NORDUnet
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Q2 2009 Update
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Intro
There have been a high level of activity in both IP and Optical areas, caused by sfw. upgrades and other work in preparation of the upgrade to 40G in the core networks. Outside these self-inflicted activities the NORDUnet network has been stable.
A number of problems with the Junos code have been experienced, mainly in areas relating to multicast support. A "get well plan" that will take us to a single stable version for both the T1600 and the MX480 platforms has been agreed with juniper.
HEADS-UP renaming of Connections:
As a result of implementing the NORDUnet Naming standards, explained below, all lines, circuits or services delivered by NORDUnet will be named according to this and will have a Service number associated. There will be separate information regarding this distributed during October.
Naming Standard:
Nordunet has completed the full naming standardization for all platforms and services.
The main document is the Generic Naming Standard document, which encompasses all aspects of naming within a network technical operational environment.
For each of the NORDUnet network platforms or specific technical areas, the NORDUnet specific adaption of the naming standard is defined, and the usage explained in the below documents. All of these shall be seen as appendixes to the generic naming convention.
- Cabling (pdf) (physical connections)
- RM Transport (pdf) (Alcatel LM)
- BM Ethernet (pdf) (Alcatel TSS)
- IP Equipment (pdf) (Juniper/Cisco) and Services
- DNS (pdf)
- Server (pdf)
Any questions in relation to a specific document, please contact the author of the document.
All documents can be found at www.nunoc.net.
IP Transit:
The IP Transit tender has been completed and contracts awarded to Telia and TINET (former Tiscali) . This will result in a cost saving in excess of 40% based on current traffic volumes.
The contracts with Telia are for; a primary 10GBps flat rate and a secondary 10GBps metered burst able. The traffic is split over 2 or 3 physical 10G links. The traffic volumes are calculated together as a total over the 2 or 3 links.
The contract with TINET is for a tertiary 10GBps metered burst able link.
Upgrade of the NORDUnet - NREN IP network connectivity:
RHnet: 2 Juniper MX480 routers have been installed in Reykjavik. The main OC192 connection is in service, the backup connection via London is under implementation,
UNINETT: The backup connection to UNINETT has been upgraded to 10GE.
SUNET: The backup connection has SUNET has been upgraded to 2*OC192.
FUNET: The backup connection to FUNET has been upgraded to OC192.
Forskningsnettet: The backup connection to Forskningsnettet has been upgraded to 10GE.
The IP core network:
The upgrade off all IP Core nodes to T1600 has been completed, and the first IP core 40G link between UNI-C and Ørestad has been put in to production. We did not experience any compatibility or other interoperability issues between Alcatel-Lucent and Juniper 40G equipment. The 3 remaining links are being upgraded as per project plan and the full core will be upgraded by end October allowing for 2 weeks stability testing on each link before it is put in to full production.
Final design to be in service during Q4:
Peering
The LINX peering point was put in to production last week in August.
AMS-IX status: http://stats.nordu.net/stat-q/r-all?q=all&name=AMSIX
261 IPv4 peerings (2 Peerings with several ISPs)
119 IPv6 peerings (2 Peerings with several ISPs)
LINX status: http://stats.nordu.net/stat-q/r-all?q=all&name=LINX
105 IPv4 peerings
42 IPv6 peerings
Netnod status: http://stats.nordu.net/stat-q/r-all?q=all&name=NETNOD
128 IPv4 peerings (2 Peerings with all ISPs)
30 IPv6 peerings (2 Peerings with all ISPs)
NIX status: http://stats.nordu.net/stat-q/r-all?q=all&name=NIX
33 IPv4 peerings
13 IPv6 peerings
DIX status: http://stats.nordu.net/stat-q/r-all?q=all&name=DIX
21 IPv4 peerings
5 IPv6 peerings
NYIIX status:
This is continuing to drag on, we have signed a contract for housing but have yet to fix/decide on how to organize the insurance for us being in the site. We are investigating 2 options; buy the insurance ourselves or buy it through the contract with NYIIX. We expect to complete this project before end of October.
VMWare cluster setup
We have completed a virtualized server setup in both Copenhagen and Stockholm. using DELL servers, Equallogic iSCSI storage and VMWare ESX 4.0 virtualization software. The first major application to run on the clusters is Adobe Connect Pro (video conferencing for SUNET customers) with a federated ID login, other customers are WAYF and Kalmar union.
We believe this is a sound virtualization architectural design that can easily be extended and used for further deployments.
Optical:
The OND team is deeply involved in the GN3 activities, approximately 60% of all the resources are spent on GN3.
