The Works of DANTE - Issue 2

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.