Regional Technical Contacts

[Linda Roos <>]

Hi, 

We wanted to alert you to some upcoming changes in the network and let you know about office hours where we will be available to answer your questions. Thanks.

Linda

In 2019, the community’s Routed Services Futures Group recommended that Internet2 simplify its methodology for delivering both Research & Education (R&E) IP and Internet2 Peer Exchange (I2PX) services. A key aspect of the proposed service change was the consolidation of all Internet2 cloud peering into I2PX and the removal of commercial peers from the R&E service. While this work was placed on hold for a variety of overlapping reasons, it is currently planned to complete during multiple change windows during August 15-25, 2024.

 

At the inception of the NET+ program Internet2 made the strategic decision to maximize cloud peer performance by placing the associated connections in Internet2’s R&E network. While that decision was prudent over a decade ago - when R&E and TR-CPS (the precursor of I2PX) services were on separate routers and separate backbones - numerous network evolutions have occurred since that time; now both services run within a single core routing platform.

 

Additionally, Internet2 has worked in recent years to significantly expand and augment peer capacity in I2PX. As a result, I2PX can provide NET+ peers with more interconnect points of presence and larger overall capacity compared to the commercial peering options of the R&E network.

 

The combination of both these factors means it is the appropriate time to merge the R&E network NET+ peers into I2PX and remove them from the R&E service. This will result in a more mission-focused R&E service and provide uniform structure for the community’s peer exchange. 

 

These are the remaining NET+ peers connected to the R&E network that will be migrated to I2PX:

Amazon
Crashplan
Dropbox
ServiceNow 
Zoom VoIP

 

While this change will potentially be impactful for a small number of community members who are currently not configured to utilize I2PX, both Internet2 staff and an external community review committee* concluded that the benefit of proceeding with this change outweighs the disadvantages. As a result, we will proceed with implementation of this change starting on August 15, 2024.

 

What will happen starting August 15, 2024?

During separate maintenance windows, Internet2 will work with each of the cloud providers listed above to reconfigure the peering between their network and Internet2.  Once the configuration change is complete, routes to the cloud provider that were previously in the R&E network routing table will then be in the I2PX routing table only. Internet2 Network Participants that have I2PX access and have it configured to prefer I2PX routes over commodity transit (ISP) routes should see traffic with the cloud provider using I2PX paths.  If an Internet2 Network Participant does not use I2PX or doesn’t prefer I2PX routes, they will see any traffic with the cloud provider that was using the Internet2 R&E network reroute via other paths, likely via a commodity transit provider.

 

What can members do to minimize service impact and maintain settlement-free access to NET+ peers through Internet2?

Internet2 Network Participants should confirm that their institution’s routes are being advertised to Internet2’s I2PX network.  If your institution is multi-homed to both R&E and commodity transit networks, you should verify that steps are being taken to prefer R&E routes over I2PX routes and to prefer I2PX routes and any local peering over commodity transit routes.  Also, route advertisements to commodity transit providers need to be AS path prepended, signaling to I2PX peers that I2PX should be preferred over commodity transit routes.

 

Internet2 would be happy to assist you with inspecting routing and advising on BGP routing best practices for R&E networks. Internet2 plans to hold a series of office hour calls detailed below or you can email to set up a one-on-one discussion.

 

Office Hours:

Wednesday, 7/31 - 2-3pm EDT https://internet2.zoom.us/j/82826626336

Tuesday, 8/6 - 3-4pm EDT https://internet2.zoom.us/j/86816226673

Wednesday, 8/7 11am-12pm EDT https://internet2.zoom.us/j/88651420905

Tuesday, 8/13 2-3pm EDT https://internet2.zoom.us/j/86512879493

 

If you have questions, please contact

 

*Committee:

David Farmer, Northern Lights Gigapop

Andrew Gallo, CAAREN

Byron Hicks, LEARN

Richard Hicks, Link Oregon

Bill Owens, NYSERNet

David Sinn, Pacific Northwest Gigapop

Chris Wopat, WiscNet

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Linda Roos
Sr Director, State and Regional Networks
Internet2

812-558-0615