SciWiNet: a Sci ence Wi reless Net work for the Research Community

1. SciWiNet: a Science Wireless Network for the Research Community Jim Martin, School of Computing Clemson University jim.martin@cs.clemson.edu KC Wang ECE Department Clemson University kwang@clemson.edu Ivan Seskar Winlab, Rutgers seskar@winlab.rutgers.edu Presented at Mobicom 2013 Panel: Deploying a 4G LTE Network in a Research Environment October 3, 2013 SciWiNetProject website at http://people.cs.clemson.edu/~jmarty/SciWiNet/NSF-SciWiNet.html

2. Agenda ….. • Introduction • History • Project Objectives • Methods/Details • Next Steps

3. Introduction Enabling research over cellular networks….. Internet 3G/4G Cellular Operator NSF Research Communities NIH Research DOE Research DOT/ITSResearch Public Safety/ Homeland Security • Challenge #1: Geographic Scalability • Challenge #2: Device Scalability • Challenge #3: Economics

4. Introduction Internet Mobile Network Operator Mobile Virtual Network Operator MNO customer MVNO customer • SciWiNet: an MVNO that supports the academic research community • Our project consists of a Phase 1trial/planning effort to be followed by a larger trial/deployment (Phase 2) • We are just beginning Phase 1 • As we will explain, Sprint is the MNO, Clemson/Rutgers along with Arterra represent the MVNO

5. Agenda ….. • Introduction • History • Project Objectives • Methods/Details • Next Steps

6. History • Lots of great prior work towards wireless testbeds • Emulab, PlanetLab, GENI all contribute to current ‘slice-based’ experimentation model • Prior NSF Workshop specifically identified an MVNO as a solution for the academic community (Workshop on Wireless National Testbed, WiNTeB, held May 2010) • Why now? • Timing: GENI helped get us here, Sprint/Arterra supportive partners, NSF ready to finance a project to evaluate the concept, finally wireless now touches many research projects that involve people and society.

7. Agenda ….. • Introduction • History and Motivations • Project Objectives • Methods/Details • Next Steps

8. Research Objectives • The underlying infrastructure (i.e., Arterra/Sprint’s system) is not under investigation. Instead, we are developing and evaluating a possible service framework that can support a broad set of academic researchers. • First, identify the requirements • Who will use the network? • What features/capabilities are required ?

9. Agenda ….. Phase 1: Get researcher’s access to SciWiNet, learn requirements and develop a user community (NOTE: as we will explain, the system initially is intended for a small set of users) • Introduction • History and Motivations • Project Objectives • Methods/Details • Next Steps Phase 2: Based on Phase 1 results, develop/deploy fully functional system (not yet funded)

10. Methods and Details • SciWiNet will support Sprint’s network (WiMAX, LTE, 3G) as an MVNO partner • We are using Arterra to provide the MVNO framework including management devices. • Arterra is Carrier of Record and holds the FCC IDs (Sprint owns the spectrum) • SciWiNet provides portal interface for administrators • Customers can acquire their own devices or purchase through SciWiNet – further discussion to come • Discussed over next slides • User/customer management • Device discussion

11. Methods and Details: User Management • Users are identified by ‘Research Project’ • For example, University A might have two separate research projects. Each consisting of different faculty/staff/students. • Each Research Project will have an admin person who has access to SciWiNet’s portal. From the portal the admin can: • Manage devices, observe device consumption levels, purchase additional data • New Research Projects are entered in the system through SciWiNet admin. Note: The procedures described on this page are subject to change

12. Methods and Details: User Management • Arterraprovides a hierarchical management scheme using abstractions called ‘buckets’ and ‘wallets’. • A bucket is a control point for managing device usage. • A wallet is a billing mechanism. For Phase 1 we will utilize a single bucket and a single wallet. • Research Projects are allocated an amount of data (i.e., Mbytes) which is added to a single bucket managed by SciWiNet. Each Research Project will have an enforced maximum usage based on their allocation. • “Points” are used to account for the monthly active device charge. Each device active in a given month requires one Point. On a month to month basis the administrator is required to purchase the number of Points needed to support the desired number of active devices for the following month. The administrator will also be required to suspend any devices, for the entire billing period, for which they desire not to be decremented a Point. Note: The procedures described on this page are subject to change

13. Methods and Details: Devices • Any device that is supported by Sprint’s network and permitted for use by MVNOs. • Sprint’s MVNOs are not allowed to support iPhone devices (this is an Apple restriction) • With a few exceptions, Android devices that have been validated for use on Sprint’s network (either Sprint branded or third party authorized) are permitted • Sprint supports a broad range of device types, ranging from USB dongles and MiFidevices to tablets and smartphones. • SciWiNetwill require users to accept an end user agreement which effectively passes along Sprint’s end user agreement. Note: The procedures described on this page are subject to change

14. Agenda ….. • Introduction • History and Motivations • Project Objectives • Methods/Details • Next Steps

15. Next Steps • Monitor our project web site for further and updated information: http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~jmarty/SciWiNet • Phase 1 : if you might be interested in being an ‘early user’ of SciWiNet • Fill out an information sheet (to be posted the week of October 7, 2013 at the web page listed above), send to sciencewinet@gmail.com • Could be loaned 1-3 devices and with a small amount of data, you should be agreeable to purchase additional devices and data in the future. • Willing to provide feedback on the system (especially on requirements and future capabilities that are necessary to support your research) • Caveat: we have a very short time frame to select our ‘early users’. Our decisions will be based on when we see your information sheet and how well your project fits with our evaluation. • Will likely favor projects that are willing to purchase devices and data • However, we would like to get as many folks as possible to submit their interest by filling out the information sheet (to be posted the week of 10/7/2013)

16. FAQ http://www.cs.clemson.edu/~jmarty/SciWiNet/SciWiNet-FAQ.html) • What exactly does SciWiNet give us that we did not have before? • What devices can we chose from? • Can I modify the device? • How much does it cost? • What is the procedure to sign up? • Is LTE supported at my campus or deployment site? • Can I run a WiFi AP on my devices? • Will information from the network (e.g., base station information such as signal strength, modulation details, or channel frequencies) be available to clients through some sort of web service?