BT/JISC University Research Initiative - Management of Multi-Service Networks Management Meeting No.2 Location: Imperial College - 28 March 1995 Present:- BT UCL Cambridge Lancaster Ian Marshall (Chairman) Jon Crowcroft Derek McAuley David Hutchison Mick Mulvey (Secretary) James Cowan Simon Ritchie John Adams Lougborough Oxford Brookes IC David Parish Geoff Tagg Morris Sloman JISC UKERNA Ron Rogerson John Dyer 1. Technical Report John Crowcroft presented a summary of the technical report for the first six months of the project. In short; - For WP-1, Configuration Management, IC had reported on configuration and policy work with UCL, and on toolkits and languages. For WP-2, Policy based traffic management, UCL had reported on ATM practical work, and provided a description of the policy work. In addition UCL had reported on experience with the PNO pilot, and SuperJanet access problems. For WP-3 Lancaster had reported on standards work, session acceptance models, the BT "service Factory" model, and on some initial SMDS performance analysis. For WP-4 Traffic Monitoring and Measurement, LUT had reported SMDS delay measurement results and progress towards the development of a broadband network performance test set. For WP-5, Security, Cambridge had reported on their work to understand the fundamentals of security issues prior to application. A copy of the technical meeting minutes had been circulated by e-mail. Jon Crowcroft added that a full report had now been written on the experiences with the PNO pilot and that discussions had been ongoing with Rupert Organ and Marina Santilli of BT. In addition a paper on the comparison of the internet and ATM-Forum end-to-end traffic models was being written jointly by Jon Crowcroft, John Adams and Avril Smith. It was noted that the SMDS performance work at Lancaster was being funded by UKERNA. Jon Crowcroft advised Lancaster of an internet video/audio simulation that was available from UCL which may help them with their performance work, and a paper from ACM SIGCOMM on SMDS performance which could be of interest to both Loughborough and Lancaster David Parish additionally reported the work to understand how to transmit ATM over the SMDS network, the result of the deliberations were that it would not be possible. This finding would add weight to the requests for additional SDH connections to the SMDS-only sites within the SJURI. Some connectivity problems had been reported on the ATM SuperJanet network, this was to be discussed later in this management meeting. Simon Ritchie asked that for future Management meetings BT/JISC be provided with a two page executive summary highlighting technical progress and conclusions to-date, for each of the work packages. Jon agreed to e-mail an extend version of the minutes of the Technical Meeting in answer to this request for this meeting. AP1/UCL/JC It was noted that in some work packages, notably Loughborough, Oxford Brookes, and Lancaster, there had been some minor divergence from the published work plans in line BT requirements. Ron Rogerson agreed with BT's request to manage minor divergence of the work plans independently of JISC. 2. Relationship of SJURI work to BT's research Activities Ian Marshall reported on a re-alignment of BT's corporately sponsored broadband services research activities. It was expected that the SJURI work would feed into a broader spread of BT in-house projects following this re-alignment. Ian Marshall indicated that there would be opportunities for the universities to access the futures test bed at BTL either remotely or from on-site. Also opportunities existed to test out applications on the captive SMDS network held at BT Labs. 3. Contractual Matters The MOU had now been signed by all parties. Some confusion existed amongst some universities who had apparently not received the sheet which included BT's signature. Simon Ritchie agreed to forward copies of the BT signed MOU to Loughborough University. AP2/BT/SR Simon Ritchie acknowledged the universities requirement for longer term contracts within the URI. However, this could present internal difficulties due to the large cost of an extended contract. All universities were asked to provide both a year 1 and year 2 plan of work for the next 2 years comprising costings of the manpower and non-manpower split. This would allow the option for either a one or two year contract to be drafted dependent on internal BT agreement. As a first pass the universities were asked to cost on a per man year's worth of effort rather than fixed cost so as to allow for inflation etc. AP3/All Universities. 