Rudolf J. Strijkers

Intercloud Architecture for interoperability and integration

This paper presents on-going research to develop the Intercloud Architecture Framework (ICAF) that addresses problems in multi-provider multi-domain heterogeneous cloud based infrastructure services and applications integration and interoperability. The paper refers to existing standards in Cloud Computing, in particular, recently published NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (CCRA). The proposed ICAF defines four complementary components addressing Intercloud integration and interoperability: multilayer Cloud Services Model that combines commonly adopted cloud service models, such as IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, in one multilayer model with corresponding inter-layer interfaces; Intercloud Control and Management Plane that supports cloud based applications interaction; Intercloud Federation Framework, and Intercloud Operation Framework. The paper briefly describes the architectural framework for cloud based infrastructure services provisioned on-demand being developed in the framework of the GEYSERS project that is used as a basis for building multilayer cloud services integration framework that allows optimized provisioning of both computing, storage and networking resources. The proposed architecture is intended to provide an architectural model for developing Intercloud middleware and in this way will facilitate clouds interoperability and integration.

User Programmable Virtualized Networks

This paper introduces the concept of a User Programmable Virtualized Network, which allows networks to deliver application specific services using network element components that developers can program as part of a users application. The use of special tokens in data or control packets is the basis of a practical, yet powerful security and AAA framework. This framework allows for implementations with a low footprint that can operate in a multi domain network operator environment. We demonstrate the ease with which one can build applications and address networking problems as they appear for example in sensor networks.

MeTRO: Low latency network paths with routers-on-demand

The current Internet is a loose federation of independent providers (ISPs) That manually manage inter-domain (ASes) route policies To primarily serve Their own interests. The end-user experience may be hindered by Two aspects: The ASes only optimize locally, possibly delivering sub-optimal end-To-end connections; The manual management of routing policies for a large amount of prefixes is error-prone. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds let users allocate compute resources on demand, at different geographical locations, while Internet connectivity is guaranteed. Therefore, cloud providers represent untapped resources for a better end-user (application) Internet connectivity experience. In This work we present MeTRO, a framework To construct better Than best-effort routed Internet paths. Our method exploits The fact That cloud computer resources may host virtual routers and That one such router can be part of a path between Two end systems. We perform an extensive evaluation of our method, by deploying it over 75 NLNOG Ring hosts. We show That our method, practically acting as an overlay network, decreases The latency in 58% of The cases studied, albeit increasing The number of hops. Our framework is specifically useful for monitoring and debugging failures, as well as configuration errors related To Internet reachability.

Interactive Control over a Programmable Computer Network Using a Multi-touch Surface

This article introduces the Interactive Network concept and describes the design and implementation of the first prototype. In an Interactive Network humans become an integral part of the control system to manage programmable networks and grid networks. The implementation consists of a multi-touch table that allows multiple persons to manage and monitor a programmable network simultaneously. The amount of interactive control of the multi-touch interface is illustrated by the ability to create and manipulate paths, which are either end-to-end, multicast or paths that contain loops. First experiences with the multi-touch table show its potential for collaborative management of large-scale infrastructures.

Application Framework for Programmable Network Control

We present a framework that enables application developers to create complex and application specific network services. The essence of our approach is to utilize programmable network elements to create a software representation of network elements in the application. We show that the typical pattern of an application specific network service is a control loop in which topology, paths, and services are continuously monitored and adjusted to match application specific qualities. We present a platform in which network control applications can be developed and illustrate possible use cases. Based on these use cases, new research questions are identified.

Network Resource Control for Grid Workflow Management Systems

Grid workflow management systems automate the orchestration of scientific applications with large computational and data processing needs, but lack control over network resources. Consequently, the management system cannot prevent multiple communication intensive applications to compete for network resources, which leads to unpredictable performance. Currently, the lack of control over network resources may prevent certain applications, i.e. applications that need high capacity and Quality of Service, to utilize Grids. Hence, such applications would use dedicated infrastructures. Because the costs to build dedicated infrastructures may far exceed the cost of using existing Grids, the Grid needs to support mechanisms to optimize the interworking between networks and applications. In this paper, we present the architecture and proof of concept to control network resources from Grid workflow management system and to manage network resources from workflow-enabled applications at run-time. Depending on the current network infrastructure capabilities or future advances, applications may employ existing QoS mechanisms or use application-specific ones to provide the desired network service. We believe that our approach leads to performance improvements in communication intensive applications and enables novel Grid applications, which require optimal interworking between networks and applications.

Supporting communities in programmable grid networks: gTBN

This paper presents the generalised Token Based Networking (gTBN) architecture, which enables dynamic binding of communities and their applications to specialised network services. gTBN uses protocol independent tokens to provide decoupling of authorisation from time of usage as well as identification of network traffic. The tokenised traffic allows specialised software components uploaded into network elements to execute services specific to communities. A reference implementation of gTBN over IPv4 is proposed as well as the presentation of our experiments. These experiments include validation tests of our test bed with common grid applications such as GridFTP, OpenMPI, and VLC. In addition, we present a firewalling use case based on gTBN.

Service level management for executable papers

Reproducibility of Science is considered as one of the main principles of the scientific method, and refers to the ability of an experiment to be accurately reproduced, by third person, in complex experiment every detail matters to ensure the correct reproducibility. In the context of the ICCS 2011, Elsevier organized the executable paper grand challenge a contest to improve the way scientific information is communicated and used. While during this contest the focus was on developing methods and technique to realize the idea of executable papers, in this paper we focus on the operational issues related to the creation a viable service with a predefined QoS.