In this paper, a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) network model based on the equivalent networks is described, and wavelength-dependent equivalent arc, equivalent networks, equivalent multicast tree and some other terms are presented. Based on this model and relevant Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) strategy, a unicast RWA algorithm and a multicast RWA algorithm are presented. The wavelength-dependent equivalent arc expresses the schedule of local RWA and the equivalent network expresses the whole topology of WDM optical networks, so the two algorithms are of the flexibility in RWA and the optimization of the whole problem. The theoretic analysis and simulation results show the two algorithms are of the stronger capability and the lower complexity than the other existing algorithms for RWA problem, and the complexity of the two algorithms are only related to the scale of the equivalent networks. Finally, we prove the two algorithms feasibility and the one-by-one corresponding relation between the equivalent multicast tree and original multicast tree, and point out the superiorities and drawbacks of the two algorithms respectively.