Overview of European Research and Education Networking The Case for NRENs: What Benefits NRENs Offer, Why NRENs Are a Good Idea Fourth International Conference e-Society.Mk: ICT in Education Skopje, Macedonia 10 December 2008 Valentino CAVALLI Acknowledgement: John DYER, TERENA [email_address]

Fourth International Conference

e-Society.Mk: ICT in Education

Skopje, Macedonia

10 December 2008

Valentino CAVALLI

Acknowledgement: John DYER, TERENA

[email_address]

What is TERENA? Slide TRANS-EUROPEAN RESEARCH & EDUCATION NETWORKING ASSOCIATION Collaborative Organisation Driven by membership Task Forces Projects GN2 – Compendium Developing NRENs Workshops International Conference Consensus Building & Lobbying TERENA does not operate a network GÉANT2 - DANTE 37 NREN members 2 International 10 associate members

TRANS-EUROPEAN RESEARCH & EDUCATION NETWORKING ASSOCIATION

Collaborative Organisation

Driven by membership

Task Forces

Projects

GN2 – Compendium

Developing NRENs

Workshops

International Conference

Consensus Building & Lobbying

TERENA does not operate a network

GÉANT2 - DANTE

The European NREN Model Slide One NREN per country

History of NRENs in Europe 1970 Monopoly Telcos, High Prices, Mainframes nothing much in the way of networking 1980 Some Projects 9.6 kbps backbones 1985 8 European “ NRENs ” 1986 RARE - research organization founded by NRENs 1990 15 European “ NRENs ” IXI 64 kbps X.25 network – COSINE countries 1993 DANTE established 1994 TERENA formed by merger of RARE and EARN 2008 - 37 NREN members of TERENA Slide

1970 Monopoly Telcos, High Prices, Mainframes

nothing much in the way of networking

1980 Some Projects

9.6 kbps backbones

1985 8 European “ NRENs ”

1986 RARE - research organization founded by NRENs

1990 15 European “ NRENs ”

IXI 64 kbps X.25 network – COSINE countries

1993 DANTE established

1994 TERENA formed by merger of RARE and EARN

2008 - 37 NREN members of TERENA

What have NRENs being doing Taken what is available Phone circuits, modems, X.25, leased lines, routers, switches, dark fibre . . . . . . Integrated Provided the glue to stick them together Built overlay networks Innovated Added functionality Development of new paradigms New services To SERVE EDUCATION and RESEARCH in doing so push the market and benefit society generally Technically and in liberalising the telecommunications market NRENs should be considered a NATIONAL ASSET for DEVELOPMENT Slide

Taken what is available

Phone circuits, modems, X.25, leased lines, routers, switches, dark fibre . . . . . .

Integrated

Provided the glue to stick them together

Built overlay networks

Innovated

Added functionality

Development of new paradigms

New services

To SERVE EDUCATION and RESEARCH

in doing so push the market and benefit society generally

Technically and in liberalising the telecommunications market

NRENs should be considered a NATIONAL ASSET for DEVELOPMENT

MARNET the NREN of Macedonia (source: EARNEST Study 2007) Slide

GÉANT2 operated by DANTE on behalf of Europe’s NRENs Slide

GÉANT2 Facts and Figures 7th generation of pan-European research network infrastructure – continuation of a success story Provision of network connectivity and services Project partners include the EC, 30 of Europe’s national research and education networks (NRENs), DANTE and TERENA Connects 34 European countries and serves over 3500 research and education establishments across Europe Over 30 million users Funded jointly by NRENs and European Commission Project timescale September 2004 - spring 2009 Slide

7th generation of pan-European research network infrastructure – continuation of a success story

Provision of network connectivity and services

Project partners include the EC, 30 of Europe’s national research and education networks (NRENs), DANTE and TERENA

Connects 34 European countries and serves over 3500 research and education establishments across Europe

Over 30 million users

Funded jointly by NRENs and European Commission

Project timescale September 2004 - spring 2009

Slide

GÉANT3 Proposal for GN3 project submitted to the EC in September 2008, expected start April 2009 Three more NRENs will be connected: MARNET, AMRES (Serbia) and MREN (Montenegro) Extend success of GN2 in supporting e-Science (LHC, e-VLBI, DEISA) end-to-end, to become a dependable service component of the European e-Infrastructure for a wide range of scientific disciplines Infrastructure, Network Services, such as security, end-to-end performance monitoring, AAI, RTD activities and support activities Slide

