NTAC Peering Working Group

[David Farmer <>]

While I think better tools to allow more local influence over the 
routing is a good thing and necessary.  However, I also think it is 
critical for the Net+ service providers to be included in the R&E side 
of the network.  There are a number of initiatives to move research to 
into these cloud services.  Research conducted using cloud based 
infrastructure is still research and deserves access to the R&E network 
just as much research conducted using campus or lab based infrastructure.

The researchers want access to the cost efficiencies in computing that 
these monster-scale cloud providers are creating.  If that makes our 
lives more difficult, so what.  If we don't connect the R&E network to 
these monster-scale cloud providers it is possible there will no longer 
be a need for the R&E network in a few years.

Just like the Internet started to escaped the lab 20 years ago, gird 
computing has escaped the lab too, it just taken on a different name 
when it did, cloud computing.

This is NOT about some conspiracy to replacing TR/CPS or pollute the R&E 
network with commodity traffic, it is about making sure research has 
access to the R&E network regardless where in the cloud/Internet it is 
located.  Does this change make our lives a little more difficult, sure 
it does.  But, we have to find a way to evolve the R&E network to meet 
the changing needs of research, otherwise we should give up on the R&E 
network as a concept.

Thanks.

--
================================================
David Farmer               Email: 

Office of Information Technology
University of Minnesota
2218 University Ave SE     Phone: 1-612-626-0815
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3029  Cell: 1-612-812-9952
================================================