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Calls & Context
Euro6IX
European IPv6 Internet Exchanges Backbone
Abstract
The goal of the Euro6IX project is to support the rapid introduction of IPv6 in Europe. Towards this target, the project has defined a work plan describing the network design, the network deployment, the research on advanced network services to be performed and the development of applications (that will be validated through the involvement of user groups and international trials). Dissemination activities, including events and conferences, contributions to standards (IETF among others), publication of papers and active promotion of all the publicly available project results through the project web site is foreseen.
The project will research, design and deploy a native Pan-European IPv6 network, called the Euro6IX test bed. It will include the most advanced services obtainable from present technology and will follow the architecture of the current Internet (based on IPv4). It will consider all the levels needed for the worldwide deployment of the next generation Internet.
Objectives
The main objectives of the project are:
- Research an appropriate architecture to design and deploy the first Pan-European non-commercial IPv6 Internet Exchange Network. It will connect several regional neutral IPv6 Internet Exchange points across Europe, and achieve the same level of robustness and service quality as currently offered by IPv4 Internet Exchange Networks.
- Use the deployed IPv6 IX infrastructure to research, test and validate IPv6-based applications and services.
- Open the Euro6IX network to specific user groups (existing and to be created), who will be connecting to the Euro6IX network by means of a variety of access technologies - mobile, xDSL, cable - and internetworking with legacy IPv4 networks and services, to test the performance of future IPv6 networks, and non-commercial native IPv6 advanced services and applications.
- Disseminate, liaise and co-ordinate with clusters, fora, standards organisations (e.g. the IETF and RIPE) and third parties, with particular consideration for interworking and co-ordination with peer projects.
Initial Euro6IX Network
Technical Approach
The success of the Euro6IX project will be measured against the achievement level of:
- Good management of project activities to meet the milestones according to agreed plans, on top of the rest of the activities.
- Procurement of IXs according to defined specifications, deployment and provision of efficient interconnectivity for the IPv6 European level Internet.
- Involvement of research entities and non-commercial trial users in order to use this network, advanced services and applications.
- Promotion of the IPv6 interests by ISPs and users through test and trials.
- Creation of awareness with Euro6IX activities at events of IST, IETF, fora, summits and national events with targeted participants.
Testbed
The infrastructure of Euro6IX will consist of the following different network levels:
- IX-level: Regional native IPv6 exchanges.
- Backbone-level: Pan-European core network that interconnects the regional exchanges and creates the highest level in the network hierarchy.
- Node-level: Service providers, ISPs and other providers accessing the core network to provide IPv6 services and end user access. The users will be connected by means of a variety of access technologies, including legacy IPv4 networks and services whenever no IPv6 native links are available or feasible. This level includes a set of academic, research and non-commercial trial users who will use native IPv6 services and generate IPv6 native traffic.
Applications
Euro6IX will offer advanced network services, and a repository of IPv6 enabled applications, which have been ported, adapted or enhanced, and made available for trials both within Euro6IX and to third parties.
Emphasis will be put on tools that use the advanced features of IPv6 such as:
- Code porting (include Java).
- Address Delegation WEB Tools.
- Instant Messaging.
- WEB Mail Tools.
- Multimedia.
- Shareware Repository.
- Test Suites.
- On-Line Education Tools.
- Billing Tools Prototypes.
Innovation
In order to allow for the continuous growth of the Internet, it is necessary to provide a neutral IPv6 based test exchange facility for researchers and ISPs to connect to and test the network, performance, its reliability and scalability, to determine if large scale networks can be established, solving interoperability and QoS issues. This is the key purpose of the Euro6IX project. Euro6IX will:
- Provide efficient interconnectivity for the IPv6 European networks.
- Involve the research community and non-commercial trial users on the network, with advanced services and applications.
- Promote the interests of ISPs and users for IPv6 development.
- Create awareness through dissemination of project results among the targeted recipients (IETF, RIPE, fixed and mobile operators, Summits, etc.).
- Project name:
- Euro6IX
- Contract no:
- IST-2001-32161
- Project type:
- RTD
- Start date:
- 01/01/2002
- Duration:
- 36 months
- Total budget:
- €15,527,711
- Funding from the EC:
- €7,697,308
- Total effort in person-months:
- 1.3
- Website:
- http://www.euro6ix.net
- Contact person:
- Carlos Ralli / Jordi Palet
- email: coordinators@euro6ix.org
- tel: +349133745 63 / 1518199
- fax: +34913374502 / 1518198
- Project participants:
- 6WIND - FR
- Airtel - ES
- BT - UK
- Consulintel - ES
- E&A Abogados - ES
- Eurocontrol - B
- FT RD - FR
- novaGne - ES
- PTIN - PT
- Telebit - DK
- TELSCOM - CH
- TID ES
- TILAB - IT
- T-Nova - D
- UMU - ES
- UoS UK
- UPM - ES
- Keywords:
- IPv6
- IX
- Mobility
- Collaboration with other EC funded projects:
- 6NET
- 6WINIT
- GÉANT
- LONG
- MIND
- NGNLAB