Networks are Cooperation

1 URAN, Kiev, October 1

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Networks are Cooperation

• Networks are communication

• Communication is Cooperation

Rolf NordhagenProfessor of InformaticsUniversity of OsloCentre for Information Technology ServicesResearch and [email protected]

Networking since the 1970sUNINETT, NORDUnetBaltics projectsNATO networking panel member


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INTERNET

• A vast technological interconnect, spanning regions, countries, continents

SERVICES

• Electronic Mail

• File transfer

• Information browsing and capture

WWW

CONTENT


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By creating linked information spaces on the Internet, opportunities exist to create local, regional and national information highways, spanning across communities interacting within themselves, or with other regions. By linking together citizens, schools, libraries, newspapers and other information sources, local authorities and institutions, and with outside connections, it is possible to create powerful regional electronic infrastructures.


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The most optimistic views on the Internet claim that this may improve the interaction between people and institutions, permit better access to governement by those governed, and greatly ease the general access to information. Particularly for the educational process may benefit. A more open society is the goal.


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Examples

• General information

• Geographical information

• Distance Education

• Publishing on Demand

• News services

• Public Information


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GIX Washington

Reykjavik

EMPB London

Ebone Paris

EMPB Amsterdam NASK Warshaw

BALTnet Vilnius

BALTnet Tallin

Trondheim

Copenhagen

Stockholm


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NORDUnet as an example

Gestation period 1980 - 1984

Nordic Council of Ministers approved 1985

NORDUNET project 1986 - 89

1.2 Mill. USD

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden

Networks are cooperation


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NORDUnet

• Cooperation between 5 national networks

• Cooperation on International connectivity

• Common services and pilot development

• Supporting all major protocols and services

• Harmonising mail services

• Joint training of experts

• Cooperation with major Telecom operators


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Communication is Cooperation

• Services can rarely be done by one provider alone

• The necessary level of competence could not be reached on a country by country basis

• Institutional groups too small both in• people with interest and knowledge

• resources and demanding users

• Development cooperation required on all levels


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The NORDUNET lesson

• Many institutions scattered across several countries worked together by each getting major responsibilities

• Distributed projects create joint enthusiasm and work towards common goals

• Shared responsibilities

• All got benefit from building competence

• Network communication is working together


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Shared responsibilities

• Representative Steering Body from major national centres

• Initial management, Technical: Norway (OSLO),

• Administrative: Sweden (SICS) later moved to Denmark (UNI C)

• Operating centers, International Sweden (KTH)

• National centers: TCP/IP Sweden, KTH DECnet Denmark, UNI C X.25 CLNS Norway, UNINETT

• Coordinated representation in International bodies


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NORDUnet A/S

• Created 14 December 1994 to give• Well defined legal body

• Certain freedom of action

• Equal control by partners

• Distinct from partners

• Excec located in Denmark,

Director (Peter Villemoes), small secretariat

• All work done by partners


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NORDUnet a/s shareholders

• UNI-C, Denmark

• Finnish Ministry of Education

• University of Iceland

• UNINETT A/S, Norway

• Agency for Higher Education, Sweden


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NORDUnet links


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EXPENSES IN 1998

ca. 33 M$


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CEE COUNTRIES


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USA LINK HISTORY


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Ongoing Challenges

• Break the cost barrier

• Maintain Nordic leadership

• Continue collaboration

• Remain active in Europe

The NORDUNET2 initiative


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Creating plans

• Joint Seminars and Workshops

• Broad participation, R&D, Universities• industry, PTT/PTO ?

• financial and political rep. ?

• Subjects• the infrastructure

• PTT transmission facilities

• Universities and local site needs

• International connectivity and technology

• Financial and management aspects


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International support issues

• seminars and workshops, training

• personell exchange programs

• consultancy work when necessary

• purchase of critical equipment

• direct support by a time limited funding of international links


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Cooperation ChecklistMajor issues

• Identification of sites and organisations to connect

• International cooperation and connectivity

• Which sites have possibilities now

• What other are prioritized in terms of ongoing projects?

• Identify shared responsibilities and distribution of projects

• How to support USERS


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Content driven network services

• Developed by working together

• Service providers: Computer Centers,Network operators

• Information Providers

• Libraries

• Educators

• Public, Private, Commercial


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Present Challenges

• "Multimedia" services and

• High Speed Technologies (ATM)

• New paradigms in Education• Distance education

• Distributed libraries

• Electronic publishing

• Structure and organisation of information

• New adminstrative services,

• Region Wide Information Systems


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The New Vision

• The high capacity network as a regional, national, and international infrastructure,a highway for education, services and entertainment, with open and easy access to the public

• Liberte, egalite, fraternite


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Cooperation ChecklistTechnical

• Basic transmission issues, leased line capacity and quality, alternatives, like microwave, radiolink and dial-up access

• Routing, placement, PC, based?, topology,

• international routes

• DNS support, .country servers, where and

• what is needed in terms of equipment

• Mail gatewaying, interworking (X.400)

• General equipment needs, UNIX servers, PCs, Modems


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Cooperation ChecklistFunding and organisation

• Implementation cost for regional and international efforts, plan needed

• Operational costs, estimate needed

• What organisational framework will support:• cooperative and shared projects

• the operations

• administrative support for registration

• of network, organisation and addresses

• the user steering of the services as a whole

• signing of international agreements


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Cooperation ChecklistPolicy

• Internet registration

• Relations to the local PTTs and local governments?• R&D network vs public service relations?

• R&D networking a pilot phase before true public service?

• Funding initially and long term

• Relations to existing European activities

• Relations to extended connectivity CEE States

• Relations to national standards organisations

• and registration authorities


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Organisations/Functions

• Service provider/Operations centre

• Name registry and Address registry

• Technical Coordinations group for all network service providers - interconnecting/routing coordination

• File/Program archive, FTP, NEWS, WWW etc.

• Policy setting of tariffs/cost sharing

• The base for all must be the USERS


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Operation Centre Tasks

• Network operation• Installation, configuration of modems, routers

• Fault handling - international/national links

• Statistics, for planning

• Domain Name Service

• Routing Arbitration

• (Engineering, Planning, Names

• and Address Registry)

Documents

Networks are Cooperation