3. Networks

Overview

Questions

What do networks look like?
What does the equipment that connects everything look like?

Objectives

Understand the topology of scientific networks.
Have an idea of what some of the technology underlying networks looks like.

Pictures Of Actual Networks

U. Hawaii inter-island and REN peer connectivity

Guam Open Research and Education eXchange

APONet: collaboration of Pacific and Pacific Rim Networks

Quilt diagram of US regional research and education networks

Here is the same Quilt map with Internet2 links added:

NOAA NWave

U. Hawaii provides connectivity for Oahu NOAA activities to reach US mainland:

US Department of Energy ESNet

ESNet is part of various paths to and from UH, notably to DOE Labs and to CERN:

Hardware

Medium scale Juniper router

This router is capable of supporting 10Gbps and 100Gbps interfaces for long distance links:

Fiber distribution in data center

Copper distribution in data center

LC Connectors

Here is a pair of glass fiber LC connectors, and the 10Gbps Ethernet card which connects to the fiber:

Infrared laser

The infrared laser that transmits over the fiber is visible in the upper connector. The light is visible to my phone camera, but not to the naked eye.

Key Points

There are many sub-networks that connect research.