The Works of DANTE - Issue 2

 Welcome

Welcome to the Winter 2004-5 edition of The Works of DANTE. Autumn has been a particularly busy time for DANTE, with the GÉANT2 project officially launching in September and a launch event in November for the ALICE project, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

November also saw the launch of the GÉANT2 Performance Enhancement and Response Team. The PERT acts as an "emergency service" for network users, troubleshooting performance issues occurring on the network.

The new GÉANT2 website is also live, providing a comprehensive resource of information on the project and its activities.

We hope you find this edition of The Works of DANTE a useful source of news, and welcome any comments or feedback that you may have.

Season's Greetings
The Works of DANTE editorial team.

The DANTE view...

When a network performs well, the vast majority of users have little or no awareness of the underlying infrastructure. Users are also largely uninformed as to the potential applications that the network can support. Both GÉANT and the national networks can be considered victims of their own success – smooth, uninterrupted service goes unnoticed, whilst any problems result in greater awareness of the network, and not necessarily displayed in the best light.

The first GÉANT network successfully increased bandwidth and performance for pan-European collaboration. Now, with this solid foundation in place, the focus of GÉANT2 is to develop services which will improve the usability, flexibility and transparency of the networks. The emphasis is now on improving ease of use, convenience and overall customer satisfaction with the network.

Research networking is an increasingly global activity, and DANTE remains at the forefront of developments. The recent launch of the RedCLARA network (created by the ALICE project), and the announcement of the TEIN2 network for South East Asia demonstrates this. Both networks, along with EUMEDCONNECT for the Mediterranean region, will link to GÉANT2, allowing researchers unparalleled access to colleagues around the world.

At the same time, it is no longer enough simply to provide connectivity. As Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) improve the capacity of their networks, the differential between their services and what is available via NREN’s may become an issue. There are some very bad ISP’s, but the best are already implementing 10 Gbps networks.

The future challenge for the research networking community lies very much in the support and service that can be provided to its users across multiple management domains. Here, the collaborative nature of research activities, gives a real advantage and the challenge for GÉANT2. Technology is, today, global. Service is not.

Dai Davies

DANTE Co-General Manager

New General Manager for DANTE

The Works of DANTE is pleased to welcome Hans Döbbeling to DANTE, in the position of General Manager.

A physicist by education, Hans obtained his PhD from the University of Heidelberg in 1981. Following this he worked for 12 years as an experimental physicist in medium-energy nuclear physics at MPI für Kernphysik Heidelberg, at CERN in Geneva, at KEK in Tsukuba, and at PSI in Villigen. During his time at CERN, Hans specialised in data acquisition and trigger electronics of fixed target experiments. He was later head of the Physics Software Development Group at GSI in Darmstadt.

In 1994 Hans took a position as an IT manager, heading the computing department of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg. In this role for 9 years, he shaped the computing and network infrastructure of the lab and developed expertise in the IT requirements specific to the Life Sciences.

Hans brings all this experience to DANTE to focus on customer relations and to address the technical aspects of research networking.

GÉANT2 Status Report

Network Status Report

The procurement for network elements of GÉANT2 is progressing successfully. All the initial tender analysis has been completed and work is well advanced with negotiations and final short-listing. Two separate tender activations were implemented. The first dealt with connectivity, including wavelength and dark fibre connectivity as well as more traditional SDH connectivity. The second tender deals with switching and transmission equipment. In relation to transmission systems, considerable effort has been expended in understanding the technical detail and the economics of lighting dark fibre. We are at the point where we can, on a per-route basis determine whether there is a case for the direct implementation of DWDM systems by the project.

It is apparent, today, that we will be able to build a network based on a pool of 10Gbps wavelengths interconnecting a set of switches to be deployed at nodes in the GÉANT2 network. These will be interconnected to the existing router base to support IP services, but will also offer direct access to other services based on wavelength and Gigabit-Ethernet technology. Thus the design objective of creating a hybrid network, capable of offering point-to-point connectivity, in addition to a standard IP service, will be achieved from day 1 of the new network.

