TF-NGN Deliverables

The document elaborates a template for the Service Level Agreement for the Premium IP service. The template is initially targeted for the Service Level Agreements between an NREN and the GÉANT network, but is general enough to be applied between any communicating DiffServ domains in order for them to provide the IP Premium service. It states also the requirements to provide an end to end service on the multi-domain european network.

The deployment of a reliable IP multicast service in GÉANT must be based on a sound design of multicast routing in the European backbone and within individual NRENs. However, problems with end-to-end multicast connectivity are often due to improper hardware and software configuration of end stations, switches or routers in Local Area Networks. Moreover, it is important to provide feedback channels for end users so that they can check the actual multicast connectivity on a pan-European scale and report any problems in advance before using multicast for important data transfers, videoconferences etc. This document gives guidelines to end users and LAN administrators on how to configure PC hardware and software and LAN switches and how to verify from real network traffic that multicast is working properly. Further, the previous experience with two multicast monitoring environments is described and recommendations are given for the setup of a hierarchical monitoring system covering both GÉANT and NRENs

In this report we describe the IPv6 tests that have been performed by participants in the IPv6 Working Group within the GÉANT Task Force for Next Generation Networks (TF-NGN). The group identified a number of IPv6 work items. These were studied from a deployment-led perspective, including a testbed network through which a core router connected up to fifteen participants during the course of the work. The results of the tests were generally positive, indicating that the basic building blocks are in place for moving towards a production IPv6 deployment. Future work within the TF-NGN IPv6 WG will continue to pilot IPv6 activity, and also to consider and report on IPv6 work items that were only given secondary priority during the current phase of reporting.

This deliverable is focused on flow based accounting mechanisms for highly aggregated traffic and tools for measuring the perceived quantitative Quality of Service. It provides a description of tools and generic measurement infrastructure to support the measurements of user-visible SLS metrics

This Deliverable outlines the options available to replace the current TEN-155 Managed bandwidth Service which is based on ATM technology. Given the setup of GÉANT, it will not be possible to run an ATM-based service and therefore alternative solutions are necessary to fulfill the requirements of international user groups currently using the TEN-155 MBS. The Deliverable analyses options available using optical transmission technology and then goes onto focus on the deployment of MPLS techniques. It outlines the interactions required between the GÉANT network and the NRENs as well as outlining which service management issues need to be solved prior to offering a full operational service to the prospective end users

In this deliverable we report on the IPv6 activities and experiments undertaken by the participants in the IPv6 Working Group within the GÉANT Task Force for Next Generation Networks (TF-NGN). These experiments focus on three main areas, namely maintenance of an IPv6 testbed centered on a Juniper M5 router operated by Renater in Paris, secondly multicast IPv6 experiments using the PIM-SM protocol and finally evaluation of the Zebra software router. We also describe the status of IPv6 standards development and of IPv6 implementations in hosts and routers, as an assessment of the readiness of IPv6 for production deployment. We summarise the work being undertaken by the NRENs in 6NET, for which there is some overlap with TF-NGN activity. Finally, we describe initial plans for the migration of GEANT to support a dual-stack IPv4-IPv6 service, and identify potential future work items for the IPv6 Working Group.

This deliverable is focused on flow based accounting mechanisms for highly aggregated traffic and tools for measuring the perceived quantitative Quality of Service. It provides an update from D9.4 on the description of tools and generic measurement infrastrucutre to support the measurements of user-visible SLS metrics

The activities within TF-NGN on Optical Networking are discussed. Implementations of systems like: fiber specifications, DWDM systems, optical cross-connects are being investigated. Testbeds that utilise these products are described. Furthermore a future testbed (called ASTON: A Step Towards the provision of Optical Networking) as part of FP6 of the EC is being proposed

In this document we present the work done to date and planned future work of the GEANT TF-NGN working group studying the potential benefits (to end users and NREN operators) and feasibility of deploying a Less than Best Effort (LBE) service on GÉANT and NREN networks. We present a brief overview of the evolution of the case for LBE, through the IETF diffserv WG and the Internet2 QBone project, and then describe some proposed scenarios for LBE deployment. Two sets of trials have been identified, one for implementation of LBE on the GEANT (and NREN) backbones, and one where LBE is applied at the edge networks where congestion is more likely (the latter case requires DSCP transparency end-to-end). Some encouraging results from the former case are presented, and proposed trials for the second case are also described.