The Hybrid Packet and Optical Initiative as a Connectivity Solution

1. The Hybrid Packet and Optical Initiative as a Connectivity Solution Presented to the APAN NOC & Resource Allocation Committee By Jim Williams On 27 January 2004 Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>

2. Discussion Points…. • Background & Open Questions • HOPI Description • Current Status and Resources • Future Possibilities Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>

3. Background & Open Questions • Optical networks gaining momentum in the US, but not all US R&E networks ready to connect • IP-based networks still the most common method of transport • There’s clearly a need for both types of network infrastructures during (and after!) this transition period • Is an optical network more reliable than an IP network? Is the performance any better? • We don’t really know the answers to these questions on a national scale • What will the next generation Internet2 network look like in 3 years? • There’s clearly a need for a national infrastructure that can address the above issues and open questions. • Proposed solution: HOPI Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>

4. HOPI (Hybrid Optical & Packet Infrastructure) Description • HOPI is an Internet2-designed network that is being positioned as a solution to these issues • The goals of the project are still being worked out by a small group of engineers from the US R&E community. • HOPI design team co-chaired by Rick Summerhill (Internet2) and Linda Winkler (Argonne National Labs) • Initial goals include the ability to interface non-optical networks to optical networks via the Internet2 Abilene backbone • “stitching” of lightpaths will be accomplished via MPLS between the two optical components • Lightpaths are defined as DWDM lambdas, SONET services, GigE services, MPLS tunnels, and any other layer1/layer2 technology. • Lightpath “stitches” will be available between administrative domains (e.g. an optical path from SDSC to Abilene , over MPLS, then back to an optial path to GEANT) Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>

5. Status and Resources • The initial plans are still being worked out with no concrete examples yet formed up • The network design group is tasked with coming up with a design by April, 2004 • The design will depend on the needs of the community • HOPI will be installing a Cisco ONS 15454 at the MANLAN interconnection point in New York • This will allow for some initial experiments between the US and European networks • Can be combined with CA*Net4 and TransPAC resources in Chicago • MPLS tunnel currently implemented between North Carolina ITEC and Indiana University as an experiment • Design team is not tasked with vendor recommentation • Too early to think about vendors - We don’t know what we’ll need yet!! Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>

6. Future Possibilities • First possibility: a lightpath between a cluster in California and a cluster in Europe • TDM connection across Tyco OC-192 from Amsterdam to New York • TDM connection from New York to Chicago through CA*Net4 • MPLS tunnel from Chicago to Los Angeles • This should create a point to point ethernet interface between two end hosts • This exercise will familiarize us with the challenges and issues with creating lightpaths aross multiple administrative domains • Interest in working with the Asian-Pacific community and their optical testbeds. • After initial experiment between SURFnet and Abilene, we plan to extend the experiment even further to a testing partner in the Asian Pacific region • Experiments and challenges will help formulate a picture for the Abilene follow-up in 2006. • Should Abilene be purely IP-based? • Should it provide MPLS or other tunneled protocols? • What are the challenges that will hamper a more production network like Abilene? Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>

7. Questions??? • Please feel free to ask questions of Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu> • Administrative questions should be directed to: • Rick Summerhill <rrsum@internet2.edu> • Linda Winkler <lwinkler@mcs.anl.gov> Thank you! Chris Robb <chrobb@indiana.edu>