Abstract: Fiber optic networks are known for their limitless capabilities and high bandwidth. To utilize this high capability network different multiplexing techniques are used. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is one of the techniques which are most frequently used in WDM networks to utilize the available resources. In WDM network every link has its own bandwidth capacity. Whenever traffic is generated from source to destination the wavelength is assigned to each link to carry that traffic and out of the paths available between source and destination proper path is selected. So for routing and wavelength assignment problem different algorithms are used. In this thesis standard Routing and wavelength assignment algorithm is used. In this thesis analysis of different topologies in WDM network is done for different traffic patterns using routing and wavelength assignment algorithm (RWA). The MATPLAN WDM simulation tool based on MATLAB is used to simulate WDM topologies and to generate traffic patterns. Then behaviour of different topologies for distinct traffic patterns is analysed using the tool for different parameters. The parameters analysed in this thesis are message propagation delay which should be minimum, channel utilization which should be more, traffic carrying capacity of the network which should be high. It is found that mesh topology is better for high traffic but it is costly due to large number of links. So star topology is one topology which is better in all aspects.

Keywords: Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), Routing and Wavelength assignment algorithm (RWA), MATPLAN.