Proposal for GN3 project submitted to the EC in September 2008, expected start April 2009

Three more NRENs will be connected: MARNET, AMRES (Serbia) and MREN (Montenegro)

Extend success of GN2 in supporting e-Science (LHC, e-VLBI, DEISA) end-to-end, to become a dependable service component of the European e-Infrastructure for a wide range of scientific disciplines

Infrastructure, Network Services, such as security, end-to-end performance monitoring, AAI, RTD activities and support activities

Evolution of the Market Telecommunications Liberalisation Slide Relative Costs of Connectivity v Number of Suppliers Monopoly supply = High costs Markets open above 4 Evolution of Market Competitiveness GÉANT Offers 1996 – 2001 Note: LOGARITHMIC SCALE Changes are orders of magnitude Material from SERENATE Report, published TERENA 2003 – Acknowledgements to DANTE

Example – Hybrid Networking Hybrid Networking Flexibility of IP core with any-to-any routing Large Traffic flows (e.g. Grids, Astronomic Data . . .) by-passes router cloud. Has an End-to-End optical path Uses same underlying fibre infrastructure Slide Traditional IP network Flexibility of IP core with any-to-any routing Large Traffic flows must traverse a path through all routers from end-to-end Costs of O-E-O conversion and bottlenecks

Hybrid Networking

Flexibility of IP core with any-to-any routing

Large Traffic flows (e.g. Grids, Astronomic Data . . .) by-passes router cloud. Has an End-to-End optical path

Uses same underlying fibre infrastructure

Example – Federations Slide Federation University B University A Student Resource

Federated Network Access - eduroam eduroam = roaming for education Federation of national eduroam federations To provide network access between the institutions connected to eduroam Using the same credentials they would use to get on-line at their home institution First real test back in 2003 As part of a TF-Mobility test Since 2005 eduroam is part of GÉANT2 Slide

eduroam = roaming for education

Federation of national eduroam federations

To provide network access between the institutions connected to eduroam

Using the same credentials they would use to get on-line at their home institution

First real test back in 2003

As part of a TF-Mobility test

Since 2005 eduroam is part of GÉANT2

Other Examples of Benefits NRENs undertake applied research in a way the commercial concerns would find difficult. Leads to testbeds, pilot services which lead to new services. NRENs stimulate innovation bring forward technological advances . These find their way to commercial ISPs and benefit the public at large . bring the benefits of collective buying power provides savings for the community and the country as a whole Internationally this is achieved by DANTE with GÉANT Slide

NRENs undertake applied research in a way the commercial concerns would find difficult.

Leads to testbeds, pilot services which lead to new services.

NRENs stimulate innovation bring forward technological advances .

These find their way to commercial ISPs and benefit the public at large .

bring the benefits of collective buying power

provides savings for the community and the country as a whole

Internationally this is achieved by DANTE with GÉANT

Most Importantly The independence of NRENs is a valuable asset for advising in the development of national policy on education, research and IT NRENs occupy a position of trust in this respect and are called on to provide guidance uninfluenced by the pressures and demands of commercial business Many NRENs are recognised as being a pool of expertise that is an asset to its country Slide

The independence of NRENs is a valuable asset for advising in the development of national policy on education, research and IT

NRENs occupy a position of trust in this respect and are called on to provide guidance uninfluenced by the pressures and demands of commercial business

Many NRENs are recognised as being a pool of expertise that is an asset to its country

Questions may be asked Why is there a need for NRENs when commercial ISPs exist? Need for central funding of the NREN, can’t the end users pay the bills themselves? The existence of the NREN will distort the Internet market and take away market share? Isn’t the NREN operating a public service and should it be regarded as a public operator conforming to the local legislation? Slide

Why is there a need for NRENs when commercial ISPs exist?

Need for central funding of the NREN, can’t the end users pay the bills themselves?

The existence of the NREN will distort the Internet market and take away market share?

Isn’t the NREN operating a public service and should it be regarded as a public operator conforming to the local legislation?

