wiki:ExperimenterPortal

Version 79 (modified by Vic Thomas, 13 years ago) (diff)

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Experimentation with GENI

1 Why GENI?

GENI might be right for you if your experiment requires:

  • More resources than would ordinarily be found in your lab. Since GENI is a suite of infrastructures it can potentially provide you with more resources than is typically found in any one laboratory. This is especially true for compute resources: GENI provides access to large testbeds with hundreds of PCs and to cloud computing resources.
  • Non-IP connectivity across resources. Some GENI aggregates allow you to set up Layer 2 connections between resources within the aggregate. Experimenters may install and run their own Layer 3 and above protocols on these resources. It is also possible to setup Layer 2 connections between many GENI aggregates that connect to GENI backbone networks (Internet2 and NLR). You can even set up your network to route through experimenter programmable switches in the GENI backbone.
  • A deeply programmable network. GENI has switches in the backbone and at the edges that you can program to set up the network topologies you need and to control flows in your network.
  • Geographically distributed resources. Some GENI resources are distributed around the world.
  • Reproducibility. You can get exclusive access to certain GENI resources including CPU resources and network resources. This gives you control over your experiment's environment and hence the ability for you and others to repeat experiments under identical or very similar conditions.


2 An Experimenter's View of GENI

GENI is a suite of infrastructures for networking and distributed systems experimentation. GENI supports at-scale experimentation on shared, heterogeneous, highly instrumented infrastructure and enables deep programmability throughout the network.

As an experimenter you will need to know about GENI clearinghouses and GENI aggregates. A GENI clearinghouse authenticates experimenters and issues them credentials needed to obtain GENI resources for experimentation. If you need GENI experimenter credentials email help@geni.net.

GENI aggregates provide resources to experimenters with GENI credentials. GENI has a number of different aggregates that provide a variety of resources for experimentation. An important aspect of planning your experiment is deciding what resources you need (resource types and numbers) and which aggregates might be able to provide you these resources.

The following figure illustrates the role of GENI clearinghouses and aggregates:

Clearinghouses and Aggregates

You will also need to know about GENI slices. A slice holds a collection of computing and communications resources capable of running an experiment or a wide area service. An experiment is a researcher-defined use of resources in a slice; an experiment runs in a slice. A researcher may run multiple experiments using resources in a slice, concurrently or over time.

3 GENI Resources

GENI has a number of aggregates that make different kinds of resources available for use by experimenters. Examples of such resources include:

  • Backbone networks. Geographically distributed GENI resources may be connected to one another using Internet2, National Lambda Rail (NLR) or the public Internet. Many aggregates can be connected using Layer 2 VLANS over Internet2 and NLR. Most aggregates can be connected using IP.
  • Programmable nodes. GENI provides a wide array of programmable hosts such as entire PCs from the ProtoGENI aggregate that can be booted with an experimenter specified operating system; operating system virtual machines that can host experimenter software from the PlanetLab and ProtoGENI aggregates , programming language virtual machines from the Million Node GENI aggregate and cloud computing resources from the GENICloud aggregate.
  • Programmable networks. Experimenter programmable switches within the GENI backbone networks (e.g. ProtoGENI backbone nodes and SPP nodes) and at campuses around the country (e.g. Stanford OpenFlow network).
  • Wireless testbeds. Resources for wireless experiments such as the ORBIT and DOME testbeds.

See Section 7 for a listing of GENI aggregates along with a description of the resources they provide.

4 Picking Resources for Your Experiment

As you plan your experiment you will want to consider:

  • The degree of control you need over your experiment. Do you need to tightly control the resources (CPU, bandwidth, etc.) allocated to your experiment or will best-effort suffice? If you need a tightly controlled environment you might want to consider one of the ProtoGENI aggregate that allocate entire PCs that can be connected in arbitrary topologies.
  • The desired network topology. Does your experiment have to be geographically distributed? What kinds of connectivity do you need between these geographically distributed locations. Almost all aggregates can connect using IP connectivity over the Internet. Many aggregates connect to one of the GENI backbones and allow you to set up IP connections with other resources on the backbone. This will give you a bit more control over the network. Some aggregates provide Layer 2 connectivity over a GENI backbone i.e. you can set up vlans between these aggregates and other resources on the backbone network. This allows you to run non-IP protocols across between the aggregate and other resources.
  • The desired control over network flows. If you need to manage network traffic to/from an aggregate you might want to use aggregates that connect to a GENI backbone using OpenFlow switches or set up vlans to these aggregates through the ProtoGENI Backbone Nodes or the SPP Nodes.
  • The number of resources you need from an aggregate. Aggregates vary from small installations such as the GPO Lab ProtoGENI aggregate that consists of eleven nodes to the PlanetLab and ProtoGENI aggregates that consist of hundreds of nodes.
  • If the aggregate accepts GENI credentials. You will likely be able to use resources from these aggregates with a credential issued by a GENI clearinghouse; you do not have to contact the aggregate owner to get an account for the aggregate. Additionally, aggregates that accept GENI credentials typically implement the GENI Aggregate Manager API. A growing number of GENI experiment control tools support this API i.e. these tools can be used to create slices, add resources from aggregates that support the GENI API, etc. Examples of such tools include the Flack, Omni and Gush.

