A study of the robustness of optical networks under massive failures

Abstract In this paper, we provide a comparative analysis of network robustness for different synthetic and real optical network topologies under various types of massive failures using the Girona Network Robustness Simulator (GNRS). We model massive failures as random, targeted, and epidemic, the later of which has not yet been considered in the context of robustness. Results indicate that, in addition to the presence of hub nodes, which are critical for targeted attacks, the network diameter limiting the distance between hubs plays an important role in network robustness under epidemic massive failures.