Towards A service Platform for Virtualization and Federation : a case ofJGN2Plus
Shinji Shimojo, Yasuichi Kitamura, Hideaki Otsuki,
Service Platform Architecture Research Centre
National Institute for Information and Communications Technology
Chiyoda-ku Otemachi 1-8-1 KDDI Otemachi Build. 21F, Tokyo, Japansshinji@nict.go.jp, kita@nict.go.jp, eiji@nict.go.jp

Abstract
New generation network R&D by clean slate
approach is started world wide such as GENI in US,
Future Internet activities in FP7 and AKARI inJapan. Following these trends, JGN2plus, a new
testbed for an advaned networking and application
R&D, has been started from April 2008 by NICT.
Fundamental requirement for testbed is that itshould be built for a proof of concept of newly
developed
technokogy
while
supporting
development of new applications. Therefore, testbed
should be consistant with API although we want tokeep introducing new technology. A service
platform based on a servie oriented architecture
seems to be one of the candidate for flexible
architecture. A service platform provides various
advanced services to the applications in the help ofnetwork functionality. Most importantly, to support
multiple experiments on new network functions,virtualization of network functionalities should besupported in a service platform. Finally, a service
platform should be federated to support
international experiments. In this paper, we
propose a new service platform architecture for anadvanced testbed for new generation networking
research and development.

1 Introduction
In Japan, first testbed for network R&D was started
in 1999 as JGN (Japan Gigabit Network) followed
by JGN2 in 2004 and JGN2plus in 2008. However,the purpose and its role of the testbed is slightly
changed. In the first two phases, that is, JGN andJGN2, the high speed network is very precious
resources and its connectivity is mostly important.
Therefore, just a connection to various sites ismostly important to encourage R&D effort andapplication development. Through the use of thehigh speed testbed, various applications such astelemedicine, remote observation of, for example,
the ultra high voltage microscope, remote education
became possible by the range of quality such as DV(Digital Video), HD or even 4K digital cinema.
Also other applications requires to exchange a large
volume of data such as eVLBI, LHC, etc. However,after ten years, although the connectivity to thehigh speed network is still highly appreciated, a
new requirements for testbed is rising.
 More dynamic and shared use of high speed
network is required because of the limited
budget and growth of its application.
 Security becomes very important even in theR&D network.
 A new type of ubiquitous applications with alarge number of terminal or sensors is coming.
 Testbed is a field for global open innovation.
New generation network R&D by clean slate
approach is started world wide such as GENI[1] inUS, Future Internet activities in FP7[2] andAKARI[3] in Japan which aim to attack theseissues. Therefore, a new role is expected for testbedof new generation network R&D as follows: Testbed should be built for the proof ofconcept in more realistic environment.
 While appreciating existing applications incyberinfrastructure, we are expecting moreapplications
whichutilize
advancedfunctionality from the network.
 Testbed should be built on existing andoperational technology while supporting
evolution of technology.
 Virtualization and federation is a key conceptforsupporting multiple
internationalexperiments.
Therefore, the effort to build testbed network for
new generation network is necessary but
challenging. Among all above requirements,
programmability for all layers is mostly important.
To build flexible network testbed, our proposal is tointroduce a layer of service platform between
network layer and application layer. To support
multiple experiments, concept of virtualization
should be introduced in multiple layers.
Virtualization helps to separate multiple
experiments safely and securely. Currently,
development of virtualization mechanisms are on
going in different layers and projects. Tehrefore,
virtualization mechanisms should be federated tosupport international experiments.
Currently we are developing virtualization
mechanisms in our service platform in three layers:
Network layer consists of an optical network andwireless network. On top of the optical network,
many separated logical networks are existed. Someof them are packet switched and some of them arecircuit switched. For circuit switched network, weare relying on VLAN. We also introduced virtually
managed routers based on the state of art
technology. In conjunction with high performancestorage and CPUs, it could provide IaaS
(Infrastructure as a Service) environment to support
dynamic allocation of network, storage andcomputing resouces. The middleware Layerconsists of control plane for this hybrid network,
service elements for advanced networking. In thecurrent implementation, control plane for JGN isDCN[4] and a service platform for performance
metrics is a mechanism called perfFSONAR[5].
On top of these network layers, we are providing
overlay layers based on P2P ubiquitous service
platform, PIAX[6] and Planetlab[7].
Among these mechanisms, some of them arealready internationally federated. As examples ofinternationally federated mechanisms, in this paper,
we introduce our trial for DCN and perfSONAR.

