Objective

Provide high-performance networking and advanced network services for GSFC-based HPCC ESS testbed systems and users enabling:

• Distributed processing among supercomputers and workstations
• Synchronization of sensitive communications, such as video (with audio) conferencing, among desktop workstations
• Large-volume and/or high-resolution image data transfers

Approach

Develop and utilize a High-End Computer Network (HECN) testbed to evaluate performance of and deployment strategies for advanced networking technologies. Cooperate with GSFC Center Network Environment (CNE) and HPCC NASA Research and Education Network (NREN) Projects on end-to-end architectures. Transfer technologies from the HPCC-developed pilot networks to the CNE and work with the CNE Project to fuse the HPCC and CNE Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) assets to form an integrated ATM campus backbone for GSFC.

Accomplishments

Expanded the HECN testbed from use of just ATM switches from FORE Systems to include a Cisco LS1010 also with OC-12c/622 megabit-per-second connections. A diagram illustrating the HECN infrastructure, test workstations, and wide area network connections at GSFC is provided below.

Demonstrated both the reliability and high throughput performance of the HECN's technologies in transfers of 1 Terabyte of data from a $12,000 UltraSPARC 2 workstation at GSFC to a similar UltraSPARC at Naval Research Laboratory, completing the transfer in under 6 hours with an average throughput of approximately 416 megabits per second. A diagram illustrating the network connections and parameters of the test is provided below.

Also upgraded the HECN from its previous use of only FORE System pre-ATM Forum compliant Private Network-to-Network Interface (PNNI) routing and signaling software to use of full ATM Forum compliant PNNI operating across multi-vendor ATM switches. Initiated NASA's evaluations of Cisco's TAG switching Early Field Trial (beta) software between the HECN and the NASCOM Internetworking Lab Environment (NILE) at GSFC. Implemented local router configuration upgrades to enable ESS and NASA Center for Computational Sciences supercomputers and local workstations to be connected to the CNE intra-Center network backbone via 100 megabit-per-second Fast Ethernet instead of their previous 10 megabit-per-second Ethernet connections. Replaced HECN's old GigaRouter with a new GigaRouter-2 unit including an ATM OC-12c network interface card. Placed orders for a Cisco GSR 12012 router and a FORE ASX-4000 ATM switch as test platforms for future high-performance firewalls and (not yet ordered) OC-48c/2.4 gigabit-per-second interfaces for future HECN local and ATDNet/MONET frame routing and/or cell forwarding tests.

Significance: ATM and other high performance network technologies are key components in the evolution towards shared use of remote network resident resources by the science community. Whether GSFC investigators use remote testbeds, remote investigators use GSFC testbeds, investigators move data between distributed archives and testbeds or link various combinations of distributed testbeds, or high-performance computing is used in some other scenario, an evolving high-performance transparent GSFC network is an essential component.

Status/Plans

• FY99: In cooperation with the CNE Project, enable a 622 megabit-per-second ATM backbone serving two GSFC buildings.
• FY00: Demonstrate 320 megabit-per-second, end-to-end network throughput (100x FY96 baseline) between the HPCC/ESS testbed facility and ESS Project scientists across an OC-12c ATM campus network and across an OC-12c ATM firewall between the CNE and the NREN.

Point of Contact

Pat Gary
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
pat.gary@gsfc.nasa.gov
301-286-9539
http://everest.gsfc.nasa.gov/