rfc1015.txt

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Network Working Group                                   Barry M. Leiner
Request for Comments:  1015                                       RIACS
                                                              July 1987


         Implementation Plan for Interagency Research Internet

STATUS OF THIS MEMO

    The RFC proposes an Interagency Research Internet as the natural
    outgrowth of the current Internet.  This is an "idea paper" and
    discussion is strongly encouraged.  Distribution of this memo is
    unlimited.

OVERVIEW

    Networking has become widespread in the scientific community, and
    even more so in the computer science community. There are networks
    being supported by a number of the Federal agencies interested in
    scientific research, and many scientists throughout the country have
    access to one or more of these networks. Furthermore, there are many
    resources (such as supercomputers) that are accessible via these
    networks.

    While many of these networks are interconnected on an informal
    basis, there is currently no consistent mechanism to allow sharing
    of the networking resources. Recognizing this problem, the FCCSET
    Committee on Very High Performance Computing formed a Network
    Working Group. This group has recommended an administrative and
    management structure for interconnecting the current and planned
    agency networks supporting research.  The structure is based on the
    concept of a network of networks using standard networking
    protocols.

    This report elaborates on the earlier recommendation and provides an
    implementation plan. It addresses three major areas; communications
    infrastructure, user support, and ongoing research. A management and
    administrative structure is recommended for each area, and a
    budgetary estimate provided.  A phased approach for implementation
    is suggested that will quickly provide interconnection and lead to
    the full performance and functionality as the required technologies
    are developed and installed.  While this report addresses the
    interconnection of agency networks, and cooperation by certain
    federal agencies, some discussion is presented of the possible role
    that industry can play in support and use of such a network.

    Work reported herein was supported by Cooperative Agreement NCC 2-
    387 from the National Aeronautics and Space Adminstration (NASA) to



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RFC 1015                      IRI Plan                         July 1987


    the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). This report was
    prepared in response to a request from John Cavallini, Chairman of
    the Networking Working Group of the FCCSET Committee on Very High
    Performance Computing.

INTRODUCTION

    Computer networks are critical in providing scientists access to
    computing resources (such as supercomputers) and permitting computer
    supported interaction between researchers.  Several agencies,
    recognizing this need, have established networks to provide the
    needed communications infrastructure.  The need for this
    infrastructure, though, cuts across the various agencies. To that
    end, the FCCSET Committee on Very High Performance Computing Network
    Working Group has recommended the formation of an Interagency
    Research Internet (IRI) [1].

    The purpose of this report is to suggest an implementation plan for
    such an IRI. It addresses three major areas; communications
    infrastructure, user support, and ongoing research. A management and
    administrative structure is recommended for each area, and a
    budgetary estimate provided. A phased approach for implementation is
    suggested that will quickly provide interconnection and lead to the
    full performance and functionality as the required technologies are
    developed and installed. Finally, some discussion is presented on a
    possible role for industry in supporting and using such a network.

Motivation

    The prime responsibility for providing the required infrastructure
    for successful research lies with the researcher, his/her
    institution, and the agency supporting that research.  Thus, the
    individual agencies have installed and are continuing to enhance
    computer networks to allow their researchers to access advanced
    computing resources such as supercomputers as well as being able to
    communicate with each other via such facilities as electronic mail.

    However, there are a number of reasons why it is advantageous to
    interconnect the various agency networks in a coherent manner so as
    to provide a common "virtual" network supporting research.

    The need to make effective use of available networks without
    unnecessary duplication.  The agencies each support researchers in
    many parts of the country, and have installed equally widespread
    resources. Often, it is more effective for a scientist to be
    provided networking service through a different agency network than
    the one funding his research. For example, suppose several
    scientists at an institution are already being funded by NASA and



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RFC 1015                      IRI Plan                         July 1987


    are connected to a NASA supported network. Now a scientist at the
    same institution but supported by NSF needs access to an NSF
    supercomputer. It is much more effective to provide that
    connectivity through an interconnection of NASA and NSF networks
    than to establish another connection (to NSFnet) to the same
    university.

    The need to establish communication infrastructure to permit
    scientists to access resources without regard to which network they
    are connected but without violating access controls on either the
    networks or the resources. A scientist may be supported by multiple
    agencies, and therefore have access to resources provided by several
    agencies. It is not cost-effective to have to provide a separate
    network connection to the scientist for each of those agency
    resources.

    The need for a communications infrastructure to encourage
    collaborative scientific research. One of the primary functions of a
    computer network supporting science is the encouraging of
    collaboration between researchers.  Scientific disciplines typically
    cut across many different agencies. Thus, support of this
    collaboration should be without regard to agency affiliation or
    support of the scientists involved.

