NetLab

SFINGI (Software router to Improve Next-Generation Internet) is an Italian research project (PRIN) funded by MIUR (Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca).

Next generation Internet will be based on network resource virtualization, needed to guarantee flexibility, scalability, reconfigurability, programmability and resource sharing to enable energy consumption savings. The research proposal SFINGI is characterized by a strong experimental flavor; its main focus is on the study of virtualization and energy saving techniques in software routers (SR), routers exploiting a Personal Computer (PC) architecture and an open source software/hardware environment. SFINGI aims at defining the ability of software routers in dealing, in a virtualized environment, with complex applications requiring a high degree of resource sharing, scalability, reliability and reduced energy consumption, in other words SFINGI focus on network virtualization support in SRs. The SFINGI consortium includes six research groups in well known Italian Universities: Politecnico di Torino, Università di Bologna, Università di Modena-Reggio Emilia, Università di Napoli, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Università di Trento.

 

GreenNet (formally "Greening the Network") is an Italian Research project , founded by the Italian Ministry of Research and University (MIUR) under the FIRB "Future in Research Program". GreenNet is a three-year project, started in March 2012. GreenNet is coordinated by DR. Roberto Bruschi, and includes three Research Units: - the CNIT Research Unit at the University of Genoa (CNIT-GE) [Resp. Roberto Bruschi], - the University of Rome "La Sapienza" (UNIRM) [Resp. Antonio Cianfrani], - the University of Pisa (UNIPI) [Resp. Gregorio Procissi]

GreenNet aims at re-thinking and re-designing different aspects of the current Internet technologies and network protocols to smartly support hardware power management. The pursued approach will exploit two basic features already and largely present in today's networks and devices: the network resource virtualization and the modular architecture of nodes. These features give us the opportunity of using the same base concepts already applied in other fields (e.g., data-centers): decoupling physical elements (e.g., a line-card), which may be put in standby or scaled down their capacities to perform only base operations, from their (virtual) functionalities and resources, so that the latter can be migrated towards other active physical elements of the same device, or of other neighboring devices. In this way, the emptied physical elements may be put in standby mode, while their logical services may continue to work elsewhere. The GreenNet project aims at investigating a coordinated set of architectural solutions, protocol enhancements, control and optimization strategies, and related software developments in order to support such kind of primitives at both core and access networks. From a more general point of view and in extreme synthesis, the development of such approach will allow: Core network nodes aggregating routing and switching functionalities into a subset of their physical resources (e.g., line-cards), and put their emptied modules in standby mode. End-host terminals (PCs, Customer Premises Equipment) migrating the “network presence” of their applications and/or services to network devices, and entering standby while maintaining network services up. Obviously, the project goal is not so ambitious to pretend that it can provide a complete characterization of such a complex and multi-faceted task. However, the approach it takes tries to focus on the integration of three main activities that contribute to the whole picture: Enabling Green Primitives in Next-Generation Network Devices Exploiting Virtualization Schemes in Network Protocols and Services Network-wide green optimizations The activity 1) will provide the initial inputs by integrating power scaling and standby capabilities into network device hardware platforms. Specific efforts will be devoted to the study and the extension of “open” modular device architectures, able to flexibly distributing network operations to different “internal” sub-elements. Starting from these energy-aware devices, the activity 2) will focus on network-specific virtualization schemes for decoupling network services and applications from physical elements, and make them able to migrate among active hardware. Specific research activities will be devoted to the virtualization of services and protocols at both home and core network levels. Then, the activity 3) is devoted to explore novel network-wide criteria to design and to control next-generation networks, composed by energy-aware nodes with the introduced capabilities. The ideas carried out in the GreenNet project will not be limited to the development of analytical and simulative models, but they will be included in a green "proof-of-concept" prototype device (realized on Linux-based SW routers), in order to demonstrate their feasibility and main impact. 

ECONET (low Energy COnsumption NETworks) project is a 3-year IP project (running from October 2010 to September 2013) co-funded by the European Commission under the Framework Programme 7 (FP7), addressing the Strategic Objective ICT-2009.1.1 “The Network of the Future”.

