NLRView Techincal Overview

NLRview is providing NLR FrameNet and PacketNet networks with data collection equipment used to collect a variety of data sets that will describe the operational state and performance of these networks.  The initial data sets will include:

• Netflow records from the NLR PacketNet routers
• BGP RIB  historical archives from NLR PacketNet
• IS-IS historical state archives from NLR PacketNet
• Backbone and member/peer interface utilization data from FrameNet and PacketNet
• Spanning tree historical state archives from FrameNet
• Syslog data from FrameNet and PacketNet devices 

If you are interested in obtaining data sets from the PacketNet and FrameNet networks, or have a question about the availability of other data sets, please contact the NLR NOC to inquire about NLRview data sets.

NLRview is deploying a "Shared Research Platform", a set of infrastructure which will allow researchers to execute processes on a set of resources which are co-located in NLR facilities, and directly connected to the NLR FrameNet and PacketNet backbones.  The shared research platform is split between two separate service offerings:

• Virtual Research Platform:  Using Xen virtualization technology, with Intel VT-x virtualization hardware, the NLRview project is able to provision many 'virtual server instances' for researcher use, using hardware which will be located at each PacketNet site.  The Virtual Research Platform allows a researcher to install the operating system and other software of their choice on their 'virtual slice' of the research platform.  The owner of the virtual slice has nearly unlimited control over their slice.
• Research Platform: This service is similar to the Virtual Research Platform, but without the use of virtualization technology.  The NLR NOC will configure and maintain a standard operating system build  (RedHat Enterprise Linux Advanced Server).  Researchers can obtain accounts on this system and run processes in support of their research.  This platform may be attractive for research where virtualization technology may skew results, or where the researcher does not need the additional flexibility offered by a dedicated virtual server instance.

If you are interested in obtaining access to Shared Research Platform services, please contact the NLR NOC.

As part of the NLRview project, network test points are being placed at each PacketNet and FrameNet sites.  These test points will be used to monitor PacketNet and FrameNet backbone performance through regularly scheduled performance tests.

These test points are also available for members to use to perform performance measurements and troubleshoot performance problems between a test point inside a RON or campus and a NLRview test point on the NLR backbone.

At each PacketNet site, the Test Point is attached to NLR PacketNet with 10 Gigabit Ethernet.  At each FrameNet site, the Test Point is attached to FrameNet at 1 Gigabit Ethernet.

The NLRview test points include a variety of performance measurement software, including Iperf, NetPerf, and nuttcp. 

At the following NLRview sites, the capability exists for testing 10GE waves on the NLR WaveNet system.

NLRView WaveNet wave testing points

• ALBU
• ATLA
• BATO
• CHIC
• DENV
• ELPA
• HOUS
• JACK
• LOSA
• NEWY
• SEAT
• TULS
• WASH

 

Researchers who have a need to obtain data or run experiments that are not well suited to the platform provided by NLRview may request space, power, network connectivity, and other anciliary services to support co-locating their own research instruments in NLR facilities.  If you are interested in co-locating research equipment in NLR facilities, please contact the NLR NOC