Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
OpenOptics: Enabling Open Research and Implementation of Optical Data Center Networks
Yiming Lei and Federico De Marchi, Max Planck Institute for Informatics; Jialong Li, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology; Raj Joshi, Harvard University; Shu-Ting Wang, UC San Diego; Xiaoqi Chen, Purdue University; Balakrishnan Chandrasekaran, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Yiting Xia, Max Planck Institute for Informatics
Optical data center networks (DCNs) are emerging as a promising design for cloud infrastructure. However, existing optical DCN architectures operate as closed ecosystems, tying software solutions to specific optical hardware. We introduce OpenOptics, an open research and development framework that decouples software from hardware, allowing them to evolve independently. OpenOptics features: (1) a time-flow table abstraction as a common interface between optical hardware and software, (2) a unified workflow and user-friendly API for implementing various optical DCNs with simple Python scripts, and (3) a backend system that re-architects queue management to support the time-flow tables and provides rich infrastructure services for diverse applications. Built on programmable switches, OpenOptics achieves a record-breaking minimum optical circuit duration of 2 µs using commodity devices. We validate OpenOptics’ generality by implementing six optical architectures and seven routing schemes on an optical testbed and conducting benchmarks on a 108-ToR setup, showcasing its efficiency. Additionally, case studies highlight novel research opportunities enabled by OpenOptics.
View the full NSDI '26 program at usenix.org/conference/nsdi26/technical-sessions
OpenOptics: Enabling Open Research and Implementation of Optical Data Center Networks
Yiming Lei and Federico De Marchi, Max Planck Institute for Informatics; Jialong Li, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology; Raj Joshi, Harvard University; Shu-Ting Wang, UC San Diego; Xiaoqi Chen, Purdue University; Balakrishnan Chandrasekaran, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Yiting Xia, Max Planck Institute for Informatics
Optical data center networks (DCNs) are emerging as a promising design for cloud infrastructure. However, existing optical DCN architectures operate as closed ecosystems, tying software solutions to specific optical hardware. We introduce OpenOptics, an open research and development framework that decouples software from hardware, allowing them to evolve independently. OpenOptics features: (1) a time-flow table abstraction as a common interface between optical hardware and software, (2) a unified workflow and user-friendly API for implementing various optical DCNs with simple Python scripts, and (3) a backend system that re-architects queue management to support the time-flow tables and provides rich infrastructure services for diverse applications. Built on programmable switches, OpenOptics achieves a record-breaking minimum optical circuit duration of 2 µs using commodity devices. We validate OpenOptics’ generality by implementing six optical architectures and seven routing schemes on an optical testbed and conducting benchmarks on a 108-ToR setup, showcasing its efficiency. Additionally, case studies highlight novel research opportunities enabled by OpenOptics.
View the full NSDI '26 program at usenix.org/conference/nsdi26/technical-sessions