Why is there a need for NRENs when commercial ISPs exist? NRENs are usually not-for-profit organisations that seek to support their community in the best possible way, technically and economically Commercial ISPs exist to make a profit NRENs are motivated to provide the innovation and new services needed by education and research Slide

NRENs are usually not-for-profit organisations that seek to support their community in the best possible way, technically and economically

Commercial ISPs exist to make a profit

NRENs are motivated to provide the innovation and new services needed by education and research

Why is there a need for NRENs to receive Government funding? Government support essential to emerging NREN Generally, a hybrid funding model may be beneficial Government can take the longer term view funding start-up costs, innovation and upgrade. Slide User/Client Funding SHORT TERM horizon Non-User /Client Funding LONG TERM horizon

Government support essential to emerging NREN

Generally, a hybrid funding model may be beneficial

Government can take the longer term view funding start-up costs, innovation and upgrade.

The regulatory position of NRENs NRENs offer their services to the well bounded and closed community of education and research users. NRENs are not in the business of providing public services and hence should not be regarded as public network operators. It makes good sense for NRENs to adopt best industry practice in the operation of their networks despite being a non-public network operator. Slide

NRENs offer their services to the well bounded and closed community of education and research users.

NRENs are not in the business of providing public services and hence should not be regarded as public network operators.

It makes good sense for NRENs to adopt best industry practice in the operation of their networks despite being a non-public network operator.

EU Regulatory Requirements for Data Collection and Retention Directive NRENs operate advanced networks with complex topologies Any requirement to provide complete accounting for, or filtering of, traffic on the backbone would therefore be likely to require the re-introduction of single points of failure or congestion Cost – who will pay? Slide

NRENs operate advanced networks with complex topologies

Any requirement to provide complete accounting for, or filtering of, traffic on the backbone would therefore be likely to require the re-introduction of single points of failure or congestion

Cost – who will pay?

Possible Distortion of the Local Internet Market The NRENs operate a network for a closed user group that have advanced requirements These requirements are not generally satisfied by commercial offerings from ISP. The NRENs do not compete with commercial ISPs, but offer a different level of service in parallel. It is beneficial for both NRENs and ISP to develop collaborative links and work together Slide

The NRENs operate a network for a closed user group that have advanced requirements

These requirements are not generally satisfied by commercial offerings from ISP.

The NRENs do not compete with commercial ISPs, but offer a different level of service in parallel.

It is beneficial for both NRENs and ISP to develop collaborative links and work together

Summary of Arguments NRENs occupy a special position outside of the commercial Internet market. They operate as not-for-profit organisations serving a closed user group consequently there is a case for them to be designated as non-public networks. National governments should regard their NRENs as a national asset to be fostered and supported by central contributions to a hybrid funding model. Slide

NRENs occupy a special position outside of the commercial Internet market.

They operate as not-for-profit organisations serving a closed user group consequently there is a case for them to be designated as non-public networks.

National governments should regard their NRENs as a national asset to be fostered and supported by central contributions to a hybrid funding model.

The Case for NRENs idea conceived in 2007 first version May 2008 presented at TF-MSP/PR May Community feedback presented TF-MSP/PR Sept 08 Second version October 2008 presented at I2 fall meeting October 2008 Community feedback Latest version 31 October 2008 Slide http://www.terena.org/activities/tf-msp/documents/the-case-for-nrens-current.pdf

idea conceived in 2007

first version May 2008

presented at TF-MSP/PR May

Community feedback

presented TF-MSP/PR Sept 08

Second version October 2008

presented at I2 fall meeting

October 2008

Community feedback

Latest version 31 October 2008

Further Information TERENA Website www.terena.org GÉANT2 Website www.geant2.net/ TERENA Compendium of European NRENs www.terena.org /activities/compendium/ SERENATE Study (2002-2003) www.serenate.org – See summary and 5 sub reports EARNEST Study (2006-2007) www.terena.org/earnest/ - see summary and 7 sub reports Email [email_address] Slide

TERENA Website

www.terena.org

GÉANT2 Website

www.geant2.net/

TERENA Compendium of European NRENs

www.terena.org /activities/compendium/

SERENATE Study (2002-2003)

www.serenate.org – See summary and 5 sub reports

EARNEST Study (2006-2007)

www.terena.org/earnest/ - see summary and 7 sub reports

Email

[email_address]

Thank You!