Counter-Propagating Core Assignment for Asymmetric Traffic in Multi-Core Fiber Inter-Data Center Networks

To address the rapid expansion of long-distance data transmission between geographically dispersed data centers and cloud service providers, multi-core fiber (MCF)-based inter-data center networks (IDCNs) have emerged as one of the most promising solutions. However, two critical challenges must be addressed: the bidirectional traffic asymmetry inherent in these networks and the inter-core crosstalk in MCFs. In this paper, we propose employing a counter-propagation mode during the Data Center, Routing, Core, and Spectrum Assignment (DRCSA) process within an MCF-IDCN. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in network resource utilization and a reduction in inter-core crosstalk compared to traditional co-propagation methods, thereby validating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.