IPv6 and the US higher education and research networking community

1. IPv6 and the US higher education and research networking community Doug Van Houweling President and CEO, Internet2 dvh@internet2.edu

2. Internet2 Origins and Mission • Started in 1996 by initially 34 US universities • 100 universities by January 1997 • Internet2 incorporated as nonprofit organization Sept 1997 • Mission • Develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow’s Internet. • Goals • Provide a national, advanced network environment in support of members’ research, teaching, learning and clinical missions • Upon which a next generation of leading-edge network applications and technologies can be developed • Transfer experiences and technologies to the broader educational community and public in general

3. Internet2 - today • US-based membership organization • 207 US University members • 66 Corporate members • 47 Affiliate members • Including several US government research labs • 2 Association members • 46 International partnerships

4. Internet2 Network Infrastructure Overview • Campus • Regional Aggregation • Example: by US state, metropolitan region, multi-state region • National • Backbone network infrastructure

5. Abilene Backbone Network

6. Connecting to Abilene

7. History of IPv6 in Internet2 • Tunnel network deployed 2001 • First IPv6 tutorial at Lincoln joint-techs meeting • Over ten more since then • Now focus more on server and applications support • Migration to native, dual stack implementation at end of 2001 • Before upgrade began • Using 2.5 gigabit routers interfaces • Began migration of connectors • Native dual stack was default for the upgrade to 10 gigabit router connections • Early testing • 8 gig tests from Sunnyvale to Washington DC • IPv4, IPv6, and mixed IPv4/IPv6 • No distinguishable difference in performance

8. Still Working Well • Our dual-stack IPv6 network continues to perform well • Active testing shows no difference between IPv4 and IPv6 performance • Routinely perform 1 gig performance tests • Changes: improving connectivity to others

9. Abilene IPv6 Growth

10. Deployment Issues • While Abilene and Gigapops are IPv6-enabled, a “last mile” problem persists as it relates to IPv6. Theories: • Some legacy network hardware does not support IPv6 • Difficulty convincing administrators of value • Ensuring security isn’t being compromised • Tools and experience lacking • Many applications don’t support IPv6 Source: Joe Breen, University of Utah

11. Deployment Issues • Many monitoring tools are missing, impacting security • Schools are reluctant to deploy fully because of potential for attacks • For example, difficulty in supporting access lists that monitor address/port number – extended header implementation problem

12. Support for IPv6 Deployment on Campus, in access networks • Tutorials • Two day workshops, hands-on experience • Descriptions and planning guides • http://ipv6.internet2.edu/workshops/index.shtml • http://ipv6.internet2.edu/workshops/setup/ • Alternate discussion/lecture with hands-on lab exercises • Slides are available • http://ipv6.internet2.edu/presentations/

13. Internet2 IPv6 Goals • Support and encourage development of advanced applications using IPv6 • Create a national infrastructure to support IPv6 for the Research and Education Community • Implement IPv6 on Abilene Backbone • Encourage deployment of IPv6 throughout the Internet2 infrastructure • Support end-2-end transparency for IPv6 advanced applications • Important issue for high performance applications • High performance applications often have trouble with NATs • Provide a more robust infrastructure to provide security • Educating the Internet2 IPv6 user base • Support interconnectivity and transit during the initial stages of IPv6 deployment • Actively looking for peers – commodity and research and education peers

14. Internet2 Commitment • Internet2 is committed to deploying an IPv6 native dual stack network for the research community. • Internet2 is committed to encouraging connectors, peers, and members to fully deploy IPv6 on their networks. • Internet2 will monitor IPv6 penetration in the future to provide guidance to the community. • Network penetration. • Availability of software and tools • Security Issues

15. Abilene changes relevant to international peers • IPv6 and multicast transit traffic • Background: Abilene peers with commercial IPv6 and multicast networks • This is an exception to our policy not to peer with commercial networks • As a way to encourage commercial deployment of IPv6 and multicast • Change: no longer routinely announcing non-customer routes to commercial IPv6 and multicast peers – on request • Rationale: some commercial peers complaining because it is not standard commercial practice to announce non-customers • Impact: some international peers may have lost previously seen routes to commercial v6 and multicast networks via Abilene

16. NewNet • A hybrid network providing IP and point-to-point services that can be rapidly provisioned and supports both production and experimental capabilities • Uses innovative optical technology • Simple and convenient add/drop technology • Simple and convenient wave setup • Demonstrated high reliability in initial period of operation on the carrier’s system • Low cost provides attractive fee structure • Architecture has maximum flexibility. Every RON can access every wave on the system if needed • System includes grooming capabilities - lightpaths can be built over Ethernet or SONET

17. NewNet Plans & Goals • Dedicated, innovative optical system deployed nationally – 13,000 miles in extent • Every RON connects to a hybrid network providing IP and dynamic point-to-point services • Every RON connects to a ring in a metro location not requiring extensive backhaul • Internet2 retains complete control of the layer 1 optical system including provisioning and switching of wavelengths • Internet2 focus on networking • Carrier is responsible for SLA, sparing and reliability • The system is capable of supporting a variety of network research projects • Minimal Conditions of Use

18. Lightpath Capabilities

19. NewNet Properties • Expect 20 - 24 connectors • Simple and consistent connection scheme • Promotes aggregation • IP network built on top of optical system • High reliability - architecture provides a variety of protection options • Commodity service offering - standard connection will include commodity services • Will likely use fewer routers, emphasizing point-to-point capabilities and hybrid networking • Potential near term option of 40 Gbps

20. NewNet Properties, continued • Initially provisioned with ten 10-Gbps wavelengths (100 Gbps) • Capacity: up to 80 wavelengths (0.8 Tbps) • Scalability: Potential for 40 & 100 Gbps wavelength support • Reliability: Carrier provides standard service assurances for these wavelengths • Provide a variety of different types of reliability • Flexibility: Support for dynamic provisioning and wavelength switching • Term: 7 years

21. Example Circuit Services • Short Term Dynamically Configured Deterministic Circuits using serveral waves on the full footprint, with framing either SONET or GFP mapped Ethernet. There is no additional cost to use these capabilities. They are included in the base connectivity Costs. There may be call blocking in the use of these capabilities. • Long Term Circuits configured as above. There is an extra cost for these circuits, proportional to bandwidth, and charged on a day-by-day basis. The shortest term is one day, and there is no call blocking for these capabilities. • Long Term static waves configured and provisioned for a minimum of a year.

22. GEANT2 – Internet2 Service Trial • GEANT2 services include switched, point-to-point GigE-based services • Bundled as part of core subscription for NRENs • Internet2 to offer similar services • Currently via HOPI testbed • Rollout on NewNet as deployed • Desire to trial technical and organization model for making these services available across both GEANT2 and Internet2 communities

24. The Details • July – December 2006: service “trial” period • Invite connectors/users in both communities to request service to connector/user in the other community • GEANT2 users: those with access to GE or wavelength services • Internet2 community: initial testing on HOPI; availability on Newnet as rolled out

25. Longer-term • Financial model: costs for service lie where they fall • E.g. GEANT2 users follow their cost model for GEANT2-carried portion; same for Internet2 service users • Trans-atlantic costs considered sunk for now; will examine as understand demand • Will equip at least two of the 10Gbps links in place or planned between Internet2 and GEANT2 to support