NSF International Research Network Connections (IRNC) Program

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NSF International Research Network Connections
(IRNC) Program

• IRNC Program Kickoff
• March 11, 2005

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Overview of IRNC Program

• 2004 Solicitation (NSF 04-560, see www.nsf.gov)
• NSF expects to make a small number of awards to
  provide network connections linking U.S. Research
  networks with peer networks in other parts of the
  world
• The availability of limited resources means that
  preference will be given to solutions which
  provide the best economy of scale and demonstrate
  the ability to link the largest communities of
  interest with the broadest services
• Follow-on to High-Performance International
  Internet Services (HPIIS) 1997

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IRNC contd

• Program Funding - 5M per year
• Cooperative agreements for up to 5 years
• Some continuing and new emphasis areas
• In support of Production re traffic
• Cohesive organization and architecture
• geographic sensibility
• pay for what we need
• Measurement
• Security

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2005 IRNC Awards

• Pacific Rim
• 0441102 GLORIAD, Greg Cole
• 0441096 TransPAC2, Jim Williams
• 0441119 Translight/Pacific Wave, John
  Silvester
• Europe
• 0441094 - TransLight/StarLight, Tom DeFanti
• Latin America
• 0441095 WHREN, Julio Ibarra

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Awards - Other

• Africa 0451384 SGER Extending High Bandwidth
  Academic and Research Networking to Africa
• PI George Sadowsky (Internews Network) 9/1/04
  start
• Develop plan to extend connectivity to African
  countries (Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique,
  Madagascar, Senegal, possibly others)
• IRNC Measurement
• 0457404 SGER - Network Measurement for
  International Connections, PI Matt Zekauskas
  (UCAID, Internet2)
• 0XXXXX SGER 2nd SGER Award in this area not
  officially made yet ?
• Investigate approaches and help develop
  guidelines for common measurement capabilities
  and metrics across IRNC connections

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Goals Today

• Finally sit down together as a whole group! (we
  can check this off now)
• Expose your activities to key decision makers in
  OISE, etc.
• this day is really about hearing from you
• Share with IRNC awardees NSFs desired outcomes
• Raise and understand open issues, what challenges
  lay ahead, etc.
• Discuss all the opportunities that lay ahead
• Define an initial organizational structure (a
  fancy term for setting up regular meetings)

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Desired Outcomes from IRNC

• The Primary Goal enable U.S. scienceengineering
  in the international context to the most
  effective degree possible
• All other goals, directives, policy, and
  decisions derive from this goal

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Opportunities and Challenges for IRNC

• Increase capacity and reach into new and existing
  regions
• Deploying new networking technologies driven by
  production needs
• E.g. Insertion of layer2 and hybrid services
• Leverage one anothers resources where feasible
• Not just capacity, tools and ideas too
• Not just ideas and tech from within IRNC (e.g.
  EIN)
• Maintain and build strong relationships with
  colleagues and partners outside U.S.
• Opportunities to contribute directly to the
  Network Research community
• Doug has slides on Security
• Measurement in one moment

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A few words about SCI for Context

• The post ACIR/ANIR world at NSF
• SCI delivers capability in the form of shared
  cyberinfrastructure
• Who shares this CI? The constituencies the
  scientists, researchers, and educators funded by
  NSF of (client) directorates across NSF
• But not NSF-exclusive
• The pursuit of scientific discovery is a global
  endeavor, now more than ever
• FY06 NSF Budget description of CI, the last line
  reads Over time, NSF investments will
  contribute to the development of a powerful,
  stable, persistent, and widely accessible
  cyberinfrastructure to enable the work of science
  and engineering researchers and educators across
  the nation and around the world.

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Measurement

• so what is kevins hangup with this measurement
  stuff?
• Perspective
• Measurement is not the top priority for IRNC, nor
  is it a near-term urgency
• However, we have many opportunities to
  establish leadership in networking in IRNC,
  particularly through measurement
• NSF has existing investments in measurement
  infrastructure that can/should be leveraged
  (NLANR PMA nodes overseas)
• The expert review panel cited this area
  repeatedly
• By the way, NSF will have detailed visibility
  into usage
• For a basic understanding of ROI
• In pursuit of quantitative metrics for evaluation
• Attractive environment for introduction of
  advanced platforms,e.g. OCxMONs and BRO
• Eventual resource for research on network traffic
• The Matt Zekauskas and Matt Mathis show

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Talking Points by Awardees Today

• Cover details of interconnectivity
• Identify connectivity w/ Abilene
• Include dates, timelines, and current status
• Describe monitoring plans and problem resolution
  framework
• Outline scienceengineering collaborations/project
  s enabled
• Address relevant opportunities for coordination
  w/ other IRNC award activities (how can you
  provide resources to, and leverage resources
  from, other IRNC awards?)
• Address challenges political and technical

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Evolution of International Connections

• ICM NSFNet extension
• HPIIS transition from federal network
• IRNC support of cyberinfrastructure

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IT Security for Federally funded infrastructure

• OMB Circular a-110
• FBI Case 216 (aka Teragrid Incident)
• CyberSecurity Summit 2004

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Scope of CyberSecurity Summit

• User Policies/Education
• System Admin Policies/Education
• Network Based Intrusion Detection
• Host Based Intrusion Detection
• Grid Security

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ConclusionsCyberSecurity Summit

• Deficient communication between facilities
• Weak trust relationships
• Lack of coordination
•  Needs
• Procedure to notify users/customers
• Procedure for notifying peer sites
• Define protocol to alerting legal authorities
• Instructions on public relations issues

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NSF Efforts

• Security Working Group for large facilities
• Changing wording in grants and contracts
• IT security will be part of site reviews
• Best Practices Security Plans

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Opportunities

• Share best practices
• Engage network engineers
• Facility communication channels
• Share information
• Provide early detection and forensics
• Assist law enforcement