/nsfnet/linkletter/linkletter.880415 Vol. 1 No. 2 15 April 1988 T H E L I N K L E T T E R THE LINK LETTER STARTS NEW ELECTRONIC EDITION TO MEET SUBSCRIPTION DEMANDS This is the second issue of The LINK LETTER. For those of you new to the publication, The LINK LETTER is produced by Merit and focuses on issues of interest to the mid-level networks and supercomputer centers directly connected to the National Science Foundation network backbone. As Merit works on network re-engineering and puts into place a new management system for the NSFNET backbone, The LINK LETTER will provide timely information on technical developments and scheduling information. Future issues will also report on operations and ongoing network research related to NSFNET development. The response to our first issue has been overwhelming and we appreciate the many positive comments we received from readers. Because we have had more requests for the newsletter than we ever expected, we are implementing a new circulation plan to meet the demand. Starting with this issue, most subscribers will be getting the text of The LINK LETTER electronically. Multiple hard copies will be sent to each of the thirteen remote sites and to a few other locations directly affected by the NSFNET backbone re-engineering. Anyone interested in receiving the electronic version of The Link Letter should send a message to: NSFNET-Linkletter-Request@merit.edu For general information on the NSFNET project, you can contact: NSFNET-Info@merit.edu or call (313) 764-9430. We welcome suggestions about articles you would like to see in future editions. * * * TCP/IP TESTING UNDER WAY ON FOUR NODE RESEARCH NETWORK The four node experimental network that we are using as an engineering test-bed for the NSFNET backbone network has full physical connectivity. The packet switches (NSSs) at Milford (IBM), Ann Arbor (Merit), and Reston (MCI) are fully operational. The NSS at IBM Yorktown will be connected in the very near future to complete the four node logical topology. Currently, a pre-release of the NSS software is being tested over this configuration. The test network is operating at one-third T1 speed (448 kilobits per second). Almaden cards are being used for the synchronous RS422 interface. Plans are under way to switch to cards capable of higher speeds in the future. In addition, we are carrying out preliminary tests to determine approximate performance figures. The effect of the IDNX as a circuit-switching component is also being investigated. We will be testing the first version of the routing software on the experimental network shortly. This is the IBM-NSFNET implementation of the ANSI SPF-based routing protocol. This will be used for backbone routing in the operational NSFNET. -- Written by Bilal Chinoy * * * INTRODUCING ERIC AUPPERLE MERIT DIRECTOR BRINGS LONG-TERM EXPERIENCE TO NSFNET BACKBONE PROJECT As Director of the Merit Computer Network, Eric M. Aupperle also serves as the Project Director for the NSFNET backbone re- engineering program. Eric directly supervises all Merit's activities associated with the NSFNET project. Eric is a networking pioneer, having been deeply involved with the Merit Computer Network even before it became operational in 1972. Eric Aupperle has been associated with electrical engineering and computers since the early 1960s. He received B.S.E. degrees in electrical engineering and in mathematics, an M.S.E. degree in nuclear engineering, and the Instm. E. (a professional degree in engineering granted by the Program in Computer, Information, and Control Engineering) all from the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan. He progressed from an assistant research engineer to a research engineer at Cooley Electronics Laboratory, the University of Michigan, where he worked with fuse countermeasures, applications of solid-state devices, and pseudo-random communications system countermeasures. He has been a lecturer with the U-M's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since 1963 and a research scientist with the Institute for Science and Technology since 1969 at the University of Michigan. In addition to serving as Director of the Merit Computer Network and of the National Science Foundation's NSFNET backbone network, Eric is also Associate Director for Network Services at the University of Michigan Computing Center. * * * CSU INSTALLATION AT SITES PROCEEDS UNDER IBM PLAN IBM has proposed a plan to install the Verilink Model 551VST CSUs at the backbone sites within the next week. The plan calls for modifying the CSUs and putting them in place until UL-replacements are available. IBM is coordinating the efforts of Verilink, MCI, and Merit toward this end. The first step of the plan proposes that Verilink provide safety shrouds for the CSUs that are currently at the sites. Merit received the shrouds on April 11 and will express mail them to sites by April 15. Installation of the shrouds resolves the safety concerns for the short term. MCI will modify and install the CSUs and run end-to-end testing of the physical network starting April 18. We anticipate completion of the end-to-end testing within two weeks. As UL-approved replacements are available, IBM will replace the field-updated Verilink CSUs. We are hopeful that this plan will provide equipment and service to each site with as little disruption as possible. * * * IBM PROPOSED POWER SPECS FOR NSSs PROMOTE SAFETY WITH POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE EXPANSION With installation of the NSSs rapidly approaching, most sites are ready to meet the power specifications provided by IBM for running an NSS. Questions have been raised regarding the specific power requirements and the seeming redundancy in the number of branch circuits. The need for the particular power configuration relates to both ongoing operation and future expansion. Under the present power setup, the remainder of an NSS will continue to function even if one of the branch circuits is lost because of a machine failure or power outage. The multiple branch circuits help ensure that the node will remain intact. The power specification also provides a margin of safety by limiting the effects of power variation on individual pieces of equipment. In looking toward the future, these power requirements allow for network growth and development. The present specification provides sufficient power for NSS expansion at each site. This is a proactive system aimed at installing sufficient power now rather than reacting under stress in the future when demand exceeds the power allocation. In terms of cost, putting the additional capabilities in initially is less expensive than the cost of future expansion. If you have any questions about power requirements, message: NSFNET-Info@merit.edu or call (313) 764-9430 for information. * * * NSFNET NEWS BRIEFS. . . -- Delivery of IDNXs.-- IBM has begun shipment of IDNXs to the backbone sites. The IDNX 20 has been tested by IBM safety and granted a corporate safety deviation. This means that the IDNX 20 presents no safety hazard when installed in controlled-access machine-room environments. The National Service Division of IBM will install an IDNX at each site and will provide service to it. Merit will be contacting each site to verify the arrival of its IDNX and to schedule a date for its installation. -- NOC machine in place. -- The two IBM 4381 mainframes housed in the Ann Arbor Network Operations Center are now in their permanent positions in the remodeled Computing Center Building on the University of Michigan campus. The 4381s will be used for network operations control and for information services on the NSFNET backbone. The operational NSS for the Merit site has been assembled and moved to its permanent location in the NOC. -- Information Services -- Update. Richard Schmalgemeier recently joined our staff as the Online Systems Coordinator for Merit/NSFNET. Rick is very experienced in implementing and managing mainframe information services. Rick, with Jim Sweeton, manager of Merit/NSFNET Information Services, attended the SPIRES consortium in Palo Alto in March, and visited SRI-NIC. * * * * * * *