Introduction to AutoBAHN

Researchers today in fields such as astronomy, geology, physics and the environment often need dedicated channels to transport data between varying locations at high rates with guaranteed levels of service.

Internet Protocol (IP) networks provide always-on services for data transfer but cannot guarantee quality (e.g. elimination of data loss at bottlenecks) or resources for bulk transfers with time constraints (e.g. streaming of large amounts of data from different locations to a cluster for real-time correlation). This is due to heterogeneity along end-to-end paths, traffic multiplexing, and open access to a large user base. On the other hand, fixed circuits interconnecting end-points participating in demanding research applications are costly and often result in under-utilisation of e-Infrastructures.

A dynamic circuit service addresses the limitations of IP networks and fixed circuits for certain use cases by isolating resources over existing infrastructures, reserving them, and providing quantity and quality guarantees at the level required for the time period required between the end-points involved. As soon as a circuit’s resources are no longer necessary, they are released for another potential transfer between different end-points utilising the same resources.

The GÉANT2 Automated Bandwidth Allocation across Heterogeneous Networks (AutoBAHN) system provides a user-friendly interface for instantiating dynamic circuits over global research and education (R&E) network infrastructures. The system has been developed as a pilot within the GN2 project, which is co-funded by the European Commission as part of the Sixth Research and Development Framework Programme (FP6). The dynamic circuits activity is central to efforts to develop the next-generation GÉANT2 network, using transport technologies to offer new services in addition to IP-based services.