Do Policies Help more than they Do Policies Help more than they Hinder?Hinder?

NORDUnet 2000 ConferenceNORDUnet 2000 ConferenceHelsinki, 29 September 2000Helsinki, 29 September 2000

David Williams, CERNDavid Williams, CERNalso President, TERENAalso President, TERENA

E-mail: David.O.Williams@cern.chE-mail: David.O.Williams@cern.chHomepage: nicewww.cern.ch/~davidw/Homepage: nicewww.cern.ch/~davidw/

Slides: nicewww.cern.ch/~davidw/public/NorduNet2000.pptSlides: nicewww.cern.ch/~davidw/public/NorduNet2000.ppt

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction Some technical backgroundSome technical background Some policy issuesSome policy issues

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

ContextContext

The session is about The session is about Research Research NetworkNetwork Policies Policies Hence not about Hence not about Global Global Internet Policy (how society Internet Policy (how society

should try to deal with the “Internet Age”)should try to deal with the “Internet Age”) Nor about Research Network Nor about Research Network PracticePractice, except to , except to

illustrate ideasillustrate ideas

My title is “Do policies My title is “Do policies HelpHelp more than they more than they HinderHinder?”?” A little provocative perhaps, but I want to make us all A little provocative perhaps, but I want to make us all

try to think a bit try to think a bit

Networking is EASYNetworking is EASY

We all know what we want….We all know what we want…. And can easily explain the details….And can easily explain the details…. We want networking which is:-We want networking which is:-

– FastFast– ReliableReliable– Easy to useEasy to use– Offers lots of facilities, including video and audio streams, Offers lots of facilities, including video and audio streams,

searching, easy info publishing, and video-conferencingsearching, easy info publishing, and video-conferencing– Connects to all the people and organisations around the Connects to all the people and organisations around the

world that we need to work with (MicroSoft, RedHat, Sun, world that we need to work with (MicroSoft, RedHat, Sun, Oracle, all our collaboration, including the sites in Pakistan, Oracle, all our collaboration, including the sites in Pakistan, China and Tashkent, our favourite magazines and papers, China and Tashkent, our favourite magazines and papers, our friends …)our friends …)

– and is and is CHEAPCHEAP

Networking is HARDNetworking is HARD

End-user performance and reliability typically depend on End-user performance and reliability typically depend on multiple different organisationsmultiple different organisations

Not all of which are interested in solving your (users’) Not all of which are interested in solving your (users’) problems (except maybe at a high price)problems (except maybe at a high price)

High growth rates mean that good performance today is High growth rates mean that good performance today is no guarantee of good performance in one month’s time.no guarantee of good performance in one month’s time.

If you look after 1k users they will each have at least 20 If you look after 1k users they will each have at least 20 different destinations that they use a lot, and there will different destinations that they use a lot, and there will be little correlation among those. So you have to deal be little correlation among those. So you have to deal with maybe 10k key routes.with maybe 10k key routes.

For 100k or 1M or 10M users it’s a lot worseFor 100k or 1M or 10M users it’s a lot worse Frightening speed of technical changeFrightening speed of technical change True 24x7 operationTrue 24x7 operation

POLICIES -POLICIES -HELP OR HINDRANCE?HELP OR HINDRANCE?

Some general ideas from IT,Some general ideas from IT,

not from networkingnot from networking

When can policies help?When can policies help?

When they encourage the formation of consensusWhen they encourage the formation of consensus– Such as enterprise or discipline-wide decisions to define Such as enterprise or discipline-wide decisions to define

“supported platforms”“supported platforms”– In 1980s until early 1990s many companies had a policy that In 1980s until early 1990s many companies had a policy that

they tried to do (almost) all of their computing on VAX-VMSthey tried to do (almost) all of their computing on VAX-VMS– Now more likely to be pushing Linux and/or Open SourceNow more likely to be pushing Linux and/or Open Source– Or specific design packagesOr specific design packages

Or when they really save moneyOr when they really save money– We should have a natural suspicion of claims that policies save We should have a natural suspicion of claims that policies save

money, since it is very hard to measure the “total cost of money, since it is very hard to measure the “total cost of ownership”ownership”

– The best thing is to try to encourage competitionThe best thing is to try to encourage competition

Subsidiary issueSubsidiary issue– How do you police, encourage, implement…. your policy?How do you police, encourage, implement…. your policy?