The basic architectural assumptions have been discussed and agreed with a group of engineering experts from the NREN’s. Work is continuing with lab-tests of the switching and transmission technology to ensure that the claimed functionality actually works. It is envisaged that the final technical and commercial analysis can be completed in January 2005, enabling final procurement decisions to be made during February.

User Segmentation survey to begin in January 2005

One of the key aims of GÉANT2 is to improve the overall customer satisfaction with the network and increase its usage. To help achieve this aim, there is a need to develop a more accurate and detailed understanding of network users.  A 2003 market research survey on the GÉANT user base concluded, significantly, that awareness and understanding of GÉANT was low (24% for network end users, and 68% amongst survey respondents who regarded themselves as network specialists), and that increased knowledge of the network and its potential applications would increase usage.

Starting in January 2005, this finding will be addressed by performing further analysis of the network’s user base.  The aim is to define user “segments” - subgroups of the user base with similar profiles.  The main characteristics used to define the segments are likely to be users’ levels of network or technical knowledge, and potential or actual levels of network use.  Once defined, the segments will be used to perform targeted marketing to these different users, highlighting how the network can best meet their individual needs. It will also allow network services to be tailored to their specific requirements, further improving the benefits that GÉANT2 offers.

GÉANT2 creates a new emergency service?

GÉANT2’s Performance Enhancement and Response Team (PERT) launched on the 1st November, to assist in troubleshooting network performance issues across the different network domains involved in end-to-end pan-European networking. This rapid response, virtual team is one of the first achievements of GÉANT2, and represents an important step on the path towards a seamless end-to-end research networking service for pan-European users.

Increased capacity and extended network reach have improved the service provided to many users, but end-to-end performance problems still exist. This ultimately impacts on an end user’s evaluation of his or her experience. Quality and availability are important requirements against which the success of the network will be measured.

The PERT will run as a pilot service until the end of February 2005, when it will migrate to a full service for GÉANT2 users.

When in full production the PERT will provide a staff of cross-disciplinary specialists, to provide an essential link between user and expert. Within GÉANT2, the PERT will change from an amateur, voluntary status to a professional one. As a funded service the team will guarantee to investigate a problem, and will begin investigation within a given time frame. The PERT will develop a comprehensive website, public forum and knowledge database for GÉANT2 users.

New GÉANT2 website goes live

The GÉANT2 website is now online at www.geant2.net. The site aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the work that is being conducted within the project’s various activities and to highlight initiatives that are particularly significant within GÉANT2.

The site cater's for an audience that ranges from those with little or no detailed networking knowledge to those who are specialists in this field. It has a broad, shallow site structure, to make the website as transparent as possible. Users have multiple options for routes through the site to the content in which they are interested, by extensive use of cross-linking between related topics.

We would encourage webmasters to link to the new site, and also to keep us informed if our links to your sites require updating. Links to project partners' websites can be found at http://www.geant2.net/partners

The website will reflect the project’s achievements, and will provide comprehensive and up-to-date information. Drop us a line at any time via the contact form at www.geant2.net/feedback to suggest news and information or to provide general feedback.

Astronomers use GÉANT to make a trunk call

• Using Jumbo frames to transfer more data allows Radio Astronomers a more detailed view of the Universe.

A recent experiment conducted by GÉANT engineers and the European VLBI network (EVN) highlighted the capacity of GÉANT and its support services in helping researchers to make best use of the resources available to them.
 
The EVN uses National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and GÉANT to transfer data collected by telescopes across Europe to supercomputers at Dwingeloo in the Netherlands.

Until now data rates have been limited because the communications equipment at the astronomical research facilities and in the research networks had been configured to suit standard Ethernet protocol (a set of rules used by computers and equipment to speak to one another) which limited the size of the data packets which could be sent. The standard size of data packets sent using Ethernet protocol is 1500 Bytes.

