ACADEMIA

Ultra fast network showcases innovation, applications, engineering and operations

Internet2, in collaboration with consortium members, will highlight 100Gbps networking capabilities and applications already developed atop the world’s fastest network to support large-scale science initiatives, in four separate demonstrations at SC11 – the annual supercomputing conference held Nov. 12-18 in Seattle. The demonstrations will showcase Internet2’s newly deployed 100G network and unparalleled capacity to support today’s researchers in their work to solve some of society’s greatest challenges. The demonstrations will take place at Internet2’s booth #1327 throughout SC11.

"Innovation happens when there is a big playground for creative people. 10G networks are just not a very big playground anymore for data-intensive science,” said Dave Lambert, Internet2 CEO and President. “100G links on an 8.8 terabit backbone is the size of playground innovators need to create a wider breadth and depth of innovation. 100G is the first piece of the new dimension of innovation, the next pieces are the applications, engineering, and operations of that network to enable collaboration and speed of innovation.”

The four demonstrations, dates and times include:

100G Network and Real-Time Network Visualization

Internet2 will describe and showcase its operational 100G network. Internet2 will continue to upgrade the Internet2 network optical and IP infrastructure to increase the available bandwidth to the research and education community. A nationwide 100Gbps interconnected network will be completed by mid-2012.

Also, WorldView, an interactive, real-time network visualization system that makes the complex world of network data easily accessible will be demonstrated. The tool was developed by the Indiana University Global Research Network Operations Center.

Demonstration times: Monday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m., and 5 p.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Enabling Large Scale Science

Internet2, in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt University, will demonstrate the advanced capabilities of the Dynamic Network System (DYNES) cyber-instrument. This demonstration will show the instrument’s reach and capabilities across the country, and efforts to peer the service with similar capabilities in South America and Europe.

This framework supports large, long-distance scientific data flows of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), other leading programs in data intensive science, and the broader scientific community. This nationwide project, funded by the National Science Foundation, is currently deployed at 40 U.S. universities and regional networks, and consists of hardware and software that utilize dynamic networking infrastructure. Also, the Internet2 ION network currently serves as the backbone interconnect for DYNES enabled regionals and universities. The Internet2 SCinet Research Sandbox entry at SC11 also shows how DYNES-enabled research benefits by using software defined networking technologies such as OpenFlow.

Demonstration times: Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.

Distributing Physics Data Globally

In a joint demonstration, Internet2 and GÉANT will illustrate Layer 2 transatlantic data traffic flow in support of the LHC project. Data movement will be shown across transatlantic links as well as participating end sites in the U.S. and Europe. This innovative effort will show dedicated network overlays for the particle physics community.

Demonstration times: Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 10:30 a.m.; 11a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m.

Software Defined Networks for Data Exchange Challenges

Software defined networking (SDN) will allow new solutions to the data exchange challenges that plague astronomers, climatologists, medical researchers, physicists and others whose work depends on massive data files. Internet2, with its partners Indiana University and the Clean Slate Program at Stanford University, will demonstrate a new suite of services to support global research, and bolster U.S. research competitiveness. The Network Development and Deployment Initiative (NDDI) substrate will separate the function of the network from the hardware controlling how data is exchanged. This will allow network operators to program the networks researchers use to optimize the data exchange and deliver complete, immediately usable data. The Open Science, Scholarship, and Services Exchange (OS3E), built atop the NDDI substrate, will link the best scientists in the U.S. to the best research instruments and labs around the globe, by interoperating with other dynamic circuit networks. This will enable the exchange of vast amounts of data to support high-energy physics, astronomers, climatologists, and medical researchers.

Demonstration times: Monday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m.

Background Information

Internet2 and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Science Network (ESnet) recently announced the deployment of the world’s first transcontinental deployment of 100 Gigabit per second (Gbps) using coherent technology. Built on Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, the new 8.8 Terabit per second network is equipped with 100 Gbps optical backbone connections. The new 8.8 Terabit per second network, equipped with 100G optical backbone connections, operates between Atlanta; New York; Washington D.C.; Cleveland; Chicago; Kansas City; Denver; Salt Lake City; Sunnyvale, California; and Seattle.

Internet2 uses fiber strands on Level 3’s fiber-optic network as well as Level 3’s network management support to enable its new national 8.8 Terabit Optical System and 100 Gigabit Ethernet Network. Internet2 utilizes more than 10,000 miles of fiber on the Level 3 national footprint and will obtain additional miles for the next three years as needed. Level 3 is installing the 8.8 terabit optical equipment and provides 24/7 monitoring and field support to these facilities. Level 3 also provides colocation facilities and power for the network. The Global Research NOC at Indiana University provides overall operational support and coordination for the new Network.

Internet2’s network upgrade to 100G technology on a nationwide scale will keep pace with the exponential growth in scientific research traffic being driven by the nation’s research labs and universities. Internet2’s network also will support the country’s community anchor institutions including libraries, hospitals, K-12 schools, community colleges and public safety organizations as part of its United States Unified Community Anchor Network (U.S. UCAN) project.