January 6, 2002
SURFnet Brings Transatlantic Research Lambda into Service
UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS -- SURFnet has brought into service a state-of-the-art optical
multi-gigabit/s connection between Amsterdam and Chicago for research
purposes. This 2.5 Gbit/s lambda connection constitutes the basis for
experiments with new technologies for a fully optical Internet.
The optical connection was realised by Teleglobe
within the context of the GigaPort project. It constitutes the
connection between NetherLight in
Amsterdam and StarLight in Chicago, the two locations that compose the
current centre for next generation, optical Internet research. One unique
feature of this connection is its complete transparency to the protocols to
be used, allowing for unimpeded experiments with this new technology.
The connection is the world's first transatlantic lambda that is used for
Internet technology research purposes. "The lambda connection is intended
to stimulate the technology of fully optical networks, so that we can offer
users the possibilities of a next generation Internet at the earliest
possible moment," says Kees Neggers, Managing Director of SURFnet. Yves
Poppe, Director and R&E Liaison of Teleglobe adds: "Teleglobe is pleased to
continue its tradition as partner of research networks in this cooperation
and in this manner contribute to the acceleration of the development of the
next generation Internet."
Optical technologies such as lambda networking and optical switching will
be deployed in the near future to resolve bandwidth bottlenecks in the core
of the Internet. Among other things the lambda between NetherLight
(situated at SARA Computing and Networking Services) and StarLight will be
used to interconnect computer clusters, visualisation (virtual reality)
stations and Grid environments (distributed computing) in Europe and the
US. The Informatics Institute of the University of Amsterdam coordinates
these scientific broadband applications. It carries out network protocol
research on this unique connection employing computer clusters directly
connected to the lambda. The know-how gained can subsequently be applied in
scientific and commercial applications that require high-speed Internet.
SURFnet
SURFnet operates and innovates the national research network, to which two
hundred institutions in higher education and research in the Netherlands
are connected. To remain in the lead SURFnet puts in a sustained effort to
improve the infrastructure and to develop new applications to give users
faster and better access to new Internet services.
GigaPort
GigaPort is a project of the Dutch government, trade and industry,
educational institutions and research institutes. The aim of GigaPort is to
give the Netherlands a head start in the development and use of advanced
and innovative Internet technology. GigaPort has two subprojects: GigaPort
Network and GigaPort Applications. GigaPort Network is realised by SURFnet;
GigaPort Applications is realised by the Telematica Instituut.
Teleglobe
Teleglobe, a leading provider of global communications and Internet
services, enables its customers to maximise the potential of the Internet
through its delivery of hosting services, content distribution and global
connectivity. With a lit capacity of 10 million+ Gbps-miles, 149 POPs and
approximately 300,000 square feet of hosting facilities (year-end 2001),
Teleglobe has one of the world's largest international Internet backbones
serving a broad base of enterprise, Internet content provider (ICP),
Internet service provider (ISP) and carrier customers. Teleglobe is
expanding its network with its GlobeSystem initiative, a multi-billion
dollar IP network and hosting deployment that will increase its IP network
capacity 200 fold and provide a robust platform for a portfolio of Internet
and data services. Teleglobe is owned by Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE)
Inc., based in Montreal.
StarLight
StarLightSM, the optical
STAR TAPSM initiative, is an advanced optical
infrastructure and proving ground for network services optimised for
high-performance applications. Operational since summer 2001, StarLight is
a 1GigE and 10GigE switch/router facility for high-performance access to
participating networks and will ultimately become a true optical switching
facility for wavelengths. StarLight is being developed by the Electronic
Visualisation Laboratory (EVL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago
(UIC), the International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR) at
Northwestern University, and the Mathematics and Computer Science Division
at Argonne National Laboratory, in partnership with Canada's CANARIE and
Holland's SURFnet. STAR TAP and StarLight are made possible by major
funding from the US National Science Foundation to the University of
Illinois at Chicago. STAR TAP and StarLight are service marks of the Board
of Trustees of the University of Illinois. For more information please
visit www.startap.net/starlight.
NetherLight
NetherLight is an experimental optical Internet interconnection point in
Amsterdam that is being realised within the context of the GigaPort
project. Research networks and institutes in the Netherlands and abroad can
connect their lambdas in order to research models and techniques for future
generations of optical Internet Exchanges.
SARA Computing and Networking Services
SARA Reken- en Netwerkdiensten is a Dutch national expertise centre in the
field of High-Performance Computing and High-Performance Networking. SARA
acquired the status of National High Performance Computing Center in 1985
and has been responsible for housing and managing the national
supercomputer ever since. SARA also has a number of supercomputers at its
disposal, purchased together with one or all of the Dutch universities. In
the field of High-Performance Networking SARA is responsible for the
technical/operational management of the GigaPort network. SARA hosts the
lambda, and will be involved in implementing it and bringing it into
service, as well as further experimenting. Moreover SARA is an important
interconnection point for national and international networks.
The Faculty of Science of University of Amsterdam
The Advanced Internet Research group of the University of Amsterdam's
Faculty of Science researches new architectures and protocols for the
Internet. It actively participates in world-wide standardisation
organisations such as the Internet Engineering Task Force and the Global
Grid Forum. The group conducts experiments with extremely high-speed
network infrastructures. The Institute carries out groundbreaking research
in the fields of security, authorisation, authentication and accounting for
Grid environments. The Institute is developing a virtual laboratory based
on Grid technology for e-science applications. For more information please
visit www.science.uva.nl/research/air.
Contact:
SURFnet bv
Sandra Passchier
sandra.passchier@surfnet.nl
University of Amsterdam, Informatica Instituut
Dr.ir. Cees de Laat
delaat@science.uva.nl
Teleglobe
Patricia Clark
patricia.clark@teleglobe.com