And when can they hinder?And when can they hinder?

If they take you down a blind alleyIf they take you down a blind alley Or if they discourage effective competitionOr if they discourage effective competition

Examples of hindranceExamples of hindrance– Mid-1980s “Buy OSI networking solutions” policies. Well Mid-1980s “Buy OSI networking solutions” policies. Well

intentioned but very expensive, since it was a blind alley.intentioned but very expensive, since it was a blind alley.– NatWest Bank buying into MS’s pitch “to build your NatWest Bank buying into MS’s pitch “to build your

enterprise computing solution”enterprise computing solution”– Government policies in favour of their local telecoms Government policies in favour of their local telecoms

monopolymonopoly

Of course, people change their policies with time, Of course, people change their policies with time, and as the technology situation evolvesand as the technology situation evolves

SOME TECHNICAL BACKGROUNDSOME TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?TUNNEL?

DENSE WAVE DIVISION MULTIPLEXINGDENSE WAVE DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

Why could one technologyWhy could one technologyhave such a major impact??have such a major impact??

Fibre as a waveguide, with well behaved photons - Fibre as a waveguide, with well behaved photons - your own private and sheltered “aether”your own private and sheltered “aether”

The discovery that you can actually deploy and The discovery that you can actually deploy and operate multiple wavelengths in the real world operate multiple wavelengths in the real world

A dynamic new industry, growing fast and attracting A dynamic new industry, growing fast and attracting lots of capital investmentlots of capital investment

Can rapidly deploy huge bandwidth upgrades in Can rapidly deploy huge bandwidth upgrades in suitable existing pipessuitable existing pipes

People really thinking that we can “very soon” People really thinking that we can “very soon” transmit 40 times 40 Gbps on one fibretransmit 40 times 40 Gbps on one fibre

We came a long way from 64 kbps connections in We came a long way from 64 kbps connections in 1985, or even from expensive 2 Mbps in 19951985, or even from expensive 2 Mbps in 1995

So what changes?So what changes? Economics of providing bandwidthEconomics of providing bandwidth

– Estimated that progress in photonics is 2x per year, compared to 2x Estimated that progress in photonics is 2x per year, compared to 2x per 18 months for electronics Adds up over time!per 18 months for electronics Adds up over time!

The balance between packet switching and circuit switchingThe balance between packet switching and circuit switching– You can think of creating economic and flexible paths between You can think of creating economic and flexible paths between

source and destinationsource and destination– Fully optical switching of IP packets may be a long way offFully optical switching of IP packets may be a long way off– And converting between optical and electrical regimes is expensiveAnd converting between optical and electrical regimes is expensive

The old “default assumption” that “someone else” (a The old “default assumption” that “someone else” (a telecoms carrier) worries about transporting your traffictelecoms carrier) worries about transporting your traffic– No regulatory reason why optical transport should be a quasi-No regulatory reason why optical transport should be a quasi-

monopolymonopoly– Just becomes another advanced service that our community needs to Just becomes another advanced service that our community needs to

worry about acquiring, directly or indirectly, via (long-term) lease or worry about acquiring, directly or indirectly, via (long-term) lease or other suitable direct or indirect dealother suitable direct or indirect deal

– Connecting one site to its 10 major peers becomes feasibleConnecting one site to its 10 major peers becomes feasible

ARCHITECTURAL ISSUESARCHITECTURAL ISSUES

INTERCONNECTION POINTSINTERCONNECTION POINTS

andandTRAFFIC FLOWSTRAFFIC FLOWS

(Inter) Connecting(Inter) Connecting

Regional MAN

SiteWide LAN

National A&R Service

International A&R Interconnect

Commercial ISP - International

Service

Disciplinary Network

1

Architecting the (inter)ConnectionsArchitecting the (inter)Connections

Regional MAN

SiteWide LAN

National A&R Service

International A&R Interconnect

Commercial ISP - International

Service

Disciplinary Network

1

Ipoint1

IPoint3

IPoint4

IPoint2

How is this handled?

How is this handled?

