SPECIAL NOTICE -- INVITATION TO WORK WITH NIST ON INTERFACE SPECIFICATION FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OPTICAL NETWORK SIMULATION TOOLS AND THE NIST OPTICAL NETWORK MODELING TOOL Optical networking has experienced considerable progress in recent years. For example, wavelength division multiplex (WDM) transport systems with tera-bit/sec capacity on a single optical fiber are commercially available now. New technologies and products for optical components, optical switches or cross-connects, optical add/drop multiplexers, and WDM transports are emerging rapidly. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working with industry to meet the challenge of developing standards for the next generation optical network architectures and protocols, appropriate at very high speeds, and for different environments (e.g., local access/metro and long haul). As part of this effort, NIST is developing an optical network modeling and planning tool (MERLiN) that can provide rapid and accurate analysis of various algorithms and protocols for network configuration, provisioning, and management. MERLiN has a rich library of algorithms for optimum network design, dynamic re-configuration, restoration, path protection, wavelength assignment, and performance analysis. It is designed to permit varying levels of abstraction of the optical layer, and to utilize other simulation tools, including the network layer and optical device/component simulators. Specifically, a higher layer network simulator can have models of links and light paths parameterized with features determined/queried by a detailed optical layer simulator; or the latter can become a "pluggable" module into the overall simulation of all layers. The core of the MERLiN simulation tool provides the capability to compose a physical topology, optimize virtual topology design for given traffic and end-to-end requirements, and overlay Internet Packets through the optical network. In addition to a rich library of topologies, algorithms, and protocols, the tool provides for the creation and evaluation of user-defined algorithms and protocols. In order for such a network evaluation tool to be effective, a high degree of link and optical layer detail, in terms of their signal and performance characteristics is required. Since there are many commercially available physical device/component modeling and simulation tools, commonly referred to as computer aided design (CAD) tools that could provide such data, it would be advantageous for MERLiN to fully utilize them. Similarly, these CAD tools can expand their capabilities by utilizing MERLiN. To achieve this, an open interface for communication between two sides is needed. There are many tools and programs, large and small, developed over the years by researchers and product designers while developing optical network technologies and products. Very often the question is raised: When one acquires one of these CAD tools, can the old tool set be integrated into the new one, thus leveraging the old investments? Here an open interface similar to the one needed for MERLiN will satisfy this requirement. By this announcement, NIST is inviting parties with CAD tools for design of optical networks and optical devices/components to work with NIST to develop interface specifications and implementations for communication with the NIST MERLiN tool. NIST intends to use the experience gained, and to work with interested parties to define a common open interface specification. The common interface could be in the form of a file with a set of syntax and semantic rules, or a set of application program interfaces (API) with well-defined functions and input/output parameters. If interested, please contact Dr. David H. Su at david.su@nist.gov, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8920, Bldg. 820, Room 472, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 by September 30, 2000. For further information on the MERLiN tool, please visit our Web site at http://w3.antd.nist.gov/Hsntg/prd_merlin.html. WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http://w3.antd.nist.gov/Hsntg/prd_merlin.html. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, david.su@nist.gov. Posted 08/19/00 (W-SN488040).

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