The Works of DANTE - Issue 6
A Day at DANTE…
DANTE works in a truly global environment, with partners and suppliers from all over the world, but what does that mean in reality? What does it take to operate research and education networks on the scale of GÉANT2? We spoke to Marian Garcia Vidondo, DANTE’s Operations Manager, to find out what’s involved.
What does the DANTE Operations team do?
Working in the Research and Education community is at the cutting-edge of telecoms networking. Together with the NRENs in Europe, DANTE is deploying technologies ahead of the commercial marketplace. With GÉANT2, we have created the first hybrid network on an international scale. GÉANT2 maps a network print of over 50,000 km, and deploying connectivity on this scale is a massive challenge. It’s also a great proving ground for the technology and as a learning environment for innovative network engineering. The Operations Team is responsible for the day to day running of the GÉANT2 network. Our challenge is to ensure an excellent level of service for network users and to resolve any performance issues at the same time as new services are introduced in the network. Increasingly this work focuses on implementing, monitoring and managing point-to-point services that extend into the NRENs’ domains, to provide support to high bandwidth users.
What's a typical day like in the Ops team?
Working in Ops is challenging, but definitely varied. One day you could be testing new equipment for installation in Copenhagen, the next ordering parts for a PoP in Beijing! We deal with suppliers and customers from all over the world, which presents its own challenges in communicating and understanding cultures.
We are also responsible for ordering and installing switching and routing equipment for GÉANT2. Ops engineers are required to evaluate this new equipment prior to installation. They also involved in designing and implementing advanced network services and technologies –like GMPLS, Layer 2 VPNS, and IPv6 multicast.
The project has an important role in networking research – developing and deploying new technologies well ahead of what commercial suppliers are currently offering. We are involved in an initiative known as PERT – Performance Enhancement and Response Team. Working with engineers from the European NRENs, this team investigates performance issues across the multiple domains that operate in connecting two international end users. This is to ensure that users can achieve maximum performance from their systems and our networks.
How do you find working in an international environment?
Working at DANTE allows you to meet people from all over the world. The staff based in Cambridge consists of 12 nationalities, and you work with international colleagues on a daily basis. It’s never boring! Its good to meet people from all kinds of cultures and from all kinds of backgrounds.
What sort of person fits into the Ops team?
DANTE’s Operations team works to very tight deadlines, so you need to be able to handle these. You also need to be flexible as the job is varied, and be able to work under your own initiative. Yet the ability to work in a team is also important - cooperation and collaboration are the foundation of our activities. Some international travel is likely, and you should enjoy the opportunity to meet new people.
DANTE has been in operation since 1993, so it has been at the forefront of research networking for many years. This in-house experience and our international environment offers something for both established network engineers, and those new to our community.
Matthew Wright joined DANTE's Operations team in August 2006. He graduated with a BEng(Hons) degree in Internet Engineering from the University of Essex, UK. We asked him how he was finding working at DANTE.
I’m enjoying working at DANTE as every day involves different tasks. It can be quite high pressure when deadlines are tight as you have to make sure that everyone knows what they are meant to be doing. The knowledge from my university course is useful as a background, but a lot of what I learn is on the job and through doing the different tasks here at DANTE. For example, there is quite a difference between knowing the theory of SDH circuits and actually troubleshooting a circuit error with a commercial supplier. Problem solving issues like this can be a fun challenge.
I’m currently commuting over 100 miles a day, but I much prefer working here at DANTE to a job closer to home, as DANTE is a unique company.
DANTE occasionally has opportunities for network engineers. Available vacancies are posted on the front page at www.geant2.net
