Force10 Networks will supply its Force10 E-Series family of switch/routers for Internet2’s Hybrid Optical and Packet Infrastructure (HOPI) project. The nationwide HOPI testbed will serve as a foundation for cutting-edge network experimentation and a model for the next-generation of Internet2’s existing high performance packet-based Abilene network. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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http://www.internet2.edu
- In January 2005, The Internet2 Hybrid Optical and Packet Infrastructure (HOPI) initiative announced its design for a national network testbed infrastructure that allows researchers to experiment with new optical technologies, including dynamically provisioned wavelengths, circuit switched environments, and new transport protocols.
- The HOPI testbed will utilize facilities from Internet2’s Abilene Network, the National Lambda Rail (NLR) network, The MANLAN exchange point, and regional optical networks. Each HOPI node will consist of an Ethernet switch with 10GigE capabilities, a fiber cross connect switch, and servers to control HOPI’s network infrastructure and measure network performance, all designed to model future optical infrastructures.
- HOPI nodes will be deployed in sites supporting substantial international connectivity, including the Pacific Northwest GigPoP in Seattle, StarLight in Chicago, and the NYSERNet/MAN LAN location in New York City. HOPI nodes will also be deployed in Los Angeles for connectivity to the UltraLight project and in Washington D.C. for connectivity to the DRAGON project. Both UltraLight and DRAGON are projects funded by the National Science Foundation. Additionally, all of the HOPI nodes will connect to the existing Abilene routers in their corresponding cities. These nodes will in turn, connect to Internet2’s experimental facilities on the NLR footprint. This configuration will allow Abilene-connected researchers access to the HOPI facilities.