News for and about the Internet2 community

[Todd Sedmak <>]

SC12 Conference Features Big Data Science Enabled by the Internet2 
Network—The Fastest Nationwide Research & Education Network

NASA, NOAA, and University physicists showcase global discoveries in 
High-Energy Physics, Climate Research, Space and Atmospheric Science using 
the Internet2 Network and its advanced capabilities  

Salt Lake City—(Nov. 12, 2012)—Internet2 community members including the 
National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and many leading university-based 
researchers will demonstrate this week at the 24th annual SC Conference 
(SC12) how the advanced Internet2 Network supports high-energy physics 
research, such as the search for the Higgs boson particle, and climate and 
atmospheric science for improved predictions of extreme weather, like 
Hurricane Sandy.

To support the scientists at SC12, Internet2 deployed three 100 Gigabit 
Ethernet links to its new Software Defined Networking (SDN)-based Advanced 
Layer 2 Service, as well as two 10 GE links to its Research and Education IP 
backbone for a record-shattering capacity of 320 Gigabits from a single 
provider. In addition, Internet2 staff co-chaired the effort to measure and 
characterize all 772 Gigabits of capacity into SC12.
 
Groundbreaking technologies within the recently deployed Internet2 Network 
upgrade combine more than 15,000 miles of transcontinental 8.8 Tbps network 
with the first open, national-scale production network utilizing SDN and 
OpenFlow, standards. The 100 GE Internet2 connections also support key 
components of next-generation networking technology for collaborative Big 
Data research in many disciplines. At the Internet2 booth, Brocade, Ciena, 
Juniper and Internet2 networking and cyber infrastructure experts will 
discuss the advanced capabilities of the Internet2 Network and demonstrate 
how it supports the world’s most advanced scientific research. 

“Breakthrough discoveries in atomic physics, climate science, and cancer 
research require the most advanced technologies available,” said Internet2 
President and CEO Dave Lambert. “Internet2’s unwavering commitment to 
providing the capabilities to our community that meet the rapidly evolving 
demands of research has never been stronger or more capable. We look forward 
to providing ongoing support to NASA, NOAA and their university-based 
research counterparts as our community continues to accelerate new global 
discoveries, together.”

Internet2 Community Demonstrations:
The Internet2 Network and other community technologies will support many SC12 
demonstrations featuring advanced science and research, next-generation 
networking technology, and widespread international collaboration 
capabilities. 

NOAA Science On a Sphere® (SOS) Research and Weather Briefings (Internet2 
Booth #1042): Animated images on a room sized, global display system that 
uses computers and video projectors to display planetary atmospheric storms, 
climate change data, and ocean temperatures – along with an overview of the 
current weather patterns in real-time for Salt Lake City, the United States 
and the world.

NASA Climate Supercomputing (Internet2 Booth#1042): High-resolution global 
simulations are realistically representing our atmosphere at resolutions 
approaching those of many satellite observations. This advance provides a 
unique tool to study the role of weather within Earth’s climate system. 

SDN, OpenFlow, and 100 Gigabit Networking Expert Presentations (Internet2 
Booth #1042): Lead architects of the first open, national-scale SDN and 
OpenFlow network will present on support for GENI and new innovations in the 
Internet2 Network. David Meyer, Brocade CTO – a leading authority on SDN and 
Internet Routing; Thomas D. Nadeau, Juniper CTO Office Distinguished 
Engineer; and Jim Archuleta, Ciena Director of Government Solutions will also 
provide presentations highlighting Ciena’s unique support for critical R&E 
community efforts and cyber infrastructures.

Efficient Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Data Distribution across 100 Gbps 
Networks (California Institute of Technology-Caltech/CACR Booth #809): The 
Internet2 Network and Advanced Layer 2 Service supports these unique data 
movement tools used to support analysis of the same types of data leading to 
the recent potential Higgs Boson discoveries at the LHC, which produces data 
flows of more than 100 Petabytes per year, and increasingly relies on the 
efficient movement of data sets between the globally distributed computing 
sites.  This demonstration will interconnect three major LHC Tier-2 computing 
sites and the SC12 show floor (booth #809) using 100 Gbps technology (and all 
of Internet2’s Advanced Layer 2 Service links to SC12) through a 
collaboration between Caltech, the University of Victoria, and the University 
of Michigan – with support from industry partners.

Clemson OpenParks Grid (OPG) – Connecting Parks and Public Lands' 
Professionals Around the World (Internet2 Booth #1042): The purpose of OPG is 
to unite the highly-distributed parks community of managers, researchers, 
policymakers, and citizens through the development and use of 
cyberinfrastructure, to foster a greater distribution of knowledge and 
facilitate more informed, science-based management decisions.

Visualizing Big Environmental Data Sets–MesoWest (Internet2 Booth #1042): 
Real-time weather observations are critical for protection of life and 
property every day, but particularly so during events such as Hurricane 
Sandy. University of Utah researchers collaborate with the National Weather 
Service to access, archive, disseminate, and visualize weather information 
nationwide.

Visualizing the Network (Internet2 Booth #1042):
Come touch and see the Internet2 infrastructure with this integrated demo of 
Worldview and Science on a Sphere. Use Worldview's Multi-touch interface to 
explore the Internet2 infrastructure while simultaneously displaying on SoS. 
This demonstration showcases the AL2S network, the phases of the BTOP fiber 
build, and other relevant components, using WorldView, an interactive 
three-dimensional, real-time network visualization system that makes the 
complex world of network data easily accessible. Developed by the Indiana 
University Global Research Network Operations Center (GlobalNOC), WorldView 
is a unique technology and easy-to-use for network engineers and non-experts 
alike.

About Internet2
Internet2® is a member-owned advanced technology community founded by the 
nation's leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 provides a 
collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to 
solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions in 
support of their educational, research, and community service missions. For 
more information, visit www.internet2.edu.

Media contact: Todd Sedmak, (202) 331-5373 or 
.

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