4. SuperJanet Network and UKERNA John Dyer reported on the status of the SJ ATM network. A re-design of the Netcom DV2 switch ports to provide priority buffering for CBR traffic had recently been completed. This was to overcome problems caused by bursty VBR traffic contending with CBR traffic and the resulting CBR cell loss causing frame slips in the CBR video codecs. John Dyer had been in consultation with Rupert Organ and Marina Santilli re the connection to the PNO pilot. Connection could now be made through ether PDH or SDH interfaces. Derek McAuley reported on the difficulties experienced by all parties in setting up virtual connections on the SuperJanet ATM network. John Dyer was unaware of the connectivity problems currently being experienced by users. Ukerna have a contract with Edinburgh university to manage reconfiguration and no difficulties had been reported by them to Ukerna. John Dryer advised that he had an action from a video network meeting, to create and document a mechanism for applying for bandwidth. It was agreed that Jon Dryer would make available a draft, including its relationship to and the requirements of, the SJURI project to Jon Crowcroft and Derek McAuley for comment. AP4/UKERNA/JD Simon Ritchie advised John Dyer that he should consult with John Edwards (BT) re the next phase of SDH role out. Following a discussion on the possibilities of SMDS-only sites obtaining additional SDH/ATM connections it was agreed that David Hutchison would write to Ron Rogerson requesting additional connections for the SJURI partners. AP5/Lanc/DH John Adams advised that one possible route for the universities was to have a specific research project fund a point-to-point SDH connection in the existing SJ network. Following a brief debate about the perceived performance of the SMDS network it was agreed that a separate forum should be set up to discuss such issues. Initially David Hutchison agreed to check with Kent University for any information that was available and whether they already had a centralised data base on SMDS performance issues. AP6/Lanc/DH David Hutchison also agreed to contact Dave Newey (BT) re the SMDS credit Manager and Router Operation. AP7/Lanc/DH Jon Crowcroft agreed to include John Dyer on both the technical and management mailing lists. AP8/UCL/JC 5. Administration Ian Marshall reported that only one invoice had so far been received from the universities. It was agreed that all universities would provide invoices by the end of April 95 and more regularly, preferably quarterly, in future. AP9/All Universities. BT agreed to send out reminders. AP10/BT/IM It was agreed that Morris Sloman would co-ordinate the purchase of the ORBIX platform ~?20k, and invoice BT. AP11/IC/MS/BT/SR Simon Ritchie raised a concern that only two universities were putting in ROPAs this year. However, this appeared to be due to complexity in the ROPA rules. It was agreed that both a copy of the technical report and a two page executive summary would be circulated prior to future management meetings. AP12/UCL/JC Morris Sloman agreed to circulate call for Tenders for a multi-media SERC project. AP13/IC/MS It was noted that Derek McAuley was moving to Glasgow University and that Ian Leslie would be representing Cambridge at future meetings. 6. Date of Next Meetings The next Technical Meeting will be held at Loughborough University on 7th September 95 commencing 10:30am The next Management Meeting will be held at UCL on 14th September commencing 10:30am. Mick Mulvey/BTL/BMSN/Issue 1 19 April 95 Attachment:- Summary of Action Points Appendix 1 Summary of Action Points AP Comment By Whom 1 Circulate extended version of technical Minutes UCL/JC 2 Check & Forward copies of BT signed MOU BT/SR 3 Provide 1 & 2 year work plans & costings All Universities 4 Forward SJ application for bandwidth document to UCL and Cambridge for comment/input. Ukerna/JD 5 Write to JISC re connection of SMDS-only sites to ATM network Lanc/DH 6 Check with Kent University re existence of information/ data base on SMDS performance Lanc/DH 7 Contact Dave Newey (BT) re SMDS Credit Manager/ Router operation Lanc/DH 8 Include John Dyer in Technical and Management mail list JC/UCL 9 Invoice BT by end of April 95 & regularly in future All Universities 10 Send out billing reminders to universities BT/IM 11 Purchase ORBIX platform & invoice BT IC/MS 12 Circulate Technical Report prior to Management Meeting UCL/JC 13 Circulate SERC call for Tenders on Multi-media project IC/MS