Ipoints 1-3 may well be co-locatedand/or there may not be a Regional MAN

The structure of commercial The structure of commercial networksnetworks

I would be interested to understand the extent to I would be interested to understand the extent to which the commercial networks operating in Europe which the commercial networks operating in Europe do or do not have a national substructure. Does the do or do not have a national substructure. Does the interconnect structure conform to the traditional interconnect structure conform to the traditional national borders, or does it ignore them. [Must be national borders, or does it ignore them. [Must be some lessons from looking inside the regions of D, F, some lessons from looking inside the regions of D, F, UK,…..]UK,…..]

If it is potentially more efficient (as I suspect) to If it is potentially more efficient (as I suspect) to ignore national boundaries, is it wise to cast them in ignore national boundaries, is it wise to cast them in concrete inside our NRENs?concrete inside our NRENs?

Point for discussion?Point for discussion?

Where should we split the traffic?Where should we split the traffic?

Should an A&R site immediately hand-off traffic destined Should an A&R site immediately hand-off traffic destined for commercial ISPs? Or leave it to the NREN to do that?for commercial ISPs? Or leave it to the NREN to do that?

Many people feel that it must be a good idea to split traffic Many people feel that it must be a good idea to split traffic early, to optimise the crucial A&R traffic performanceearly, to optimise the crucial A&R traffic performance

But it is work for the onsite network staff (may be few But it is work for the onsite network staff (may be few and/or part-time and/or none)and/or part-time and/or none)

So is it better to hand all traffic to one (or few) suppliers So is it better to hand all traffic to one (or few) suppliers who take care of “everything”who take care of “everything”

Point for discussion?Point for discussion?

I am not convinced that the IP community worries enough I am not convinced that the IP community worries enough about identifying traffic flows by ”type”about identifying traffic flows by ”type”

SOME POLICY ISSUESSOME POLICY ISSUES

Starting with some basic questions and Starting with some basic questions and my personal answersmy personal answers

We can askWe can ask

Is Is A&RA&R networking inherently different from networking inherently different from commercialcommercial networking? Why?? networking? Why??

If there is a distinction today, If there is a distinction today, will it stay like that for will it stay like that for the next five yearsthe next five years? Always??? Always??

How similar, or different, is A&R How similar, or different, is A&R networkingnetworking from from A&R A&R computingcomputing? ?

Some personal answers (1/3)Some personal answers (1/3)

Is A&R networking inherently different from commercial Is A&R networking inherently different from commercial networking? Why?networking? Why?

Traditionally we have saidTraditionally we have said– We are interested to explore our advanced needs, and are able to We are interested to explore our advanced needs, and are able to

prototype services which are less than perfectprototype services which are less than perfect– Commercial ISPs have failed to demonstrate good understanding Commercial ISPs have failed to demonstrate good understanding

of A&R needs, and have failed to provide good service to the A&R of A&R needs, and have failed to provide good service to the A&R community when given the taskcommunity when given the task

– Academia and research have much higher needs than the home Academia and research have much higher needs than the home and commerceand commerce

The first point is true, the second has been true and The first point is true, the second has been true and might change with time, and I am not so very convinced might change with time, and I am not so very convinced about the thirdabout the third

BSA has already provided a very good positive answer to BSA has already provided a very good positive answer to the questionthe question

Some personal answers (2/3)Some personal answers (2/3)

If there is a distinction today, will it stay like that for the If there is a distinction today, will it stay like that for the next five years? Always??next five years? Always??

Who can tell? Unless a vendor sets out to just tackle the Who can tell? Unless a vendor sets out to just tackle the A&R market (seems unlikely to me) the most plausible A&R market (seems unlikely to me) the most plausible scenario is that companies become very successful in scenario is that companies become very successful in the very advanced commercial market [lots of VC, the very advanced commercial market [lots of VC, streaming and RT audio, multiple sites all over the world, streaming and RT audio, multiple sites all over the world, lots of connections to individuals] and then get lots of connections to individuals] and then get interested in the A&R market. How similar are those interested in the A&R market. How similar are those markets??markets??

Again, BSA tells you that you should be helping the local Again, BSA tells you that you should be helping the local community, and that the big suppliers just don’t get it.community, and that the big suppliers just don’t get it.

