Research Networks [was Re: Phew looks like we were lucky]

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"Stephen Donnelly" 02/25/02 04:37 >>> If your question Joe is 'what is the justification for internet2?', then I'd say there seems to be at least two commonly cited ones.

One is the use in current large applications such as 'grid' computing, a la DTF. Connecting super computer centres may consume a lot of bandwidth. Climate models, particle physics results etc.

The other one is that the internet2 is supposed to spurr new application development, showing what *can* be done with huge amounts of bandwidth when it's available at low cost. One of the more PR friendly applications would probably be the 'virtual teleconferencing' systems, where 3d models are transmitted along with the video, allowing participants to be rendered in 3d at each end. (Enables you to make direct eye contact, surprisingly important.)

What that means is that a high-bandwidth network can be useful as a testbed for all sorts of stuff. That's an argument for building one if you actually have enough interest from research institutions, but suggests that they'd need to take a lead in calling for one.

So in short, the internet2 initiatives aren't so much about networking anymore, as applications. On the other hand, the vBNS has native multi-cast, Abilene supports IPv6, and CA-net3 is intended to be 'all optical'; they're developing OBGP for instance.

And if you want to understand how new technologies and new ideas fit together there's no substitute for experience. These are not issues which have directly to do with providing cheap bandwidth for less experimental customers, which is where this thread seems to have gone. Asking a serious question which may have some relevance to this list, is anyone in New Zealand doing any research at present which would use high-bandwidth links in either of these ways? - Donald Neal -- Donald Neal Special Operations Network Delivery Telecom New Zealand Ltd ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "This communication, including any attachments, is confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not read it - please contact me immediately, destroy it, and do not copy or use any part of this communication or disclose anything about it. Thank you." ============================================================================== - To unsubscribe from nznog, send email to majordomo(a)list.waikato.ac.nz where the body of your message reads: unsubscribe nznog