Jumbo frames are much larger packets of data, which are able to travel at comparable speeds across the network, meaning that more data is transferred in a given period of time. Engineers at DANTE have been working with astronomers and NRENs from Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands to ensure that the Jumbo frames pass successfully from the observatories to the analysing supercomputer. To achieve this, the GÉANT routers have been re-configured, allowing the data in each packet to be pushed to 4470 bytes, three times the standard size!

The experiment is still on going, and future editions of The Works of DANTE will track the progress of the research.

GÉANT2 to Lift off in Luxembourg

An event to celebrate the launch of the GÉANT2 project will take place in the middle of 2005. The event will provide a forum in which GÉANT2 will be presented, discussing its capabilities, range of services and potential uses. The event will explore the overall vision of seamless, flexible end-to-end pan-European research networking and discuss the specific research activities that will achieve it. There will be a strong global theme to the event, reflecting GÉANT2’s global significance, in providing a gateway to global research collaboration.

The event will be combined with the second e-concertation meeting for e-infrastructures, which aims to present and discuss a range of topics demonstrating the powerful combined benefits provided to the research community by GÉANT2 and Grids. 

More details on the event will be announced shortly, so keep checking the website www.geant2.net

DANTE on the Road…

IST 2004 - Participate In Your Future

The IST 2004 event took place at the Netherlands Congress Centre in The Hague between 15th and 17th November. It brought together policy makers, Sixth Framework Programme project leaders and ICT researchers to discuss the big issues facing information society technologies.

One strong theme of the conference was international collaboration between the EU and countries such as China, India and Russia. GÉANT already connects Russia, and the ongoing TEIN2 project will provide connectivity between GÉANT2 and China. The relationship between the EU and Latin America was also explored, highlighted by the success of the ALICE project to create the RedCLARA research and education network for Latin America. The first connection between South Africa and GÉANT was also formally announced by Mr Mosibudi Mangena, the South African Minister for Science and Technology.

Complementing the conference was an exhibition of current research projects, where tomorrow’s technology is in development. It was in this context that DANTE participated, highlighting GÉANT2 and its enabling role in scientific and academic research. Two network demonstrations were featured to draw attention to the potential applications of the network. These were presented by JIVE (Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe), and BioCASE (Biological Collections Access Service across Europe)

Detailed case studies featuring JIVE and BioCASE can be downloaded from the GÉANT newsroom. Please visit the following websites for more detailed information on these applications.

• www.evlbi.org and www.jive.nl
• www.biocase.org

E-infrastructures. Empowering Research and Education with the most advanced ICT

GÉANT2 jointly exhibited at the IST under this title. Joining GÉANT2 at the stand were DEISA, EGEE, SEE-GRID and DILIGENT. The projects exhibited together to demonstrate to the research community, the power of their combined efforts for academic research.

Further information about each of these projects can be found via the links below.
• DEISA: www.deisa.org
• EGEE: www.eu-egee.org
• SEE-GRID: www.see-grid.org
• DILIGENT: www.diligentproject.org

GÉANT2 is placing increasing emphasis on demonstrating the applications of the network. DANTE would be very keen to hear from anyone interested in highlighting their applications in the form of a demonstration. Please contact us via the Media Centre of the GÉANT2 website, www.geant2.net

First eConcertation Meeting - To Make eDreams Come True?

The first eInfrastructure Concertation event took place as part of the EGEE-02 project conference in The Hague, on 22nd and 23rd November. It was organised by the EGEE project, in conjunction with the European Commission and with the support of other infrastructure projects such as DEISA, SEEGRID and GÉANT2. eInfrastructure is the term that has been created to describe “networks + grids” – the combined electronic infrastructure which will provide the foundation of many advanced research projects in the future.

Kyriakos Baxevanidis, EC Co-ordinator of Grid-related efforts within DG INFSO, outlined the meeting's three main objectives:

• Develop synergies between projects that are working in the same or in similar areas (such as Grids and GÉANT2)
• Improve and advance the service that the eInfrastructure projects can provide to the research community
• Support collective efforts among these initiatives, including dissemination and impact on standards development.

