NEXT GENERATION COMPUTER NETWORKING
Web Page: http://sierra.ece.ucdavis.edu
Participating UC Davis Faculty:
S. J. Ben Yoo (ECE -- yoo@ece.ucdavis.edu)
Venkatesh Akella (ECE -- akella@ece.ucdavis.edu )
Chen-Nee Chuah (ECE -- chuah@ece.ucdavis.edu )
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
(1) From Micro to Macro networking
The phenomenal growth in the Internet traffic has spurred development and deployment
of new networking technologies. Computer communications now involve embedded
sensors, handhelds, laptops, desktops, workstations, servers, and even super computers.
Next generation computer networks are expected to involve various hierarchical layers of
networking technologies. For instance, mobile sensor networks involve ad-hoc wireless
networking technologies with hierarchical architectures to allow low-power and scalable
communications. Storage networks and supercomputer networks require very high-speed
connectivity exploiting advanced optical networking technologies. In some applications,
scalable peer-to-peer networking is essential. In many other real-time interactive
applications, high-speed end-to-end performance with low latency and low-jitter can be a
key. This project investigates next-generation computer networking technologies in the
context of evolving new computer applications.
(2) High-Speed Optical-Label Switching technologies
We will investigate wide area and metropolitan area computer networking technologies
based on optical-label switching technologies. The optical-label is a short (~40 bit) field
that contains information pertaining to forwarding such as source-destination, quality-ofservice, and time-to-live. The optical-label switching technology interoperates with stateof-the-art MPLS (Multi-Protocol-Label Switching) and MPLambdaS technologies while
exhibiting far superior transparency and capacity. UC Davis has developed and
demonstrated an Optical-Label Switching router with ~600 psec switching speed, ~250
nsec latency, > 42 petabit/sec switching capacity, and up to 65536 x 65536 port
scalability. The optical-label switching technology is ideal for metro and wide-area
applications (involving storage rings and/or high-end computers) where low-latency and
high-capacity are essential aspects. In particular, optical-label switching accommodates
circuit, burst, and packet switching with full interoperability directly in the optical-layer.
As a result, large bursts of data transfers between the data storage or high-end computers
can be effectively handled by the all-optical label switching routers. The UC Davis team
has already demonstrated IP-client to IP-client all-optical communications and multiple
gigabit-per-second line rates. Under the proposed work, we will investigate the
architecture, protocol , and the performance benefit of the all-optical label switching
technology.
(3) Embedded Sensor Networks
We will conduct fault-tolerant, self-organizing, and secure sensor network architecture
studies involving local sensor networks, optical wireless metro networks, and optical
fiber wide-area networks. This part of study will address seamless networking
architecture allowing self-reconfiguration and ad hoc technology across the
heterogeneous media (electrical wireless, electrical wire, optical wireless, optical fiber).
In particular, self-reorganization process will be aware of fault-tolerance and self-healing
requirements allowing autonomous computation of protection/restoration paths.
(4) Next Generation Computer Networking Testbed
UC Davis is in the process of setting up a computer networking testbed which
investigates and demonstrates next generation computer networking involving embedded
sensors and high-end computers. This testbed will include the following key
components.
(a) Next Generation Computer Networking Architecture and Protocol
We will investigate the architecture and protocol involving the next generation
computer networks. In particular, we will study hierarchical sensor networks
interoperating with optical-label switched wide area networks.
(b) Prototyping, Systems Integration and Network Testbed Demonstration
We will prototype next generation sensor and wide area network systems using
desktops, field-programmable-gate-arrays, and optical-label switching routers. We
will incorporate new architecture and protocols in the tesbed involving wireless
mobile sensors and optical label switching routers.
(c) Next Generation Computer Network Control and Management
We will investigate and develop next generation network control and management
involving sensor networks and optical core networks.
(d) Next Generation Applications
We will involve the testbed in real applications such as storage ring communications,
3-D interactive visualization based education, and medical applications.
Desired Support: Funding for grad student participants and the testbed, several Sun work
stations for the network testbed, and SunOS support.