The document discusses how network research and education networks (NRENs) can collaborate on and benefit from new technologies like software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV). Specifically, it notes that while NRENs cannot compete directly with well-funded corporate research or startups, they can create spaces to support innovation by these communities. It also outlines some potential opportunities for NRENs using SDN, such as building software-based layer 2 VPNs and offering virtual machines to content delivery networks during peak usage periods.

1. SDN and NFV
What can an NREN offer?
Musings from an NREN insider and former network ops guy
FIA Athens, 18 March 2014
Simon Leinen
simon.leinen@switch.ch

2. © 2014 SWITCH
• NRENs are very innovative!
• As are all of you here; So what does it mean, specifically?
• Can we compete with well-funded corporate research? No.
• Can we compete with a vibrant startup scene? No.
• Can we compete with academia, our own customers? No.
But: We can create
spaces for innovation
for these communities.
• There are other ways we can be innovative, but those are not my focus here.
NRENs and Innovation
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3. © 2014 SWITCH
HEI
Run reliable,
inexpensive fast
LAN
Keep on top of
new trends
Save by NFV’ing
firewalls, load
balancers etc.?
NREN
Run reliable,
inexpensive fast
WAN
Support
innovation
Support
research(ers)
Researcher
Do exciting and
fundable
research
Have impact
• publications
• practice
Work with
operators
Vendor
Sell to HEIs (as
enterprises),
NREN
Develop new
solutions for
broader market
Trial/demo novel
products
Stakeholder Concerns
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4. © 2014 SWITCH
“Hype” is not a bad thing!
It’s just a vehicle for an entire industry to have a debate on
(disruptive) innovation options
–“Networking is Cool Again ”
(Padmasree Warrior, Cisco CTO)
To the engineers among us: Put your BS detectors on mute, ignore the
overblown promises, enjoy the ride!
The SDN Hype
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http://blogs.cisco.com/news/networking-is-cool-againand-thats-good-for-cisco/

5. © 2014 SWITCH
–Practitioners (e.g. HEI IT) look for guidance
–Scientists bring their visions into a broader conversation
• Hoping to make an impact (and increase fundability of research)
–Vendors willing to try many new approaches
Hype as an Opportunity for Collaboration
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6. © 2014 SWITCH
• Researchers and uni ICT folks in one room – rare occurrence!
• Lots of good discussions, but concerns clearly different
• Next challenge: constructively add vendors to the mix…
Hype-ortunistic SDN Workshop
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actual water cooler
Kurt Baumann,
our SDN guy

7. © 2014 SWITCH
• The “success” of SDN-as-a-vision creates new inroads for
radical approaches to networking
–This is an advantage of the loosely-defined “SDN” notion
–Both researchers and innovative operators can and should jump on
this opportunity
Hype Broadens Field of View
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8. © 2014 SWITCH
• Leverage Commodity CPUs and do software networking
–Layer 2 VPN at edge over IP(v6, of course)
–using high-performance user-space Snabb Switch
–practical benefit: MPLS no longer required in backbone
• CDNFV
–Offer short-term VMs to commercial Content Delivery Networks
(CDNs) for usage peaks
• Greenfield IaaS “clouds” – NREN’s next frontier?
–SDN for internal networking
–SDN for high-capacity site-to-backbone boundary
–SDN for “Virtual Private Data Center”
–Can build on Open Source implementations, e.g. OpenStack Neutron
Opportunities at the Fringes
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9. © 2014 SWITCH
Common reaction of NRENs faced with new net tech <foo>:
Let’s build a <foo> testbed!
⊕We know how to build networks!
⊕By keeping separate, won’t break Production Network
⊖Who’s the customer? Is this what researchers really
want?
⊖Should it demonstrate or support <foo>?
⊖Risk of seeing the testbed as and end rather than a
means
⊖Path to production?
Often limited impact (for virtually unbounded effort)
But if done right, can be really useful! – e.g. PlanetLab, 6net
The Problem With Testbeds
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