The event saw broad participation from both eInfrastructure providers and eInfrastructure user projects. Presentations were given with subsequent panel discussions, and an open-forum discussion took place on the second day. This forum was intended to consolidate a common approach to vital issues, business and work models, as well as to discuss applications.

Vasilis Maglaris, Chairman of the GÉANT2 Policy Committee, presented the GÉANT2 network, whose vital importance to the Grid community was highlighted throughout the project presentations. Hans Döbbeling (DANTE) and Jürgen Rauschenbach (DFN) represented GÉANT2 in the technical discussion on the second day. Dr Döbbeling stressed the need for vertical integration (collaboration from networks through Grids to applications), to complement the establishment of horizontal teams among projects to address topics of common interest.

In his summary of the event, Malcolm Atkinson (National eScience Centre, UK) commented that the strength of the GÉANT network had facilitated the integration of national and international efforts for research infrastructures. Today’s projects should build on the past achievements of the Fifth Framework Programme. As a result, work should be targeted towards deployment in areas where existing facilities are deficient, and towards the operation of production-grade infrastructures.

The next eConcertation meeting will be hosted by GÉANT2, as part of the GÉANT2 launch, event in the middle of 2005.

The presentation given by Vasilis Maglaris can be found online in the GÉANT2 newsroom at www.geant2.net.

EAST MEETS WEST

TEIN2 project will create first regional research network for South East Asia.

Research collaboration between Europe and Asia received a massive boost recently with the announcement of Phase 2 of the TEIN2 project. Following a successful feasibility study, the European Union’s EuropeAid Co-operation Office has given the go ahead for the creation of the TEIN2 network.

TEIN2 will connect up to 10 regional partners in Asia, to each other, and provide direct connectivity to GÉANT2. Currently, wide disparities exist in the state of research and education networking in these countries. Some, like Korea, have advanced research networks. Others like Thailand and Vietnam are in their infancy. TEIN2 will stimulate the development of these countries’ national networks, addressing the region’s digital divide. Chalermpol Charnsripinyo, spokesman from the Thai partner, ThaiREN said:

“The current inter-connectivity of NRENs amongst these countries is still insufficient to support Research and Education activities. The TEIN2 project will be able to support current R & E activities and enhance international research collaboration in the future.”

TEIN2 builds on the success of the TEIN project, which saw the establishment of a link between France and Korea, operational since November 2001. Demand for access to this connection far exceeded expectation, and demonstrated the need for further links at increased capacity.

DANTE has announced a call for tenders to Telecoms providers. Expressions of interest must be submitted to DANTE by 8th January. More information can be found at www.dante.net/tein2. The network will be operational in late 2005.

ALICE News

RedCLARA launches!

The ALICE project has achieved a great deal in a relatively short period of time.  ALICE has created the RedCLARA network, linking together researchers in the countries of Latin America for the first time, and has implemented a link between RedCLARA and GÉANT to support collaboration between researchers in Latin America and Europe.  These are important achievements which are already providing benefits to researchers and the wider society in Latin America. 

To celebrate these achievements, an ALICE launch event for the RedCLARA network took place on 23 November 2004, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It took place as part of the 3rd Latin America and the Caribbean – European Union Ministerial Forum on the Information Society: An Alliance for Social Cohesion through Digital Inclusion.

The objective of the Forum was to strengthen cooperation between Europe and the Latin American and Caribbean region, focusing particularly on information and communication technologies as tools for social cohesion.

The launch of the ALICE project was one of the highlights of the Forum.  The results of the ALICE project are a concrete example of how communications technology can directly improve the quality of life for citizens, and helps reduce the differential between the living standards experienced by citizens in different parts of Latin America.

The launch event was opened by Fabio Collasanti, Director-General of DG Information Society of the European Commission.  Mr Collasanti spoke of the boost given to the Latin American region by RedCLARA and its connection to GÉANT.

