Abstract

This fully updated and expanded second edition of Optical Networks: A Practical Perspective succeeds the first as the authoritative source for information on optical networking technologies and techniques. Written by two of the field's most respected individuals, it covers componentry and transmission in detail but also emphasizes the practical networking issues that affect organizations as they evaluate, deploy, or develop optical solutions.

This book captures all the hard-to-find information on architecture, control and management, and other communications topics that will affect you every step of the way-from planning to decision-making to implementation to ongoing maintenance. If your goal is to thoroughly understand practical optical networks, this book should be your first and foremost resource.
* Focuses on practical, networking-specific issues: everything you need to know to implement currently available optical solutions.
* Provides the transmission and component details you need to understand and assess competing technologies.
* Offers updated and expanded coverage of propagation, lasers and optical switching technology, network design, transmission design, IP over WDM, wavelength routing, optical standards, and more.
"This is an excellent book to get you thoroughly up to speed in everything that is important in the hot field of optical networking. It is a must-read for novices but should be in the bookshelf of every optical networking specialist." --Martin Zirngibl, Director, Photonics Network Research, Lucent Technologies, Bell Laboratories.
"Rajiv Ramaswami is the industry's best teacher on optical technology and this book is the most lucid, scholarly, and enlightening guide to WDM published to date." --George Gilder, Editor, Gilder Technology Report and Author of "Telecosm"
"This book is not only thorough in covering the physics and the applications of optical communications, but it discusses the relevance of technology to the emerging intelligent optical networking revolution. This should be mandatory reading for every professional in our business." -- Desh Deshpande, Chairman, Sycamore Networks, Inc.
"This edition of Optical Networks will greatly aid everyone in the business of creating change and help them understand the science behind and the applications of an optical world." -- Mike Perusse, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology, Qwest
"Rajiv Ramaswami is the industry's best teacher on optical technology, and this book is the most lucid, scholarly, and enlightening guide to wavelength division multiplexing published to date" -- George Gilder, Editor, Gilder Technology Report and author of Telecosm
"Rajiv Ramaswami is the industry's best teacher on optical technology, and this book is the most lucid, scholarly, and enlightening guide to wavelength division multiplexing published to date." -- George Gilder, Editor, Gilder Technology Report and author of Telecosm
"As one who believes optics will be as important to the new economy and the transformation of existing networks, systems and appliances as micro electronics have been in the past, this edition of Optical networks will greatly aid all those in the business of creating change who have very diverse backgrounds by grounding the reader in an easy to understand test that help the reader understand the science behind and the applications of an optical world." -- Mike Perusse, Senior VP of Engineering and Technology, Qwest
"The first edition of this book has become a favorite reference because of its practical yet comprehensive treatment of optical networking topics. The readable style, balanced coverage of transmission and networking issues and inclusion of real-world issues has been carried forward into this second
edition. This new version provides timely updates on emerging technologies that will shape the deployment of optical networks for year to come." -- Thomas S. Afferton, District Manager - Advanced Transport Technology & Architecture Planning AT&T Network Services
" This book is not only thorough in covering the physics and the applications of optical communications, but discusses the relevance of technology to the emerging Intelligent Optical Networking Revolution. This should be a mandatory reading for every professional in our business." -- Desh Deshpande, Chairman, Sycamore Networks, Inc.
"The authors taken the complex and critical subject of optical networking and created a resource for everyone who is interested in understanding the important aspects of this rapidly developing industry. Their grasp of what is truly workable and worthwhile in optical networks is fundamental, and they have effectively packaged this knowledge in an easy-to-comprehend text that will be valued by both veterans and those new to optical networking." -- Scott Grout, President and CEO, Chorum Technologies
(reworded per Kim Tompkins at Chorum)
"The second edition of this widely read text will be a valuable resource for students and engineers alike. It provides an extensive coverage not only of topics related to current practice, but also techniques being researched which may be developed in the future" -Dr. David Hunter, Senior Researcher, Marconi Labs, Cambridge, UK
"This book is not only essential reading for anyone in the optical networks
industry, it is important. It provides the necessary foundation of learning
for anyone hoping to contribute to this technology's rapid evolution." -- Scott Clavenna, President, PointEast Research

"this books give an excellent overview of the complex field of optical
networking. I especially like how it ties the optical hardware functionality
into the overall networking picture. Everybody who wants to be a player in
the optical networking space should have this book within easy reach." -- Martin Zirngibl, Director, Photonics Network Research, Lucent Technologies, Bell Laboratories
"This is a comprehensive and authoritative work of reference on optical
networks, ranging in scope from components and systems to overall design
principles. I find the book well-organised and easy to use and I
particularly like the treatment of network design and operation. An
essential book for anyone seriously interested in optical networks." -- Goff Hill, Altamar Networks
"This book provides the most comprehensive coverage of both the theory and
practice of optical networking. Its up-to-date coverage makes it an
invaluable reference for both practitioners and researchers." -- Suresh Subramaniam, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University
"Functions as both an introduction to optical networking and as a text to
reference again and again. Great for system designers as well as those
marketing and selling those systems. "Optical Networking" provides theory
and applications (common as well as thought provoking ones such as optical
packet routing). While no text can be truly state-of-the-art in the fast
moving area of optical netorking, this one comes as close as possible." -- Alan Repech, System Architect, Cisco Systems Optical Transport
"The authors have done excellent job of updating the content with all the
new developments in Optical Networking in this 2nd ed. Optical networking is
a rapidly changing technology that can support the enormous Internet traffic
growth deamnds required by bandwidth intensive applications of 21st century,
the century of optical communications. Authors work in practical optical
networking technologies and are also quite active in standards bodies," -- Rao Lingampalli, Senior Technical Marketing Manager, Calient Networks
"I really enjoy the bottom up approach of contents flow to address the fundamental of optical components as the enablers, the optical transmission system design and engineering as the building blocks, and network architecture and its management features to deliver applications to the network operators and services providers as the end products. The readers will understand what are the optical enablers, why the performance is needed, and how the system and optical network are being realized by reading through the book." -- Shoa-Kai Liu, Director of Advanced Technology, Worldcom