EBONE93 IP SERVICE DEFINITION [- DRAFT 1]
by
Phil Jones
September 16, 1992
---------------------------------------------------------------
0. Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Service
3. Procedures
4. Costs
Appendix: Contacts for Enquiries about Possible Connection to
Ebone93.
1. Introduction
In summary, the aim of Ebone93 is:
o to provide IP networks in Europe with cost-effective IP
connectivity to the other IP networks that are attached to the global
Internet, with the emphasis of the service targeting being as for
the research community;
o to offer this to potential connecting networks at a single contact
point which they may choose from a list offered by the Ebone93
service.
Ebone93 funds its own operational staffing and resources. In
addition, Ebone93 has the support of many agencies and organisations
as listed in the Ebone brochure, and through them (and within its own
resources) has access to the networking expertise required to run its
services and to develop them. In this context, Ebone93 is confident
that the service can develop;
o in terms of topology, of geographical spread, and in terms of
capacity of components and links in response to the demand on the
service;
o with that of the rest of the global Internet, in particular
functional changes through the provision of known and to-be-defined
Internet Exchanges, and technical changes (like the CIDR proposals
and IP version 7).
Ebone93 is also piloting a CLNS service in collaboration with the
RARE and the Internet initiatives in this area.
Ebone is operated by the Ebone Operations Team (EOT). The EOT
consists of the skipper (Peter Lothberg) and others ('mates') based
at KTH in Stockholm, and other operational staff at the other EBS
sites. It is important to note the distributed nature of the EOT.
General information can be found in the Ebone brochure available from
the RARE Secretariat. More specific, and technical, enquiries, and
applications to connect and enquiries about connection, should be
made to the contacts for the connection points as listed in the
appendix, to the Ebone Operations 'Skipper'.
1
2. The Service
From the point of view of the connecting IP network, Ebone93 looks
like an IP routing service (albeit a distributed service, as it will
be seen to have several points at which customer networks can
connect) between the connecting network and the rest of the global
Internet. The connection points on Ebone93 are known as Ebone
Boundary Systems (EBS). Diagrammatically, the Ebone looks like this:
*S----------A----------C*
+ +
+ +
+ +
*L+ + + + + + + + + + +P*
where the letters denote Ebone Boundary Systems for Ebone93 (at
Stockholm, Amsterdam, CERN, Paris and London); * denotes a
trans-Atlantic connection across which traffic from connecting
networks may travel, ---- denotes a line speed of 512kbps, and + + +
denotes a line speed of 256kbps. (Formally, and at the time of
writing, CERN has not been able to commit to Ebone in the same way as
the other organisations responsible for EBSes. The Ebone router at
CERN is consequently referred to as a 'virtual EBS'. It is not
expected that those operating networks connecting to Ebone93 will
notice any operational difference between a virtual EBS and other
EBSes.)
o Connecting networks exchange IP traffic as defined in the Internet
norms. The necessary technical specifications are available in Ebone
documents available from the contacts listed in the appendix (and
available in machine readable form on the Internet hosts
nic.ebone.net <???? is that right?> and info.ripe.net). Connecting
networks provide a router to interface between the connecting network
and Ebone93 in accordance with those specifications, and a line/link
between that router and an EBS. The connecting network may negotiate
with any EBS care of the contact points given in the appendix, an
important consideration being the likely cost to the connecting
network of its link to Ebone93.
o Timetable: The Ebone93 service is scheduled to be available 24
hours per day, 7 days a week, all year, except that each EBS *may*
close down for all or part of a single defined two-hour 'at risk'
period each week (for example for special work on hardware or
software). It will only do this if it has given notice to the Ebone
Operations Team and to the networks connected to the notifying EBS by
noon two working days before the period in question. (Thus there is a
clear 1.5 working days notice of any 'at risk' closure, and this can
happen during the same period each week only, on a given EBS.
Furthermore, because of the resilient nature of the Ebone93 topology,
the general Ebone93 service continues, with the only connectivity
affected being that to and from the networks connecting to the
particular single EBS).
