Advanced Infrastructure and Research Projects

Over the past few years, a variety of efforts have been directed at developing enhanced Internet infrastructure, through standards efforts such as those undertaken by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), through NSF and DOE programs, through the efforts of federal agency mission networks, especially the ultra high speed networks supported by DARPA, and through commercial and university research and development. Some of the more interesting research relates to creating all optical networks.

With its networking infrastructure partners, iCAIR is involved in many projects focused on designing and developing architecture and technologies related to the next-generation all optical Internet ("IP-over-Optical"). The continued development of a wide-range of powerful new networking technologies based on advanced optics is leading to a major new revolution in digital communications. These include new and enhanced components such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technologies, optimized fibers, increased numbers of channels per fiber, tunable filters with wider ranges, tunable lasers, amplifiers with better gain capabilities, and capabilities for dynamic switching, such as by using MEMS and other all optical (O-O-O) devices.

Another part of this research involves new network architectures that allow the control of network core resources to be migrated to intelligent devices, for example, by providing for an IP-based control plane for optical resources. One method for accomplishing this has been proposed by the IETF -- the generalized extension of MPLS or GMPLS.

Research Projects (Testbeds)

Among the more advanced infrastructure research projects in which iCAIR is involved relate to developing networking technologies that support global e-science applications that are enabled by Grid-based infrastructure- high performance "cyber-infrastructure," comprised of large-scaled distributed resources. These advanced infrastructures allow scientists and engineers to dynamically interact with world-wide advanced facilities.

Such advanced infrastructure enables powerful new methods for scientific discovery in many disciplinary areas. One reason that these methods are successful is that they allow direct control by advanced applications over all resources, including network resources.

  • Grid Networks: Next Generation Networks and Computational Grids
  • Optical Network Architecture and DWDM
  • Optical Metro Network Initiative (OMNI)
  • Optical Dynamic Intelligent Network (ODIN)
  • Simple Path Control (SPC) Protocol
  • OptIPuter
  • Distributed Optical Testbed (DOT)
  • International (STAR TAP/StarLight)
  • NetherLight
  • EnLIGHTened
  • Japan Gigabit Network 2 JGN2
  • Global Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF)
  • National Lambda Rail
  • CA*net4 UCLPWave
  • CA*net4 NorWave
  • I-WIRE
  • Metropolitan Research and Education Network (MREN)
  • Multiple 10 Gbps Computational Clusters
  • Optical Switches

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