Some personal answers (3/3)Some personal answers (3/3)

How similar, or different, is A&R networking from A&R How similar, or different, is A&R networking from A&R computing? computing?

My experience tells me that A&R computing (“scientific My experience tells me that A&R computing (“scientific computing”) was very different from commercial computing”) was very different from commercial computing 30-15 years ago, and has gradually converged computing 30-15 years ago, and has gradually converged with commercial computingwith commercial computing

By and large the important companies understood the A&R By and large the important companies understood the A&R computing market. computing market. Not much sign of the same thing in Not much sign of the same thing in networking yet.networking yet.

But one huge difference is that a single site (university, research But one huge difference is that a single site (university, research centre) could largely run an independent “computing policy” centre) could largely run an independent “computing policy” while it has to cooperate with its peers on “networking policy”while it has to cooperate with its peers on “networking policy”

SPECIFIC THOUGHTS ON POLICY FOR SPECIFIC THOUGHTS ON POLICY FOR EUROPEAN A&R NETWORKS EUROPEAN A&R NETWORKS

In Europe we need - CompetitionIn Europe we need - Competition

One of the potential pitfalls of “policy” is that it can One of the potential pitfalls of “policy” is that it can sometimes have the effect of inhibiting competitionsometimes have the effect of inhibiting competition

It would be good if A&R sites and NRENs concentrated more It would be good if A&R sites and NRENs concentrated more of their thinking and resources on their Interconnection of their thinking and resources on their Interconnection Point(s)Point(s)

Should be well-engineered, but neutral (favouring neither a Should be well-engineered, but neutral (favouring neither a telecom vendor nor an ISP)telecom vendor nor an ISP)

Offering good connections to the regional MANOffering good connections to the regional MAN And to the national A&R serviceAnd to the national A&R service And, in general, be flexible in meeting the site or NREN’s And, in general, be flexible in meeting the site or NREN’s

interconnection requirementsinterconnection requirements

Full competition in provision of connections (links)Full competition in provision of connections (links) Potentially competition in provision of the IPoint tooPotentially competition in provision of the IPoint too

In Europe we also need …In Europe we also need …

Access at a sensible price to one (or, better, two) Access at a sensible price to one (or, better, two) fibre pairs passing all European capitalsfibre pairs passing all European capitals

A good way of building technical and organisational A good way of building technical and organisational consensus about the architecture of the consensus about the architecture of the interconnects and how to fund and manage theminterconnects and how to fund and manage them

And a agreed way to evolve that consensus as the And a agreed way to evolve that consensus as the technology and market changestechnology and market changes

(more follows)(more follows)

We should also…We should also…

Strongly develop our neutral interconnects and to Strongly develop our neutral interconnects and to encourage many service providers to connect to themencourage many service providers to connect to them

Concentrate more and collaborate better on Concentrate more and collaborate better on applicationsapplications

A huge potential hereA huge potential here– GridsGrids– A&R PortalsA&R Portals– Collaborative toolsCollaborative tools– ……..you name it…...you name it….

After all networking is only a tool at the service of After all networking is only a tool at the service of another goal (science, education, society, individual another goal (science, education, society, individual people, ….)people, ….)

HELP OR HINDRANCE?HELP OR HINDRANCE?

You have to be optimisticYou have to be optimistic

And hope that we can reach And hope that we can reach consensusconsensus on sensible on sensible policiespolicies which will which will HELPHELP

Counter examples have existed. Let’s try to avoid them in Counter examples have existed. Let’s try to avoid them in future.future.

Keeping to simple, pragmatic concepts tends to be usefulKeeping to simple, pragmatic concepts tends to be useful Try to Try to encourage competitionencourage competition And And encourage local infrastructureencourage local infrastructure builders builders Explain your requirementsExplain your requirements, problems and hopes to any , problems and hopes to any

service suppliers and local, regional or national service suppliers and local, regional or national governments that are smart enough to askgovernments that are smart enough to ask

Creating the A&R Internet we would like is still a lot about Creating the A&R Internet we would like is still a lot about scientists getting involved in politics and society, and scientists getting involved in politics and society, and influencing commerce and industryinfluencing commerce and industry