2
o Connectivity: connectivity is offered from the connecting network
to all networks fully connected to the global Internet. The Internet
ethos is for general interworking without restrictions. Interworking
between individual networks is nevertheless formally a matter to be
negotiated between them. Also, different parts of the global Internet
have different acceptable use policies, and it is the responsibility
of the connecting network to ensure that it respects those policies
in its use of the global Internet and its various links (especially
international links) and its resources.
o Serviceability: [If there are serviceability (e.g. availability
(%) or reliability (perhaps mean time between failure)) targets for
Ebone93 say an overall figure representing a path between any two
EBSes chosen at random, this should be quoted. I think this is what
those responsible for potential connecting networks would wish to
see. Serviceability targets for the individual Ebone 93 links and for
the EBS router would be a valuable substitute.] Because of the
resilient nature of the Ebone93 topology, availability of the service
is not in general affected by the failure of a single link or of a
single EBS, nor indeed by some combinations of these. Serviceability
is affected by the nature of the operational cover. All EBS are
manned during prime shift, and have manned and on call cover outside
that period. That said, there are some EBSes with no operational
cover at certain off-peak times. Work is in progress with the aim of
improving the cover at all EBS sites not having manned operational
cover all day 365 days a year, with cover at all times being at least
as good as it is at the time of writing, and to have at least
on-call-cover at each EBS all the time.
3. Procedures
Once connection has been agreed, connecting networks will be given
contact information for the EBS to which their network connects to
Ebone93. It is important that the only point of contact of a
connecting network is using the methods and points of contact given
in that information except in serious emergency or unless requested
to do so.
Connecting networks may accept third party traffic and pass it on to
Ebone93. For Ebone93 purposes, this will be treated as traffic from
the connecting network. It should be noted however that connecting
networks are expected to service those to whom it offers third party
traffic. The Ebone93 EOT will only pass information to directly
connecting networks. Direct operational, problem management or any
other communication to Ebone93 should come in to defines EBS contacts
only, and then only from directly connected networks and not from
third parties.
Connecting networks are expected to cooperate with the procedures of
the Internet NIC and the procedures of the global Internet, the
services of the RIPE NCC, and the coordination of RIPE.
3
4. Costs
Ebone93 aims to make neither a profit nor a loss. Networks wishing to
connect to Ebone93 will be quoted a charge which depends on the speed
of their link to Ebone93. Surplus of income over expenditure will
used for investment in the network. Payment will be quarterly in
advance unless otherwise agreed with the Ebone Resources Manager.
Networks which have not made their initial payment should not expect
to be offered service, and networks who are not fully up to date with
their payments should expect to be cut off. In addition to the
quarterly payment, their may be a small initial payment expected to
cover the cost of connection. Further details of costs and charges
will be available from Ebone93 when enquiring about possible
connection from the contacts given in the appendix.
Ebone93 is a confident service, based on confidnce in the the people
working for it and those supporting it. However, no guarantee of
service, can be given. Figures, and schedules and other matters
described in this document are targets only, and service is not
guaranteed at any level or at all. The reader may nevertheless feel
confidence in the service, based on experience of, or the history of
the Ebone service.
4
Appendix: Contacts for Enquiries about Possible Connection to
Ebone93.
(Note: These will NOT in general be the same as the operational
contacts. These enquiries may go to any of the contacts below, but it
may well be best to contact the nearest country of contact as that
may well also turn out to be where the link will turn out to be the
cheapest).
o Ebone93 (as for Amsterdam):
<>
o Ebone93(as for CERN):
<>
o Ebone93(as for London):
Phil Jones
JNT, c/o RAL, Chilton, Didcot, OXON, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom.
Voice: +44 235 446618
Fax: +44 235 446251
Email:
p.jones@jnt.ac.uk
c=gb;a= ;p=uk.ac;o=jnt;i=p;s=jones.
o Ebone93(as for Paris)
<>
o Ebone93(as for Stockholm)
<>
o Ebone93 Skipper
Peter Lothberg, <>.
o RARE Secretariat
Marieke Dekker
5
--