Advanced Network Architectures Lab
Technical University of Catalonia (UPC)

Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) with Cisco Systems, Inc., USA

This research program will produce a prototype for testing of the Path-State Vector/BGP overlay developed by CRAAX during the Cisco RFP ''Path-State Vectors (PSVs)'' in 2009. The most important results of the research on PSVs are described in the papers ''Graphs on Path Vectors-Part I: Theory,'' and ''Graphs on Path Vectors-Part II: Integration and Applications'' by Marcelo Yannuzzi, Rene Serral-Gracia, Xavi Masip-Bruin, Fred Baker, Russ White, Pere Monclus, and David Ward (these papers are not public yet). The first purpose of this prototype is to determine if the methods and protocol described in those documents can be used to reduce the BGP convergence time and the churn rate of route advertisements in the interdomain routing system. If successful, other applications shall be developed, integrated, and tested.

Gift granted by the Cisco Collaborative Research Initiative (CCRI)

Although many arguments can be found in the literature stating that it is time to replace BGP, the practical and economical implications associated with its replacement are obstacles hard to overcome. The challenge nowadays is to find ways to improve different aspects of the inter-domain routing system that neither require the imminent replacement of BGP, nor the development of upward-compatible extensions tending to make BGP even more irreplaceable than it is today. In light of this, this research proposal aims at developing the concept of a Path-State Vector (PSV), as a promising and straightforward way to overlay some key functions out from BGP. In the PSV model that we conceive, the distribution of reachability information (i.e., the localizers) as well as the computation of loop-free paths are kept in the scope of BGP (the underlay), whereas the critical issues currently driving the replacement of BGP can be decoupled from the latter, and managed through one or more domain-level overlays. Unlike pure overlay networks, which simply circumvent BGP, the PSV model that we devise should feed from and assist BGP, as well as offer an effective coupling between BGP and the functions overlayed from the latter. To this end, we propose that PSVs build a graph overlay. Our previous research has shown that graphs inspired in link-state protocols cannot offer a unique and consistent view of the forwarding paths of an internetwork under the current export policies between domains. We have recently found how to build a suitable graph for a PSV, and more importantly, this graph does not violate the policy opaqueness required by ISPs, which provides new and promising research opportunities. As a starting point, this initiative proposes to focus on two objectives: (1) the design of a highly scalable PSV protocol; and (2) exploit the graph overlay in a PSV to remove the path exploration phenomenon from BGP, and therefore, drastically reduce the convergence time on the Internet.

Spanish Thematic Network, " Multi-layer Networks: IP over Transport Networks" (TEC2008-02552-E/TEC)

The goal of this project is the collaboration of different research groups in Spain currently working on the topic of multi-layer IP/optical networks. The project aims to promote the interaction among national researchers, with emphasis on the generation of joint research activities and new knowledge. The project gathers most of the national institutions actively working in the subject of multi-layer transport networks. The consortium has 16 partners: CTTC, TID, RedIris, i2cat, UPC (2 groups), UPNA, UAM, UC3M, UVA, UPCT, UVI, UdG, and UPV (3 groups).

Inter-university cooperation and scientific research program PCI-AECI, "Implementation of Traffic Engineering strategies in countries with poor interdomain connectivity based on the PCE." (A/019977/08)

This project aims to develop solutions based on the convergence of the PCE and LISP architectures. This line of research is supported by the work done in the first year of cooperation, where the benefits of such convergence were identified. The project has two main objectives: i) the design of a convergent architecture with the LISP data plane completely decoupled from the LISP/PCE control plane; and ii) the design of the intelligent route control algorithms required to dynamically optimize the distribution of traffic for domains with poor inter-domain connectivity, which is the typical situation of many domains in Latin America.

"Architectures lab for scalability and interdomain traffic engineering on the Internet: LISP and PCE integration" (LITE)

One of the proposals to tackle the problems derived from the current addressing scheme is the separation of the location and identification functions inherent in IP addresses. The initiative that is more advanced in terms of specification is LISP (Locator/ID Separation protocol). In LISP, a mapping system is required between the locators and the identifiers. There are currently some proposals for a mapping system for LISP, but none of the solutions under discussion specifies how to apply constraint-based routing techniques to actively engineer interdomain traffic through the mappings. This is especially important for Latin American networks, since these are reachable through heterogenous and typically loaded links, with different characteristics in terms of delays, packet losses, etc. This project aims to extend the implementation of LISP and add constraint-based routing control over the mapping system, with special focus on a convergent PCE/LISP control plane. To this end, the project proposes to start from a running (and tested) implementation of the PCE already developed by the research team. The project will test the extension to LISP using the research infraestructure RedCLARA, as the transport network between two testbeds, one in Spain and the other one in Uruguay.

Network Equipment for the New Advanced Communications Laboratory

This project has funded the laboratory infrastructure initially planned for CRAAX. Specifically, the project financed the purchase of laboratory optical infrastructure (transport layer), including 3 W-onesys ROADMs, 2 CISCO switches (layer 2), and 2 M7 routers (layer 3), and different equipment measurement, hence successfully achieving the initial idea of having a real 3 layers testbed 3 identifying all network layers. No doubt the achievement of this project represented the final impetus for the creation of CRAAX on the Vilanova campus. This allowed the creation of a new stable research group on the Vilanova campus working in the ICT area linked to the Department of Computer Architecture. Researchers currently in CRAAX that participated in the application for this project, want to explicitly mention the support received by UPC Professors, Jordi Domingo and Gabriel Junyent of the departments of Computer Architecture and Signal Theory and Communications respectively . It is also basic to thank the support received by the team Rector, and especially by the then Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Francesc Xavier Gil, the director of the Vilanova Technology Center, Valenti Guasch and the management team of the Escola Politècnica Superior de Vilanova d'Enginyeria

Colaboration Framework Between The Vilanova I La Geltrú City Council And The Universitat Politecnca De Catalunya Toward R+D+i At Advacned Network Architectures Lab (CRAAX)

This bilateral agreement between the UPC and the city of Vilanova allowed to obtain the co-financing required for the PEIR project of the Generalitat, and therefore it was essential for the creation of CRAAX. The agreement of 5 anys automatically renewable term and established a clear link between CRAAX and the city of Vilanova and showed the interest and commitment of the city in promoting quality research in the ICT area. It is mandatory to acknowledge the support of the then Mayor Joan Ignasi Helena, and the director of Neapolis, Joan Carles Lluch in achieving the agreement.