ESnet selects Infinera for network testbed

APRIL 28, 2010 -- ESnet has selected the Infinera (Nasdaq: INFN) DTN for a network testbed to develop next-generation networking technologies to support future bandwidth needs. This testbed, funded by a $62 million grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is part of a program to develop networking technologies to support scientific research into key areas of national interest, including climate change and particle physics.

Infinera says ESnet chose its equipment for the capabilities of Infinera’s GMPLS-powered IQ network operating system. ESnet plans to use the Infinera network to offer optical virtual private networks (OVPNs) for use by scientific researchers in the academic world and government research institutes. (Further details are available at the Lawrence Berkeley Labs/ESnet website.) OVPNs will be designed to enable ESnet users to manage their own virtual private network securely over the shared Infinera infrastructure. In addition, the network will be designed to enable OVPN users to dynamically provision circuits on the network on demand.

While VPNs traditionally have been deployed at Layer 2 or Layer 3, the integration of bandwidth management and transport into the Infinera DTN makes VPN capabilities available at the optical layer, Infinera says.

“We are excited to deploy the Infinera system with its advanced capabilities,” said ESnet head Steve Cotter. “The implementation of optical VPNs will allow our researchers to develop new protocols to dynamically provision circuits at the most cost-effective layer in the network, helping us and them deal with large and growing volumes of data more cost-effectively.”

ESnet is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research.

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