EnLIGHTened Computing 2007

The EnLIGHTened Computing project focuses on the development of dynamic, adaptive, coordinated and optimized use of networks connecting geographically distributed, high-end computing resources and scientific instrumentation.

A critical feedback loop consists of resource monitoring for discovery, performance and SLA compliance, and feedback to co-schedulers for coordinated adaptive resource allocation and co-scheduling. The research carried out, the developed tools, and the applications that use them will be deployed across regional, national and international 10Gbps testbeds, connected via all-photonic Calient switches, all using GMPLS control plane technologies. The project consists of a global alliance of partners to develop, test, and disseminate advanced software and underlying technologies that provide generic applications with the ability to be aware of their network, Grid environment and capabilities, and to make dynamic, adaptive and optimized use of networks connecting various high-end resources.

EnLIGHTened has a 10Gb Cisco research wave on the National LambdaRail (NLR), which it uses for data transfer. Prior to May 2007, control signaling (i.e., the control plane) between the optical switches was done over Abilene, which was not desirable from a security and reliability standpoint. Optical devices don’t have robust and secure enough software and control interfaces, and the control signaling, when sent on a public network, is subject to potential congestion, etc. A private control circuit is much more secure and reliable and is how big carriers control their networks (though this solution is costly).

In May 2007, the EnLightened control plane was moved onto a new, separate FrameNet circuit that NLR donated. By having a nationwide infrastructure, similar projects, such as Phosphorus, can take advantage of this NLR infrastructure, and can connect at one place (e.g., StarLight) and can have interconnectivity to the EnLIGHTened testbed as well as to other projects that also connect there. The project is done in collaboration with the Global Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF) and the following NSF-funded projects: OptIPuter, UltraLight, WAN-in-LAB, DRAGON and Cheetah.

URL:

http://enlightenedcomputing.org

Collaborators:

USA:
MCNC
Center For Computational Technology, Louisiana State University
North Carolina State University
Renaissance Computing Institute, Chapel Hill

Japan:
G-Lambda project

Europe:
Phosphorus