This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Network VirtualizationFrom Service Providers to Infrastructure Providers
PROMPT Conference – Integrated Wireless and Optical Networks Mathieu Lemay, CEO Inocybe TechnologiesBased on presentations by Bill St-Arnaud, CANARIENovember 22th 2007
On demand vs VirtualizationDifferences in approaches
• Two approaches to grids & networks• On demand, or • Virtualization
• On demand• Computing & networking as a utility• Short duration and infrequent jobs• Many similarities to old service bureau concept• Large centralized administrative process of setting up computational and
network fabric• “computing on demand”, “bandwidth on demand”• Configuration and setup done by operator
• Virtualization• Computing and networking as a service• Long duration and persistent jobs• Edge user control and management• “infrastructure as a service”• Configuration and setup done by user
• Increasingly more and more organizations are acquiring their own fiber networks• Universities, schools, hospitals, business
• Acquiring fiber in the long haul is very expensive to light and obtain• Alternative is to use “dim fiber” –point to point wavelengths• But want flexibility to do configuration and change management
as with dark fiber• Increasingly big business and big science needs dedicated
networks for specific applications and disciplines for high data volume grids• Want to be able to manipulate the network in the same way
• Innovative new business models can be built on Virtualized infrastructures and IaaS.
• The Condominium concepts to be applied to communication equipment. (Buy a port on an expensive piece of equipment without having to buy the cards, and control it at will)
• Infrastructure brokers “à la Expedia™” can create a search engine that will go across infrastructure providers and discover end to end solutions with an associated price for the users.
• Virtualized infrastructure can be used “in-house” to improve internal efficiency of the IT infrastructure within the same organization.
• Multiple organizations can create a “pool” of resources that is shared across the different organizations on a as needed basis governed by complex policies.
• User Controlled LightPaths – is a set of concepts, ideas and tools brought forward in a research program by CANARIE which aimed at empowering users of parts of the network.
• Users may create connections from various optical links, routers and switches to produce a wide area network that is under their control and dedicated.
• Articulated Private Network (APN)• Virtualized resources are built as Web Service Resources (WSRF) so
network components can be integrated with other web service applications.
• These concepts are technology independent and are now applied to both Wireless, Ethernet, IP, Optical Networks and even instrumentation via the Framework.
• The products, framework and research projects are done by a joint partnership between i2CAT, CRC and Inocybe Technologies to do a direct transfer of these technologies into production networks and have a faster TTM.
• Allow institutions to integrate wavelengths and fiber from different suppliers and integrate with institution's network management domain
• And offer APNs to users• Common Misconceptions on the goals of the technology
• Primary purpose is NOT dynamic switched optical networks• Primary purpose is NOT reservation and leasing of wavelength
resources• Primary purpose is NOT end-to-end optical VPNs• Primary purpose is NOT inter-domain connection of lightpaths
• However all these functionalities can be performed at the application layer (i.e. Phosphorus provides On-demand capabilities on top of Argia resources.) or as separate plugins for the APNs resources.
Research Projects using Argia™ High Performance Digital Media
• A Consortium of Research Centers for High Performance Digital Media (HPDM)
• Multiple Sites Require High Performance/High Volume/High Definition Digital Media Streaming Simultaneously Among All Locations (Multi-Point to Multi-Point)
• Virtualization has the potential to significantly save energy costs and earn carbon offset dollars.
• IBM has announced a major virtualization offering where companies can earn up to $1 million in carbon credits by getting rid of their PC clusters and using virtual servers.
• Rather than deploying your own routers switches etc - why not deploy a virtual network with virtual routers and switches?
• With virtualized networks you can still control the topology and configuration, but reduce energy costs by having a common routing/switch substrate.
• The carbon offset dollars you would earn with virtualization would more than offset cost of Argia™ or Ether™ virtualization appliances.
Future of the InternetYou can’t make money from broadband
• Broadband networks, whether wireless or FTTx, overbuilders, municipal or customer owned, requires huge capital outlay with a big risk of slow take-up. In addition:
• High churn• Low takeup – “Tyranny of the takeup”
• Consumers unwilling to spend more than $40/mo for broadband
• Generally prefer lower cost, rather than higher bandwidth• http://news.com.com/DSL+strikes+a+chord+with+frugal+sho
ppers/2100-1034_3-6084717.html• Margins are very thin, even for incumbents
• The real winners in the broadband game are those providing advanced services and basic infrastructure
• Content delivery company is being dis-intermediated