Exact solution of the full RMSA problem in elastic optical networks

Abstract: Exact solutions of the Routing, Modulation, and Spectrum Allocation (RMSA) problem in Elastic Optical Networks (EONs), so that the number of admitted demands is maximized while those of regenerators and frequency slots used are minimized, require a complex ILP formulation taking into account frequency-slot continuity and contiguity. We introduce the first such formulation, ending a hiatus of some years since the last ILP formulation for a much simpler RMSA variation was introduced. By exploiting a number of problem and solver specificities, we use the NSFNET topology to illustrate the practicality and importance of obtaining exact solutions.