Strategic partnership enables next development phase of Dutch advanced network for Research & Education, lays foundation for use of cloud computing

Ciena and SURFnet, the organization that runs the national research and education network (NREN) of the Netherlands, have announced an agreement to build a next-generation Ethernet network, based on Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet solutions and OneControl Unified Management System. Ciena’s portfolio enables research and education (R&E) institutions to benefit from dynamic bandwidth connections between regional and international sites, allowing real-time collaboration and sharing of resources in scientific computing-based research and opening the doors to the development of private and hybrid cloud services.

As the driving force behind information and communication technologies (ICT) based innovation in higher education and research in the Netherlands, SURFnet supports more than one million users with its state-of-the art nationwide optical and packet switching architecture, implemented in a network built by Ciena. Recently, Ciena was selected to implement the next phase of network development, called SURFnet7, which is part of the government-funded GigaPort3 project. With a focus on flexibility and scalability, this phase includes the addition of a new resilient Ethernet layer to the network, enabling SURFnet to easily create and deliver tailored Ethernet services for its network users all supported by comprehensive Layer 2/3 performance monitoring and troubleshooting tools.

“There is an increasing need of cross-border collaboration for both education and research purposes so it is therefore essential that SURFnet has the most innovative and reliable network architecture in place. Our successful collaboration with Ciena has already provided us one of the world’s most advanced coherent optical networks, which includes 100 Gbps links to our international partners. Our next objective is to provide flexible and scalable Ethernet services for our users, and I am confident that our long-standing partnership with Ciena will enable SURFnet to continue providing the Dutch academic community with the tools required for groundbreaking research,” according to Kees Neggers, SURFnet’s managing director. 

The new Ethernet network for SURFnet7 is based on Ciena’s 5410 Service Aggregation Switch as well as 3940 and 3960 Service Delivery Switches, providing an architecture that addresses the growing need for fixed and dynamic lightpaths between facilities as well as efficient and flexible support for Internet traffic. With terabit switching capacity and support for 40G and 100G Ethernet services on the 5410 platform, SURFnet’s network will easily scale to accommodate traffic growth, adapt to changing user requirements over time and provide for new, differentiated service offerings. The Ethernet layer also provides the foundation for more widespread use of cloud networking within the R&E community by providing a reliable and cost-effective common network resource for user and data centre facilities.

SURFnet is also implementing OneControl for a unified view of its entire network, covering not only the Ethernet layer, but also its coherent optical network. With unique multi-layer intelligence, Ciena’s OneControl provides SURFnet comprehensive visibility across its network – including access, metro and core – ensuring efficient use of assets and bandwidth, ease of operations and faster service provisioning.

“Research and education networks often pioneer innovative technologies, demonstrating the value and impact they can have not only in the technology sector but also for the wider society. SURFnet’s network plays a vital role in enabling a wide range of research projects – from grid computing in applied physics experiments to real-time video conferencing in medical studies. Each application has specific requirements, while there is a shared need for highly reliable, flexible and cost-effective connections. Ciena’s Ethernet solution will complement SURFnet’s existing optical network, creating an intelligent infrastructure to easily and effectively deliver tailored Ethernet-based services for its diverse community of users,” said Peter Newcombe, vice-president of sales, Northern and Eastern Europe at Ciena.

The expanded relationship between SURFnet and Ciena involves extensive testing of the new Ethernet network layer later this year, with the planned upgrade of approximately 300 sites during 2012. A longstanding partner of SURFnet, Ciena was responsible for the latest upgrade to SURFnet’s network, which included support for full photonic flexibility and the deployment of 100 Gbps on international links connecting the Netherlands to key global research facilities such as CERN in Switzerland. 

Ciena has extensive expertise in the development of advanced networks for research and education organizations, including RENATER (France), CANARIE (Canada), Internet2 (US), VERNet (Australia) and JANET (UK).