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2003-2004 Work Programme
2.3.5 Research networking test-beds
This work is complementary to and in support of the activities carried out in the area of Research Infrastructures on high-capacity and high-speed communications network for all researchers in Europe (GÉANT) and specific high performance Grids.
Objective
To integrate and validate, in the context of user-driven large scale test-beds, the state-of-the-art technology that is essential for preparing the future upgrades in the infrastructure deployed across Europe. This should help support all research fields and identify the opportunities that such technology offers together with its limitations. The work is essential for fostering the early deployment in Europe of Next Generation Information and Communications Networks based upon all-optical technologies and new Internet protocols and for incorporating the most up-to-date middleware.
Focus is on
- Integrating, testing, validating and demonstrating new networking technologies - including disruptive technologies - and services (e.g. IP (Internet Protocol) over photonics, GMPLS, new routing and protocol schemes, access technologies, photonic networks, lambda and terabit networking, global networking, distributed architectures, storage, configuration, security, billing and charging mechanisms, QoS, autonomous administration) in real-world settings and production environments.
- Developing roadmaps and strategic guidance for infrastructure development in Europe, promoting specialised training and education on related advanced topics, promoting centres of excellence (e.g. GRIDs technology centres) and technology and know-how transfer, thus contributing towards strengthening and enhancing the European initiatives on Research Infrastructures.
- Fostering interoperability of solutions across different scientific and industrial disciplines in an effort to achieve broader-scale up-take of new state-of-the-art infrastructure technology and promoting the creation of standards and a continued effort to strengthen contributions to open-source objectives.
The RTD, taking place in the context of large scale experimentation in real settings, is expected to promote interoperability across heterogeneous technology domains, facilitate interoperability of solutions across different scientific and industrial communities, support the creation of standards, promote economies of scale during the validation phase and achieve broader-scale up-take of technology across numerous user communities. Involvement of demanding user communities is crucial.
Work should, where appropriate, enhance, complement and exploit synergies with the relevant national and international initiatives.