System and method for ethernet network design

A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions executable by a processor to:

• access embedded network information;
• access a proposed number of core layer nodes for a to-be-designed network;
• determine a lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes to service a coverage area of the to-be-designed network;
• determine a number of aggregator layer nodes to be included in the to-be-designed network by adding a positive integer quantity to the lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes;
• consider a forecasted demand for the to-be-designed network;
• consider a price list for equipment to be included in the to-be-designed network;
• generate at least two potential network designs for the to-be-designed network;
• locate each of the core layer nodes and aggregator layer nodes at an assigned physical location of the at least two potential network designs;
• identify a lower cost proposed network from the at least two potential network designs;
• and
• output data, wherein the data is based at least in part on one of the potential network designs.

A network design system, comprising:

• a network interface device operable to form at least a portion of a communication link between a local component and a remote memory maintaining embedded network information;
• a design engine operable to:
• generate at least two proposed network designs each including at least one deployed network node described in the embedded network information;
• locate the at least one deployed network node at a physical location for each of the at least two proposed network designs;
• determine a lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes to service a coverage area of the at least two proposed network designs;
• and
• consider at least one design parameter in connection with generating the at least two proposed network designs for a to-be-designed network, the at least one design parameter comprising a price list for at least one piece of equipment to be included in the to-be-designed network, wherein the at least one design parameter further comprises a number of aggregator layer nodes determined by adding a positive integer quantity to the lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes;
• and
• a costing engine operable to determine a lower cost proposed network from the at least two proposed network designs.

An Ethernet network design method comprising:

• determining a lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes to service a coverage area of a to-be-designed Ethernet optical network;
• receiving a user input comprising at least one design parameter for the to-be-designed Ethernet optical network, wherein the at least one design parameter comprises a price list for at least one piece of equipment to be included in the to-be-designed network, wherein the at least one design parameter further comprises a number of aggregator layer nodes determined by adding a positive integer quantity to the lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes;
• generating at least two different potential network designs for the to-be-designed network;
• locating the at least one piece of equipment at a physical location for each of the at least two different potential network designs;
• and
• calculating a cost of implementing at least one of the at least two different potential network designs.