The GENI Project Office is happy to help find the best match of resources for your experiments. Please contact help@geni.net for assistance.

5 Experimenter Tools

5.1 Experiment Control Tools

GENI experiment control tools are used to create slices, add or remove resources to slices, and delete slices. Some tools may also help with the installation of experimenter specified software into resources in slices; starting, pausing, resuming and stopping the execution of an experiment; and monitoring of the resources in slices for failures. Examples of GENI experiment control tools include Gush, Omni, PlanetLab SFI and Flack.

In addition to these experiment control tools, individual aggregates provide experimenters with additional tools to install and manage software on their resources. For example, the Million Node GENI aggregate provides a set of tools to manage the virtual machines it proves as computing resources.

5.2 Instrumentation and Measurement Tools

GENI instrumentation tools are currently aggregate specific. Examples of such tools include Instrumentation Tools for the Kentucky ProtoGENI aggregate, Owl for the PlanetLab aggregate and OMF/OML for the ORBIT aggregate.

6 Getting Access to GENI

To use GENI for experimentation please contact help@geni.net.

7 Tutorials

For a tutorial on using Omni tools to run experiments on GENI, see http://groups.geni.net/geni/wiki/GENIExperimenter.

For a tutorial on using ProtoGENI Tools to run experiments on GENI, see http://www.protogeni.net/trac/protogeni/wiki/Tutorial.

8 GENI Aggregates Currently Available to Experimenters

8.1 Backbone Networks

Network Description Topology Map
Internet2 GENI experimenters have access to 1Gbps of dedicated bandwidth from Internet2. Internet2 provides the U.S. research and education community a dynamic hybrid optical and packet network. Internet2 Map

GENI has two backbone networks: Internet2 and National Lambda Rail (NLR). The and the NLR backbone provides up to 30Gbps of non-dedicated bandwidth. Some aggregates that connect to GENI backbone networks may be connected to other resources on the network using Layer 2 VLANS, giving experimenters the option of running non-IP based Layer 3 and above protocols. Experimenters wishing to connect Internet2 connected resources to NLR connected resources may do so using switches in Atlanta .

The following table lists GENI aggregates that are currently available for use by experimenters and the networks (GENI backbone network or the Internet) to which they connect.

8.1 Programmable Hosts

Aggregate Description Compute Resources Programmable Network Accepts GENI Credentials Network Connectivity Experimenter Tools
PlanetLab Testbed consisting of 1090 nodes at 513 sites around the world Virtual machines on PlanetLab nodes No Yes Internet Gush, Omni, Raven, SFI
GPO Lab myPLC PlanetLab installation consisting of 5 multi-homed nodes Virtual machines on PlanetLab nodes No Yes Internet2: IP; NLR: IP; Internet Gush, Omni, SFI
Utah ProtoGENI Over 500 co-located PCs that can be loaded with an experimenter specified OS image and connected in arbitrary topologies. Includes 60 nodes with 2 WiFi cards each, plus software-defined radio peripherals (USRP2) Complete PCs or virtual machines on PCs PCs can be set up as routers, plus experimenter-controllable switches (HP ProCurves) Yes Internet2: IP and Layer 2; Internet ProtoGENI Tools, Gush
Kentucky ProtoGENI Over 50 co-located PCs that can be loaded with an experimenter specified OS image and connected in arbitrary topologies. Strong instrumentation capabilities Complete PCs or virtual machines on PCs PCs can be set up as routers Yes Internet2: IP and Layer 2; Internet ProtoGENI Tools, Instrumentation Tools
GPO Lab ProtoGENI 11 co-located PCs that can be loaded with an experimenter specified OS image and connected in arbitrary topologies Complete PCs PCs can be set up as routers Yes Internet2: IP and Layer 2; NLR: IP and Layer 2; Internet ProtoGENI Tools, Gush
Million Node GENI Compute resources on thousands of platforms donated by individuals and institutions. Platforms may be mobile and/or behind firewalls and NATs. Experimenter software, written in a subset of Python, runs in sandboxes on Million Node GENI platforms. No No Internet ProtoGENI Tools, Million Node GENI Tools

GENI Aggregate Providers: Please report errors and omissions in the table above to Vic Thomas

