Wide Area Network projects

Commodity Internet access project

This project provides NCAR/UCAR with general-purpose access to the Commodity Internet. Currently, access is provided via an MCI non-ATM DS-3 (45 Mbps) link, although at this time NCAR/UCAR is contracting only for a sustained 10 Mbps. This link is being shared via the Big Pipe Consortium (see above). NCAR also has 1Mbps service to BBN via SNI to the Commodity Internet.

vBNS and NLANR projects

The vBNS is a production ATM network provided and operated by MCI under a cooperative agreement to the NSF. The vBNS interconnects the NSF supercomputing centers and universities that have been approved via the High Performance Connections (HPC) program. Figure 10 shows current vBNS connectivity at NCAR/UCAR.

[UPDATE Image] Figure 10. NCAR WANs and MANs: vBNS connectivity at NCAR/UCAR (Click on image to access a high-resolution PostScript file for printing)

NETS has continued its support of the vBNS, providing both network engineering and applications support and research.

NLANR (National Laboratory for Applied Network Research) is the umbrella project funded by NSF to facilitate the individual research projects conducted on the vBNS. NCAR/UCAR has been a major participant in several collaborative NLANR projects that demonstrate the high bandwidth capabilities of the vBNS.

Internet 2 gigapop project

In January 1997, 100 U.S. universities signed up as charter members of a new organization called the Internet 2 Project. The intent of this organization is to foster the development of what amounts to a private Intranet for the U.S. university system. A core network called the I2 would be built as a transcontinental backbone, and universities would aggregate into regional networks attached to this backbone at a limited number of attachment points. Each attachment point is known as a gigapop and would also be the focus of one or more regional networks. In effect, the Internet 2 Project is attempting to build a university Intranet modeled on the old NSFnet and its regional network structure. (Note that the term "gigapop" is essentially synonymous with the term "regional network"; the term "gigapop" will be used in this document, and refers to both the regional network and its attachment point to a WAN backbone.)

NCAR/UCAR continues to operate a gigapop and attend and participate in I2 and gigapop meetings.

The gigapop currently interconnects:

NCAR/UCAR
University of Colorado at Boulder (CU)
Colorado State University (CSU)
University of Colorado at Denver (CUD)
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC)
Colorado School of Mines (CSM)
SuperNet, Inc. (SNI)
The MCI Commodity Internet service
The BBN Commodity Internet service
The very high-speed Backbone Network Service (vBNS)

The BPC gigapop has been an extremely successful effort that has been in operation for two years. A 23 KB diagram illustrates the gigapop.

NETS provides more detailed information about Internet 2 at http://www.scd.ucar.edu/nets/Projects/Internet2/ and Westnet2 at http://www.scd.ucar.edu/nets/Projects/Westnet2/. The Internet 2 Project website also provides more information at http://www.Internet2.edu/.

Distributed Mesoscale Prediction (DMP) project

DMP was a project to obtain MRI program funding to build a Distributed Numerical Weather Prediction Laboratory (DNWPL) that uses the Penn State/NCAR MM5 model running on dedicated computers initially distributed at NCAR, the University of Arizona, the University of Utah, and the Desert Research Institute. This project assumes that the participating institutions will be connected to the vBNS and that the vBNS will be used to transfer data among the distributed model instances. NETS worked extensively on this project proposal. The project was not funded.

MAGIC-II TeraVision project

The MAGIC-II Project aims to harness the power of distributed computing, storage, and database content in order to distribute time-critical situational information to end-users over high-performance networks.

NCAR is actively engaged in developing innovative new simulations of phenomena that have a high level of societal relevance. Forest fires, windstorms, and other potentially dangerous and unpredictable events have qualities similar to scenarios of interest to the MAGIC-II project. NCAR has also been an active and early player in evaluating the vBNS for scientific applications.

Recognizing the potential synergy in these activities, the two organizations/efforts have partnered to explore emerging technologies. Initial efforts will include linking the vBNS to the MAGIC-II Gigabit testbed and incorporating NCAR's simulation data into the TerraVision environment.

NETS has provided networking support for this project including attending relevant meetings.

Network Survey project

SCD surveyed all UCAR users concerning their networking service in wide area to NCAR. Results have been evaluated and steps are being made to assist users with WAN problems or issues.

RAP WAN project

NETS continued to provide WAN networking service to RAP for their extensive field project requirements.

NREN WAN project

NETS continued to provide WAN networking service to NASA for their NREN connections in Boulder.

Voice/Data WAN RFP

NETS participated in the open proposal process for a WAN vendor to provide long distance voice and data service. NETS implemented the WAN system after Sprint was chosen as the provider.

HPIIS project

Basil Irwin prepared a white paper with Greg MacArthur and Bernie O'Lear regarding the High Performance International Internet Services (HPIIS) program. NETS further investigated the possibility of partnering with Sprint to submit an NSF International Connection Proposal. This effort was abandoned.

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