologies can deal with directory service requirements of ubiquitous computing environments, much more efficiently than the wide range of legacy mechanisms. To justify this claim, we introduce a model that could greatly facilitate the development, deployment and management of ubiquitous computing applications. This model relies on semantic web technologies (i.e., ontology management) and facilitates the integration of hardware and middleware elements in the scope of a ubiquitous computing application. Using this model and its underlying ontology management schemes, we implemented proof-of-concept applications in the scope of a smart space comprising numerous sensors, actuators and middleware components. Based on the implementation experience, we outline the merits of using semantic web technologies in ubiquitous context-aware computing and smart spaces.

It has been extensively demonstrated that the traffic pattern in today’s Internet is Self-Similar. Burst assembly algorithms utilized in optical burst switched (obs) edge routers can be used to reduce the degree of self-similarity. This work investigates the impact of time and size-based burst assembly algorithms utilized in obs edge routers, on the self-similarity level of the output traffic. Both static and adaptive algorithms are examined. Our study is based on the opnet simulation tool focusing on the characteristics of the output traffic in the presence of self-similar input traffic. To estimate the Hurst parameter of the aggregated input and output traffic streams, we have applied various Hurst parameter estimators. The performance impact of the burst assembly algorithms in terms of burst assembly delay and its jitter is also assessed. Our study has shown that the burst assembly mechanism at the obs edge router reduces the self-similarity level of the output traffic and that this reduction depends on the parameters of the algorithm. Our results reveal that the proposed adaptive burst assembly algorithm performs better comparing to its non-adaptive counterpart.

In transparent optical networks, the signal experiences the impact of various phenomena that degrade its quality. Considering the impact of physical layer impairments (PLIs) on transparent [1] and highly dynamic optical networks [2] has received much attention recently. The main innovation of the DICONET project [3] is the development of a dynamic Network Planning and Operation Tool (NPOT) that incorporates real-time assessments of the optical layer performance into Impairment Aware Routing and Wavelength Assignment (IA-RWA) algorithms. The NPOT is integrated into a unified extended Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS)-based control plane. The work in [1] reported the result of a centralized integration scheme for transparent networks considering various PLIs, while [4] only investigated a distributed GMPLS integration for translucent networks. This paper demonstrates the performance of centralized and distributed impairment-aware control plane approaches over a realistic 14-node experimental test-bed under dynamic traffic conditions.Initial simulation results were reported in [5] and experimental results are reported here. The test-bed integrates the developed NPOT engine, the extended GMPLS control protocols required for supporting the innovative DICONET solutions and the various communication protocols to allow all DICONET building blocks run in an orchestrated fashion. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, impairment-aware control plane schemes with integrated real-time Quality of Transmission (QoT) estimator are demonstrated.