Transcript GÉANT – What worked and what didn`t work?

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
GÉANT2: The Good the Bad and
the Ugly
- What worked and what didn’t work?
Robin G. Arak - Archway Computer Associates Ltd
TNC 2008, Bruges, 22 May 2008
TNC 2008 - Bruges, 22 May 2008
GÉANT2 Objectives 
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• Provide gigabit-speed infrastructure to support European research and
education 
• Deploy the first international hybrid network: routed IP traffic combined
with switched point-to-point circuits 
• Implement end-to-end QoS provision 
• Provide research infrastructure for network technology developments 
• Develop a wider range of network services
– Performance monitoring 
– Security 
– Bandwidth on demand 
– Testbed facility 
– Mobility and roaming 
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
GÉANT2 Objectives (2)
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• Provide user support and consultancy 
• Benchmark and support development of NRENs 
• Coordinate Research and Technology Development
activities 
• Extend geographic reach of the network 
• Conduct strategic studies into the future of European
research networking (i.e. EARNEST) 
• Disseminate benefits and achievements of the network 
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
GÉANT2 - the network
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• The GÉANT2 network itself is a high capacity, leading edge
world class network dedicated to R & E with global
connectivity 
• A multi-service network (IP & P2P) was very cost
effectively procured and more dark fibre was obtained than
anticipated at an affordable price 
• Take up of P2P circuits has been lower than anticipated calls into question value for money in some areas 
• However P2P (full and sub-lambdas) have been used to
support some important projects 
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
Managing GÉANT2
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• There is a “management” model which allows all partners
to participate in decision making 
– NREN PC
– NREN PC Executive committee
– NREN PC technical committee
• Not always effective at taking decisions quickly and
decisions are sometimes taken twice! 
• ??Could the model be further improved without losing the
ability for all partners to participate?? YES!! How??
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
GÉANT2 – cost sharing
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• The model for cost sharing needs to be addressed
– The geographic/economic divide is opening up the gap
between:
• Countries far from the centre of Europe 
• Countries with uncompetitive telecoms markets 
• Countries with poor regulation in markets 
• The idea that delivering the same service to all at similar
costs/prices has to be abandoned 
• ??How will a new cost sharing model effect GN3??
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
GÉANT2 – JRAs
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• JRAs are often technology driven rather well defined user
requirements. 
• Overall collaboration has been good. 
• Some real results have produced from the JRAs that are
developing into services. 
• Roll out of the results of JRAs to well supported services
(SAs) has been patchy. 
• Resources – the planned human resources have not
always been delivered leading to project delays staffing
problems, failure to deliver on time, etc. 
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
GÉANT2 – JRAs (2)
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• Management - often carried out as peer management by
technical people. 
– Sometimes a lack of defined objectives. 
– Reluctance to make difficult decisions to focus on a
particular solution. 
– Decisions are taken that allow multiple solutions to be
rolled out which are complex to support. 
– Lack of use of standard project management
methodologies 
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
Promoting GÉANT2
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• Marketing and promotion of GÉANT2 is seen as a side
issue and generally organised by technical people. 
• Therefore marketing/PR activities take time away from the
technical effort 
• However some good PR for GÉANT2 has been generated
and has been effective 
?? Wouldn’t marketing and PR be better carried out by
marketing and PR experts ??
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008
Discussion Points
Connect. Communicate. Collaborate
• Marketing- led versus technology-led approach
• Challenges specific to providing services in a
multi-country environment
• Increasing accessibility to non- technical users
• What will future networking technology innovation
bring?
Implications of the above for GÉANT2 successor
TNC 2008 - Bruges 22 May 2008