2 DCN deployment on JGN2Plus
DCN is a switching service that creates short-term
circuits between end-users that require dedicatedpath separately from IP network. The DCN enables
users to create point-to-point across multiple
domains using control plane software. Now, DCN
is partly deployed on the Internet2, ESnet, GEANT,
and JGN2plus. Currently, DCN provide a way toset up separate logical network on JGN2plus.

Fig. 1 DCN deployment on JGN2plus
Fig. 1 shows planned DCN network in JGN2plus
testbed. We installed Inter Domain Controller(IDC), appeared as OSCARS in this figure, inOtemachi and IDC controls blue boxes in severalsite such as Kashima, Tsukuba and Kyusyu. Theselocations depend on application's location, solocations will be moved by experimentenvironment.E-VLBI application was demonstratedin SC08, as our first multi-domain inter operability
trial between Kashima and SC08 booth via APAN,
TransPAC2 and Internet2. By using these DCN
network, application user is possible to use VLAN
path on demand, among JGN2plus, APAN,
Internet2 and more DCN site besides on Internet2.
On the other hand, We are trying to install thistechnologies into our optical testbed. The
Interoperability working group (IWG) in Kei-hanna info-communication open laboratory develops aprototype node of GMPLS E-NNI which isinteroperable with IETF and ASON model[8]. By
using this GMPLS stack (red boxes) which cancontrol optical layer switch, not only VLAN butalso optical path can be served by DCN. This will
make users can establish dedicated optical pathwhen users need.

2 perfSONAR deployment on JGN2Plus
The other important element of network service is ameasurement. The most frustration of current user
in the R&E network is that they could not knowwhat going on inside the network. If user can havesome function to control the network, they shouldhave some feedback of their control. That is, theyshould have some information what is going on
inside the network. Measurement information gives
part of the information inside the network. Theperformance service oriented network monitoringarchitecture (perfSONAR) is the framework thatenables users or operators to easily refer, collect,and evaluate the monitoring data in a multipledomain network environment. perfSONAR has
been developed by GÉANT2 , ESnet, Internet2,and RNP as its core members. perfSONAR is basedon the idea of the the three layer multiple-domain
monitoring system shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 perfSONAR Framework
During the SC’08, perfSONAR infrastructure wasdeployed as the trial. It was the first time to start
the perfSONAR deployment from Asian area andthis facility could show the network performanceparameter between the SC’08 and the counter partsites of the demonstrations. Figure 3 is the snap
shot of the network weather map with using theperfSONAR data of the several networks.

Figure 3 Traffic Weather Map based on
perfSONAR

8 Conclusion
JGN2Plus is built as a National and International
testbed network for advanced networking R&D. To
support advanced international experiments,
virtualization mechanis should be supported. And
international federation of these mechanis isrequired. This is very critical and exiting moment
because these technologies are developing inparallel. Therefore, exchanging ideas in related
project are mostly welcome.

Acknowledgement
The authors thank to all the member of JGN2plus
and its collaborators.

References[1] GENI, http://www.geni.net/[2]
FutureInetnetPortal,http://www.futureinternet.eu/home.html[3] AKARI, http://akari-project.nict.go.jp/[4]
DynamicCircuit
Network(DCN),
http://www.internet2.edu/network/dc/[5] PerfSONAR, http://www.perfsonar.net/[6] PIAX, http://www.piax.org/[7] Planetlab, http://www.planet-lab.org/[8] H. Otsuki, et. al, “Issues on GMPL inter-carriers ENNI and a prototype node based on Linux,”