The ECONET project aims at studying and exploiting dynamic adaptive technologies (based on standby and performance scaling capabilities) for wired network devices that allow saving energy when a device (or part of it) is not used. The project will be devoted at re-thinking and re-designing wired network equipment and infrastructures towards more energy-sustainable and eco-friendly technologies and perspectives. As the Future Internet is taking shape, it is therefore recognised that, among other basic concepts and key aspects, energy efficiency should pervade the network infrastructure as a whole to such extent as to become part of the network design criteria and to carry across multiple networking domains for the achievement of a general target. There are two main motivations that drive the quest for “green” networking: environmental one, related to the reduction of wastes and impact on CO2 emissions, and the economic one, stemming from the need of operators to reduce the cost of keeping the network up and running at the desired service level, while counterbalancing the ever-increasing cost of energy. The overall idea is to introduce novel green network-specific paradigms and concepts enabling the reduction of energy requirements of wired network equipment by 50% in the short to mid-term (and by 80% in the long run). To this end, the main challenge will be to design, develop and test novel technologies, integrated control criteria and mechanisms for network equipment enabling energy saving by adapting network capacities and resources to current traffic loads and user requirements, while ensuring end-to-end Quality of Service. Therefore, this project aims at exploring a coordinated set of approaches and concepts to deliver novel solutions and technologies for reducing the carbon footprint of next generation infrastructures for telecommunication networks. Thanks to the presence of major manufacturing companies, telecoms and ISPs, ECONET will propose its innovative technologies to standardization bodies for extending in the green direction the next generation network and Future Internet architectures and protocols.

Link to the website: http://www.econet-project.eu/

 

About BONE The core activity of the BONE-project is the stimulation of intensified collaboration, exchange of researchers and integration of activities and know-how into and amongst partners. Through the establishment of Virtual Centres of Excellence, the BONE-project looks into the future and builds and supports the final “Network of the Future” through education & training, research tools & testlabs on new technologies & architectures. The leading-edge position of European Research in the field and, consequently, of European industry, could be threatened by returning to an uncoordinated and scattered approach to optical networking research. BONE consolidates the process, supported during FP6, of integration and reorganization of research efforts across European academic and industrial groups in FP7 through: Building Virtual Centres of Excellence that cover specific issues in the field of Optical Networking that can serve to European industry with education & training, research tools & testlabs and pave the way to development of new technologies & architectures. Reaching out, including and linking to research activities in national programmes, or programmes outside Europe. Stimulating an intensified collaboration, exchange of researchers between the research groups involved and active in the field. Disseminating the expertise and know-how of these European Research groups to a broader audience, both R&D oriented as well as industry- and decision maker oriented. Technical Approach The BONE-project proposes to solidify the e-Photon/ONe network and has the objective to provide a limited number of Virtual Centres of Excellence on specific issues: VCE Network Technologies and Engineering VCE Services and Applications VCE Access networks VCE Optical switching systems VCE Transmission techniques VCE In-building Networks These Virtual Centres of Excellence group, align and (re-)structure the research activities of the BONE-partners involved in such a way that a coherent solution and service can be offered to BONE internal and external partners and projects. Hot and multidisciplinary topics and issues are handled and looked at through a limited number of Topical Projects which each have a limited duration. These Topical Projects are either horizontal projects which make use of the expertise available at different Virtual Centres of Excellence or tackle specific issues to fill in specific needs or gaps in the expertise of the Virtual Centres of Excellence. TP Service aware optical network architectures TP MPLS, GMPLS and routing TP Optical communication networks in support of user mobility and networks in motion TP Edge-to-core adaptation for hybrid networks TP Optical Interconnects TP Alternatives for multi-layer networking with cross-layer optimization TP Physical Impairments constrain based routing in packet switching networks Some of the activities within the BONE project are defined to support the general working of the project or centralise the dissemination & teaching activities: WP01: Dissemination & Outreach WP02: Teaching WP03: Electronic Communication Aid As training and dissemination of the expertise and know-how of the BONE-Virtual Centres of Excellence and the results of the Topical Projects is essential and set as one of the major goals of the network, these activities will be taken care of in a centralised and coordinated activity. Key Issues Strengthening of the European Research on Optical Networking through integration and collaboration amongst the different research groups involved in the Virtual Centres of Excellence Definition of specific technical objectives for each of the Virtual Centres of Excellence Establish contacts and links to national programmes and projects outside the FP7-framework to exchange information, expertise and jointly work towards definition of solutions for critical issues in optical networking Organisation of workshops specifically targeting the dissemination of the BONE-know-how to non-R&D participants, i.e. industrial representatives & policy makers. These workshops will explain both the available expertise and support that BONE is offering through its Virtual Centres of Excellence as well as results obtained on hot issues through its Topical Projects. Expected Impact The network as a whole will clearly have an impact on the reinforcement of the European leadership in wired and wireless networks, not on an industrial level as defined in the “expected Impact” but on academic level. However, due to the fact that academic research is mainly running ahead of the industrial needs and the implementations, also an impact on the European industry might be expected. These expectations are strengthened by the fact that the BONE network clearly envisages teaching and education, to under-graduates but also towards master courses that will be of use of key people at industry. Education is the first step in making people, in industry, aware of new trends and evolutions in the field. The BONE network also comprises several, selected research groups from industry (equipment manufacturers, operators, …) which clearly exhibits the interest from industry in the network and clearly tightens the links between industry and the research activities in Europe.

Link to the website: http://www.ict-bone.eu/portal/landing_pages/index.html