wiki:GENIStitch-GENI-Status-Report-GEC23

Version 1 (modified by tlehman@maxgigapop.net, 9 years ago) (diff)

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GENIStitch Project Status Report - Post GEC22

GENIStitch
Project Status Report
Project 1948 (GENIStitch)
Post GEC 23 (June 15-18, 2015) Report

I. Major accomplishments

A. Milestones status

For GEC22 (March 2015)

  • Extend SCS to support the user tools assistance features defined in the updated stitching architecture document. Demonstrate user assistance tools at GEC23.
  • Define the plan and design for Stitching Computation Service (SCS) packaging, documentation and knowledge transfer for production deployment. Provide an updated stitching architecture and design document that describes these plans and designs one week before GEC23. Provide production SCS packaging and documentation one month after GEC23.
  • Continue work on defining architecture for Software Defined Network Exchange (SDX) and Software Defined Infrastructure Exchange (SDIx) in the context GENI infrastructures. Work with the GPO and others to define these design concepts and architectures.

Status: Much of our work during this reporting period was focused on the SDX architecture, design, and implementation. This work included modifying the MAX Aggregate Manager to be GRAM based instead of using SFA. The primary motivation was to leverage the GRAM policy and authorization features for SDX deployments. A secondary motivation was that GRAM should offer a better support path for future changes and new feature incorporation. This work was completed and an instance of the GRAM based MAX Aggregate Manager was deployed to control the Washington International Exchange Point (WIX). The result was conversion of the WIX exchange point into a prototype SDX with policy features. This was presented at the GEC 22 SDX Panel and the slides are available here:

The production Stitching Computation Service (SCS) has been transitioned to Internet2 GRNOC. The production SCS packaging, documentation, and upgrade plan is available here:

The Internet2 NOC is now fully running the production SCS. We continue to work with them to provide patches and testing support as needed. We also have a Test SCS and a Development SCS running at MAX to facilitate prototype Aggregates and other testing. In addition, the iMinds Aggregate in Belgium has deployed another instance of an SCS.

We also generated an update to the GENI Stitching Architecture Document. This document includes long term options for future stitching feature sets as well as specific near term focus areas. Based on discussions with GPO and at GEC 23 Developer sessions, we have identified the following key areas for near term stitching feature focus and development:

  • SDX: Further refined the SDX concept and design. Continue with the development of the GRAM based Aggregate for WIX SDX. A key focus area should be on extending the policy features based on specific use cases for resource access control. Identify options for transition of the WIX prototype SDX to production status.
  • AL2S Multipoint: Work with Internet2 to design, implement, and test multi-point stitching across AL2S using their Aggregate Manager (FOAM/OESS based).
  • GENI AM for NSI networks: Study options and evaluate best approach have a GENI AM for networks which use the NSI API. Options for this include a) modify MAX AM to talk the NSI protocol, b) modify GPO GRAM based aggregate to add NSI support.
  • GENI AM APIv3: Review status of ProtoGENI support for VLAN negotiation via AM APIv3 and help with testing of that feature as it becomes available
  • Evaluate overall SCS and Stitching design and proposes features to increase level of monitoring, automation, and general ease of use and configuration.

This document is available here:

Based on discussion with GPO prior to the GEC22, a decision was made to focus on the SDX focused GRAM implementation instead of the new SCS user tools as described in the above milestone definition. There was general consensus that leveraging GENI technologies to realize SDX capabilities would provide more value to the community and better demonstrate the ability to apply GENI software and systems to other use cases.

B. Deliverables made

During this reporting period we completed the following deliverables:

  • Completed implementation of GRAM based MAX Aggregate Manager and deployed on WIX. Tested policy based slice instantiation.
  • Presented a the GEC23 SDX Panel on the topic of GENI/GRAM based Software Defined Exchange (SDX) with polices. This was in collaboration with GPO.

II Description of work performed during last quarter

A. Activities and findings

OIt appears that SDXs will likely be an important component of future R&E infrastructures. During this reporting period we continued working on the vision of a GENI powered SDX that includes compute and storage resources at the SDX along with dynamic network features. This concept was described in more detail in this paper:

Work completed during this reporting period, demonstrated that GENI software and technologies can be readily utilized to power these types of infrastructures. In particular the GRAM based AM seems like a good starting point for developing GENI based SDXs. GRAM policy mechanisms that are also aware of OpenStack based resources may also add value for future SDX designs.

B. Project participants

Tom Lehman (MAX)
Xi Yang (MAX)

C. Publications (individual and organizational)

No formal publications were funded by this projects during this time period.

D. Outreach activities

The current focus of our outreach activities is thru our collaborations with other Aggregates such as ProtoGENI, ExoGENI, and GENI Rack deployment sites.

E. Collaborations

As part of the activities and milestones described here, we have had extensive collaborations with many in the GENI community. This includes ProtoGENI, ExoGENI, iMINDS, and GPO developers. A large focus of our milestones during this reporting period revolved around network stitching capability deployment and testing. These activities required collaborations with other GENI aggregate manager developers and network resource providers.

F. Other Contributions

none.