The biggest achievements is that NORDUnet's 40G Alcatel Lucent wavelength Deployment has now been running error free in NORDUnet's Alcatel-Lucent DWDM network for several weeks. This 40G wavelength is Alcatel-Lucent's first 40G Long Haul deployment in Europe in a production network. This has shown that our WSS deployment starts to pay off in relation to operational aspects.
New connectivity:
has been very quite around the NTT forum for a while and there have been criticism about NORDUnet not informing about plans and network upgrades etc., and rightfully so,,
This mails is to give an update on the plans for the NTT forum, and to provide an update on the NORDUnet plans, goals and current network status for 2009 so far.
NTT Forum
NTT is the generic forum for technical collaboration between NORDUnet and the national research & education networks for the Nordic countries. The main forum for the NTT is the NTT mailing list and the annual NTT meeting. The NTT forum is open for technical staff at NORDUnet, NREN's, and related institutions.
The goal of NTT is to ensure exchange of experience, discussion of new initiatives and technologies, investigation of possible joint projects, coordination of network operations and services, participation in international projects, and more, in order to secure the best possible operational quality and state of the art network and lecture enabling services to the Nordic research and educational community.
To ensure that the collaboration includes the many facets of R&E networking and at the same time is focused, much of the work in the NTT going forward will take place in a number of permanent forums and in temporary working groups. There is currently 3 permanents forums:
- CTO Meetings. A forum mainly for technical managers, to discuss technical strategy, new initiatives, key challenges, coordinate participation in EU and international projects and possible new development initiatives.
- Operational Meetings. A forum mainly for operations engineers and NOC staff, to share experience, knowledge and best practices, for operational systems, tools, and procedures.
- Technology Meetings. A forum mainly for engineers and application and technology experts, to investigate new technology options and services, facilitate experience sharing and discussion of relevant projects.
These forums may identify particular projects, technologies, or challenges that merit more detailed investigation. In this case, a one-year working group may be formed. The working groups will be formed on an ad-hoc basis from the participants in the NTT team, and will report back to the CTO meetings.
Further details can be found at: https://portal.nordu.net/display/NORDUwiki/NTT+-+the+NORDUnet+Technical+Team
Questions, comments, or ideas regarding the "new NTT", can be provided to: Lars Fisher or Jørgen Qvist
NORDUnet Update
There is a lot of activity ongoing to upgrade the NORDUnet IP backbone network, nodes and the backup connectivity to the NRENs.
Another focus area is to expand the peering footprint to improve performance and reduce IP Transit cost.
Below you will find a walk through on the plans and current status.
IP Core and NREN connections upgrade
IP core upgrade to 40G. This means a first phase of upgrading the 4 Core T640 routers to T1600, to make them ready for 40, and 100G. Currently the routers at UNI-C and Ørestad has been upgraded.
The second phase is to upgrade the links to 40G, this will take place after the summer holidays as transport 40G transponders will be delivered.
NREN BU connections upgraded to 10G. This is currently in progress and connections to Forskningsnettet and UNINETT has already been upgraded. The upgrade to FUNETT is being planned, same goes for an additional 10G connection to SUNET.
Rhnet is a chapter in itself. The connections to Iceland has been over- overloaded for a while, and upgrade plans are in progress to have 10G connectivity to Iceland. Currently negotiations with vendors are ongoing, and the plan and hope is to have at least one link upgraded to 10G this year. Details about the plans can be found in the tender material for those interested. https://portal.nordu.net/display/NORDUtender/IceLink+Tender
Peering
One of the major goals for this year is to increase the peering % to 50 (this is on top of what is being peered off locally by each NREN).
This is to be able to keep our IP Transit traffic at the current level(cost) and absorb the increase in internet traffic as peering.
This is to be achieved by increasing the peering footprint. This will give more peering opportunities and bring us within the peering policy of e.g. some tier 3 operators. So far we have added 3 peering points this year.
- LINX, NIX and DIX
The plan is to have a peering presence at NYIIX in Q3 2009 and later possibly one or more Equinix (IBX) sites, as well as the Finnish FICIX.
Optical Network
The upgrade of the Optical Network has been completed, and is now supporting alien wavelengths etc.
The Optical core will be upgraded with 40G transponders as part of the IP Core upgrade project.
Several 10G dedicated wavelengths has been put in service as part of the deployment of the DEISA and LHC OPN networks.
Further info and visualization of the above can be found in the enclosed .pptA total of 4 new 10G connections for DEISA , and LHC OPN projects have been provisioned.