These benefits include:
• Its profound effect on the opportunities available to the region’s researchers.
• Its contribution to developing and retaining a pool of academic talent in Latin America.
• The resulting ability to attract new research facilities.
• The stimulation of spin-off activities such as commercial start-ups and knowledge transfer throughout society. 

Presentations were given by Dai Davies, of DANTE, and by Nelson Simoes, from CLARA.  Dai highlighted the achievements ALICE has produced in such a short space of time. ALICE has achieved in only two years in Latin America, the technical organisation in research networking that took over ten years to achieve in Europe.  Nelson noted that RedCLARA has impacts on all levels of science and society, from small local projects, to large-scale collaboration on regional themes. Especially important will be the research on matters of particular Latin American interest, including the El-Niño effect and the loss of biodiversity in the Amazon.

A copy of the presentation given by Dai Davies can be found on the ALICE website, www.dante.net/alice. Here you will also find the new ALICE brochure.

The launch was further supported by a joint ALICE-CLARA-DANTE-RNP exhibition stand at which demonstrations were operated showing the capabilities of the network. These included trans-Atlantic high-definition television and applications of the EGEE Grid project which demonstrate remote reservation and use of networked resources.

DANTE would like to extend particular thanks to everyone at RNP, the Brazilian NREN, for all their help and hospitality. The success of the event was very much a result of all their efforts.

ALICE supports e-health applications in Latin America.

In each issue of The Works of DANTE, we look at a different network application, which demonstrates the potential impact of research networking. This issue focuses on a project utilising RedCLARA, the pan-Latin American network created as part of the ALICE project.

The Telemed project, currently operating in Brazil and Colombia, brings e-health services to rural locations, allowing medical specialists to remotely diagnose conditions and prescribe treatments to patients. If there are any doubts regarding a diagnosis, referral can be made from the rural clinic to a metropolitan hospital, for further analysis. It can even be sent internationally to Europe, using the transatlantic link to the GÉANT network.

The benefits of the Telemed project for patients are obvious –it saves lives. Yet there are other ways in which the project is helping. The local doctor is empowered and can treat patients with greater confidence, and the hospital specialist can reach a far greater number of patients without ever leaving their hospital. There are also advantages in the increased collaboration between specialists and local doctors, with the dissemination of the very latest clinical techniques and diagnostics. The project uses specialist equipment and software developed by Medcom at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, and the Brazilian national research network, RNP.

A video of the ALICE project, with further details on Telemed, is available in the ALICE newsroom. To view it, visit www.dante.net/alice. A case study is also available to download.

New GÉANT link connects South Africa to Europe.

GÉANT continues to extend its geographical reach, with a new connection from London to South Africa. Currently still a test-bed connection, this will be upgraded to a full 155 Mbp/s connection to SANReN, the future South African National Research and Education network.

The connection opens up an untapped seam of research collaboration opportunities and will allow South African researchers access to over 3,500 European research and education institutions. It will also stimulate the development of the South African national research network. Other positive impacts of research networking will have knock-on benefits for social, health and economic development. The achievements of the ALICE project in Latin America provide a good example of the potential benefits of this new link.

The new link is a result of close EU-South African collaboration. Speaking at the IST event in The Hague, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, the South African Minister for Science and Technology, said “In Europe ICTs have dramatically improved access to information, and there is an enormous potential to do the same in developing countries.”

Stop press: Late news

DANTE-INTEL research yields results

DANTE is involved in a joint research activity with Intel, which is producing important results for network researchers. The work has involved the installation of equipment on GÉANT to capture monitoring information for European Researchers. Tools are being developed to allow researchers access to routing information from GÉANT.
Full details will follow in the next edition of The Works of DANTE.

Order Free Publicity Materials!

The DANTE print machine has been working hard lately, and the resulting products are now available. New brochures for both GÉANT2 and ALICE are now available, as are 3 case studies highlighting uses of GÉANT and RedCLARA. An updated Global Connectivity map, demonstrating the increasingly comprehensive reach of GÉANT is also available. All materials can be downloaded from the DANTE website, or you can order hardcopies via the order forms.