    The need for a cooperative research and development program to
    evolve and enhance the IRI and its components where appropriate.
    Scientific research is highly demanding of both the computing and
    networking environment. To assure that these needs continue to be
    met, it is necessary to continually advance the state of the art in
    networking, and apply the results to the research networks.  No
    individual agency can  afford to support the required research
    alone, nor is it desirable to have inordinate duplication of
    research.

Summary of previous report

    These reasons led to the formation of the FCCSET Commitee on Very
    High Performance Computing and its Network Working Group. This group
    began in early 1985 to discuss the possibility of interconnecting
    into a common networking facility the various agency networks
    supporting scientific research. These discussions led to the report
    issued earlier this year [1] recommending such an approach.

    The report used the "Network of Networks" or Internet model of
    interconnection.  Using a standard set of protocols, the various
    networks can be connected to provide a common set of user services
    across heterogenous networks and heterogenous host computers [2,
    3,4]. This approach is discussed further in the Background section



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RFC 1015                      IRI Plan                         July 1987


    below.

    The report goes on to recommend an administrative and management
    structure that matches the technical approach.  Each agency would
    continue to manage and administer its individual networks. An
    interagency body would provide direction to a selected organization
    who would provide the management and operation of the
    interconnections of the networks and the common user services
    provided over the network. This selected organization would also
    provide for coordination of research activities, needed
    developments, and reflecting research community requirements into
    the national and  international standards activities.

Overview of Implementation Plan

    The general structure of the proposed IRI is analogous to a federal
    approach. Each of the agencies is responsible for operating its own
    networks and satisfying its users' requirements. The IRI provides
    the interconnecting infrastructure to permit the users on one
    network to access resources or users on other networks. The IRI also
    provides a set of standards and services which the individual
    agencies, networks, and user communities can exploit in providing
    capabilities to their individual users.  The management structure,
    likewise, provides a  mechanism by which the individual agencies can
    cooperate without interfering with the agencies' individual
    authorities or responsibilities.

    In this report, an implementation plan for the IRI is proposed.
    First, some background is given of the previous efforts to provide
    networks in support of research, and the genesis of those networks.
    A description of the suggested approach to attaining an IRI is then
    given. This description is divided into two sections; technical and
    management. The technical approach consists of two components. First
    is the provision of an underlying communications infrastructure;
    i.e. a means for providing connectivity between the various
    computers and workstations.  Second is provision of the means for
    users to make effective use of that infrastructure in support of
    their research.

    The management section elaborates on the suggestions made in the
    FCCSET committee report.  A structure is suggested that allows the
    various agencies to cooperate in the operations, maintenance,
    engineering, and research activities required for the IRI.  This
    structure also provides the necessary mechanisms for the scientific
    research community to provide input with respect to requirements and
    approaches.

    Finally, a phased implementation plan is presented which would allow



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RFC 1015                      IRI Plan                         July 1987


    the IRI to be put in place rapidly with modest funding.  A budgetary
    estimate is also provided.

BACKGROUND

    The combination of packet switched computer networks,
    internetworking to allow heterogeneous computers to communicate over
    heterogeneous networks, the widespread use of local area networks,
    and the availability of workstations and supercomputers has given
    rise to the opportunity to provide greatly improved computing
    capabilities to science and engineering. This is the major
    motivation behind the IRI.

History of Research Network

    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developed the
    concept of packet switching beginning in the mid 1960's.  Beginning
    with the Arpanet (the world's first packet switched network) [5],a
    number of networks have been developed. These have included packet
    satellite networks [6,7], packet radio networks [8,7], and local
    area networks [9].

    Although the original motivation for the Arpanet development was
    computer resource sharing, it was apparent early on that a major use
    of such networks would be for access to computer resources and
    interaction between users [10].  Following the Arpanet development,
    a number of other networks have been developed and used to provide
    both of these functions [11]. CSNET was initiated to provide
    communications between computer science researchers [12,13].  CSNET
    was initiated by the NSF in cooperation with a number of
    universities, but is now self-sufficient.   Its subscribers include
    universities throughout the world as well as industrial members
    interested in interacting with computer scientists.

    CSNET makes use of a number of networking technologies including the
    Arpanet, public X.25 networks, and dial-up connections over phone
    lines, to support electronic mail and other networking functions. In
    addition to the basic data transport service, CSNET and Arpanet
    operate network information centers which provide help to users of
    the network as well as a number of services including a listing of
    users with their mail addresses (white pages) and a repository where
    relevant documents are stored and can be retrieved.

    With the installation of supercomputers came the desire to provide
    network access for researchers.  One of the early networks to