BT/JISC University Research Initiative - Management of Multi-Service Networks Management/Technical Meeting No.8 Location: Lancaster University - 17 September 1996 Issue 1 Present:- BT:- Ian Marshall (Chairman) Mick Mulvey (Notes) Pat Hughes Jeremy Barnes UCL:- Jon Crowcroft James Cowan Lancaster:- David Hutchinson Dan Waddington Geoff Coulson Lougborough:- Iain Phillips Omar Bashir Cambridge:- Rebbecca Issacs Oxford Brookes:- Sheila Lloyd-Lyons David Caton Imperal Colledge:- Morris Sloman Nat Pryce Steve Crane Representatives from both JISC and Ukerna had been invited but were unable to attend. 1. Technical Reports Each University presented a technical report for the last quarter. Copies of the overheads can be obtained from URL: "http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/jon/mmn/meetings.html" In short; - For WP-1, Configuration Management, IC reported on their Regis implementation and development of lightweight and extensible protocols. For WP-2, Policy based traffic management, UCL reported that the RAMs (Resource Allocation Management Systems) project, partnered by UCL, Abbotsbury Software, Prism Technology, Taslon and Texaco had close inter-connectivity wit the BT-URI. The aim of the RAMs project is to examine the interaction between distributed applications and the network, and to develop a resource allocation management system which can be used to ensure that critical applications have the network resources they need to operate efficiently. For both the RAMs and BT-URI project UCL had investigated the use of QoS Monitoring within Winsock II without success, a work-around was being sought. For WP-3, End System QOS Management, Lancaster reported on development of prototype VoD service components, experiences with Winsock 2.0 API, published papers on CORBA enhancements & QoS specification within Distributed programming environments. Current research is focusing on QoS management across applications and networks. For WP-4 Traffic Monitoring and Measurement, LUT reported on delay measurement results between themselves and Lancaster using GPS off-air timing to give accurate one-way delays. Large delays were evident on the Lancaster local LAN which appears to be heavily utilised. Some losses had been observed which could be attributable to the SMDS network. It was noted that the support work for BT's SMDS network based at Walsall, which spun out of the BT-URI, is now covered by a separate contract between BT and Loughborough university. Ian Marshall was keen that Loughborough contact Ken Totton at BTLabs who may be able to assist in the area 'data extraction for management' . AP1/LUT/IP For WP-5, Security, Cambridge reported on DCAN and their intent to implement their security architecture. For WP-6 Oxford Brookes indicated that they had now completed their work on ABR studies but had yet to make a start on multi-point research. It was noted that in general the emphasis of the BT-URI had now swung towards the investigation of adaptive applications and distributed QoS. It was agreed that the BT-URI project partners should host a 2-day workshop on adaptive networked multimedia applications on or around the 17/18th April at UCL. Jon Crowcroft to organise and Dave Hutchinsion/Morris Sloman to assist. In general only the BT-URI partners would be allowed to submit papers but attendance should be open to anyone. 2. Feedback from BT Ian Marshall indicated that he was satisfied with the general progress of the URI to-date and had little technical feedback to give at this point. He was slightly concerned that UCL appeared to be billing BT on a 6 monthly rather than 3-monthly basis. Jon Crowcoft agreed to investigate further. AP2/UCL/JC Pat Hughes reported on a 3-monthly meeting that had recently been held between JISC and Ukerna. JISC were currently putting together a flyer to advertise SuperJanet and Pat Hughes was keen that the BT-URI partners put together a single information on the BT/JISC URI and associated applications for incorporation in this flyer.. Jon Crowcroft was keen for the URI partners to keep talking to JISC/Ukerna on the use of SuperJanet for Research. David Hutchinson was keen on seeing if there was a case for a separately funded experimental research network. Jon Crowcroft though that time was now past regarding ATM oriented research. Ian Marshall agreed and was keen for the URI to continue on the theme of adaptive network applications and mobile objects towards which the URI appears to be migrating. Distributed virtual reality applications were cited as an example which would provide the most stringent networking requirements and could be used as focus for requirements. Ian added that BT would be looking at the next generation infrastructure and there was a need to align the '98/'99 work work packages with this work. Jon Crowcroft agreed and suggested that the theme for years 4 and 5 should be migrated towards automatic application characterisation, self organising distributed applications, mobile dynamic groups and new applications. Jon Crowcroft noted that work on a distributed platform between URI participants and aimed at adaptive applications would still require some form of guaranteed bandwidth between partners to enable interactive testing. Pat Hughes was keen for the URI partners to think about the work packages that would be needed to accommodate the above vision for years 4 and 5 of the project. To this end the following was agreed:- a. Produce a paragraph (or two) for discussion with BT in December 96. AP3/All URI participants. b. Produce a draft plan by the Easter '97 workshop (April 17) c. Produce full version for integration between partners in May 97. d. Formally Submit a joint proposal at the end of May 97 to BT/JISC. e. BT/JISC to approve by end of June 97. 3. BT's Futures Test Bed - Jeremy Barnes Jeremy Barnes provided an overview of BT's futures test bed. The test bed comprises links with a whole range of networking technologies such as LAN: ethernet, fast ethernet, switched ethernet, with a core high-speed ATM backbone of 12 Cisco LS1010 switches with WAN connections to ATM, SMDS, N-ISDN, and wireless The theme of the test bed was to enable users to investigate new ways of working. Currently the ATM backbone only uses a UBR service class and all users access the ATM network as IP users. The test bed now has in excess of 700 users over diverse networks and makes use of LANE, and RFC1577 to enable LAN interconnect and IP over ATM. The current phase of test bed development will allow implementation of PNNI and desktop ATM. 4. Pair Wise Interactions of URI partners. UCL, Lancaster and Loughborough had been in communication with respect to interaction of network and application QoS. Further discussions were planned. Cambridge had yet to talk to Imperial College but agreed to pass relevent papers to IC to prompt interaction. It was noted that IC's work on policy's had now stopped. Oxford Brookes had yet to decide on the specific scope of their work and until this was underway interaction with Lancaster and UCL would be limited. Jeremy Barnes agreed to be the BT mentor for the OB work package. 5. Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be held at UCL on the 12 December 1996 to be followed by a URI Christmas meal. 6. Action Point Summary 1) Ian Marshall was keen that Loughborough contact Ken Totton at BTLabs who may be able to assist in the area 'data extraction for management' . AP1/LUT/IP 2) Jon Crowcoft to investigate why UCL bill on a 6-monthly rather than 3-monthly basis. AP2/UCL/JC 3) All URI partners to produce a paragraph (or two) for discussion with BT in December 96 on their work package plans for years 4 and 5. AP3/All URI participants. Mick Mulvey/BB&DN/Issue 1 8 October 1996 2