8.2 Programmable Networks

Aggregate Description Compute Resources Accepts GENI Credentials Network Connectivity Experimenter Tools
Supercharged PlanetLab Platform (SPP) Nodes
Five high-performance PlanetLab nodes at Internet2 co-location sites. Nodes incorporate high-performance server and network processor blades to support service delivery over high speed overlay networks. Experimenters program the General-Purpose Processing Engines (GPEs) and Network Processor Blades (NPE) of the SPP nodes. No Internet2 ProtoGENI Backbone Nodes Nodes at 5 Internet2 co-location sites. The ProtoGENI backbone runs Ethernet on a 1Gbps Internet2 wave, and slices it with VLANs. Researchers select the topology of VLANs on this infrastructure. No Yes Internet2: Layer 2 and IP; Internet2 ION service (incl. many ProtoGENI sites); 1 Gbps to GpENI and Wisconsin ProtoGENI site, 10 GBps to Utah ProtoGENI site and Mid-Atlantic Crossroads; connected to SPP and ShadowNet nodes ProtoGENI Tools BGP Mux BGP-session multiplexer that provides stable, on-demand access to global BGP route feeds. Arbitrary and even transient client BGP connections can be provisioned and torn down on demand without affecting globally visible BGP sessions. No No Internet2 Stanford OpenFlow Network No Internet2 Indiana Openflow Network No Internet2 Rutgers Openflow Network No Internet2 GPO Lab Openflow Network OpenFlow testbed consisting of three OpenFlow-controlled switches (one each of HP, NEC, and Quanta) and an Expedient AM/OIM/FV stack. Computing resources provided by the GPO Lab myPLC and GPO Lab ProtoGENI aggregates Yes Internet2: IP and Layer 2, NLR: IP and Layer 2 OpenFlow tools (NOX and Expedient), Omni

GENI Aggregate Providers: Please report errors and omissions in the table above to Vic Thomas

8.3 Wireless Testbeds

Aggregate Description Compute Resources Programmable Network Accepts GENI Credentials Network Connectivity Experimenter Tools
ORBIT Wireless Testbed 400 nodes, each with two 802.11 a/b/g interfaces, arranged in a grid. Nodes can be loaded with experimenter specified OS and software. Full access to nodes in the testbed MAC layer and above programmable by experimenter. Topology control by changing transmit power levels and noise floor. No OMF Tools
DOME 35 transit buses equipped with computers and a variety of wireless radios, stationary WiFi access points with buses authenticated for access, numerous organic access points. Radios in the testbed include 802.11b/g access points, 802.11g PCI, XTend 900Mhz radios, 3G modems, and GPS Virtual machines on an embedded computer running Linux No No Internet

GENI Aggregate Providers: Please report errors and omissions in the table above to Vic Thomas

8.4 Specialized Aggregates

Aggregate Description Compute Resources Programmable Network Accepts GENI Credentials Network Connectivity Experimenter Tools
Deter
Testbed for security experiments consisting of about 200 co-located PCs that can be loaded with an experimenter specified OS image and connected in arbitrary topologies Complete PCs PCs can be set up as routers No I2? NLR? Internet ProtoGENI Tools, SEER Kansei Sensor networking testbed consisting of 96 nodes. Each node has one XSM, 4 Telosbs, and one iMote2, all of which are attached to a Stargate. The Stargates are connected using both wired and wireless ethernet. The nodes have 802.11, 802.15.4, and 900 MHz Chipcon CC1000 radios Experimenters program the Stargates running Stargate Release 7.2 from Intel Research. No No Internet EmStar stargate development environment ViSE Virtualized access to three sensor nodes located in the Amherst, MA area. Sensor nodes include a Davis Pro Vantage Pro2 Weather Station, a Sony SNC-RZ50N Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera, and a Raymarine RD424 Radome Radar Scanner. Linux virtual machines on sensor nodes Testbed nodes use long distance 802.11b over directional antenna for communication No

GENI Aggregate Providers: Please report errors and omissions in the table above to Vic Thomas



9 GENI Aggregates: Coming Soon

GpENI Network testbed centered on a Midwest US regional optical network between The University of Kansas, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and University of Missouri – Kansas City, supported with optical switches from Ciena interconnected by Qwest fiber infrastructure.
GENICloud Brings OpenCirrus and Ecalyptus-based cloud computing resources to GENI experimenters.
PrimoGENI Integrate a large-scale, real-time network simulator (PRIME) into ProtoGENI, enabling slices involving both physical and simulated networked components.
CMU Homenet Nodes Nodes on non-controlled networks placed in residences such as apartments.
MAX Regional optical network consisting of wavelength-selectable switches, 10Gbps Ethernet switches, PlanetLab nodes, OpenFlow switches, NetFPGA hosts, and connections to ProtoGENI, Internet2 ION, NLR. MAX Aggregate
CMU Wireless Emulator A wireless network emulator that accurately emulates wireless signal propagation in a physical space.
ORCA/BEN Network consisting of several segments of dark fiber and includes a reconfigurable fiber switch (layer 0) to generate different physical topologies, out of band network management to access equipment at PoPs and remote power management for resetting and powering down of experimental equipment.
Data Intensive Cloud Cloud-based environment for data-intensive experiments from start (the data collection point) to finish (processing and archiving).
Rutgers WiMAX GENI-enabled WiMAX base station at Rutgers University.
NY Poly WiMAX GENI-enabled WiMAX base station at Polytechnic Institute of New York University.
UCLA WiMAX GENI-enabled WiMAX base station at the University of California, Los Angeles to support the deployment and testing of vehicular services and applications in the Campus Vehicular Testbed (C-VeT).
GPO Lab WiMAX GENI-enabled WiMAX base station at the BBN Campus, Cambridge, MA.

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