How Can OFC, with a Real Life Test-Bed, Accelerate Innovation in the Optical Photonic Networks?
Abstract
Started in 2023, OFCnet brings a new opportunity to
the exhibition and demonstrates products, concepts, solutions, research,
and architectures in live high-speed optical networks connected to the
leading research and education networks worldwide. This increased focus
on designing and building next-generation Optical Networks will expand
exposure to connectivity, emerging and next-generation network
technologies such as Quantum Networks, programmable and software-defined
optical networks, and their applications such as big data, security,
and distributed classical and quantum computing. This workshop brings
together the innovators and researchers who work on the mentioned topics
to enrich the OFCnet community further and expand the contributing
parties. We discuss how this initiative should be developed to ensure
OFCnet enriches future community participation.
Organized and moderated by:
Cees de Laat, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gwen Amice, EXFO, Canada
Reza Nejabati, University of Bristol, United Kingdom
Presentation on the features and demonstrations that comprise OFCnet24
Marc Lyonnais, chair OFCnet
13:15
Introduction
of panel on lessons learned from (preparing) technology demonstrations,
opportunities, building networks from components, enabling new wave of
demo’s
Cees de Laat
13:20
Duncan Earl, Qubitekk
Joe Mambretti, Northwestern University
Chris Janson, Nokia
Félix Bussières, Morax Idquantique
Mehdi Namazi, Quconn
Jerome Prieur, Aureatechnology
David Rodgers, Exfo
Panel session moderated by Cees de Laat and Gwennael Amice
14:15
Introduction
of the Modified Rump Session approach to engage with industry and
academic research labs regarding emerging technologies, research and
innovation prototyping to be demonstrated at current and future
OFCnet’s.
Reza Nejabati
14:20
Ben Dixon, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Dimitra Simeonidou, University of Bristol, JOINER UK National Test-bed
Dynamos: DYNamically Adapive Microservice-based OS for Datasharing.
DYNAMOS demonstrates handling of SQL request on
(synthetic) datasets of university salaries where the data needs to be
protected at all times. This is implemented using a microservice
architecture on Kubernetes. A policy enforcer, configured with JSON
files, can determine data access control, on which (simulated) data
providers and which archetypes are allowed. This system allows us to
experiment with microservice security components, such as 'data pods',
token authorization flows, secure networks, etc. Ultimate goal is to
utilise security functions in networks and compute/data infrastructure
to keep data safe.
In-Band Network Telemetry Based Path Trust.
Every user should be assured that data is routed
securely through a Trusted Path, even in case of congestion or flow
steering. We demonstrate a testbed with optical connections between
programmable P4 switches that utilize In-Band Network Telemetry (INT).
All P4 switches share the same key to encrypt communication with a
Telemetry Collector and to decrypt packet header control information.
All INT packets carry encrypted Path Tracing and Trust information about
their source node. This establishes transparency, route accountability
and trust to the path and the underlying hardware infrastructure.
UvA presence in OFCnet panel in EXPO III:
OFCnet Software Defined Infrastructures
Wednesday, 27 March, 13:00 -13:30
Reza Nejabati, Univ of Bristol, dr. Anestis Dalgkitsis
and Jorrit Stutterheim MSc, University of Amsterdam, Gauravdeep Shami,
Ciena.
In the realm of Software Defined Infrastructures,
Bristol University is employing Multi-access Edge Computing and Neural
Radiance Fields to revolutionize the creation, distribution, and
consumption of 3D volumetric video, making immersive experiences more
accessible.
Concurrently, the University of Amsterdam is
building towards transparency and accountability at the network-level by
employing In-Band Network Telemetry in Programmable Data-planes,
ensures the secure routing of user data along a Trusted Path, even
amidst flow steering events. To harness the ever increasing complexity
of the control of cyber infrastructures the UvA also demonstrate
DYNAMOS, a system built to dynamically create microservices in different
compositions to enable diverse data-exchange scenarios based on dynamic
archetypes.
Further demonstrating the versatility of
software-defined infrastructures, Ciena and FABRIC have partnered to
develop a mobile, software-defined FABRIC node, the tfNode. This node,
fully equipped for demonstrations and presentations, serves as a
tangible example of the potential of software-defined infrastructures,
promoting the wider adoption of FABRIC technology.
UvA contributes two team members in OFCnet:
Cees de Laat, team-lead OFCnet workshop
JP Velders, team-lead OFCnet Security
Demos:
1
Dynamos: DYNamically Adapive Microservice-based OS for Datasharing.
The
demo of DYNAMOS lets a user make an SQL request on a (synthetic)
dataset of university salaries. The request is handled by four
microservices on Kubernetes in a one time job, which is deleted after
use. The demo supports 2 archetypes:
compute to data
data through a trusted third party
The policy enforcer, configured with JSON files,
can determine who has access to the datasets, on which (simulated) data
providers, and which archetypes are allowed. In the demo we can
currently show that a request is made, which is executed with a certain
archetype. Then the archetype can be adjusted in the contract of the
person concerned, and the next request will be executed according to the
new archetype. This system allows us:
to experiment with different archetypes in a digital marketplace environment
to experiment with 'atomic' micro-services as
core components of a digital marketplace environment - experiment with
algorithms that can make choices in the
optimal archetype for the current situation
to experiment with security components, such as the concept of 'data pods', token
authorization flows, secure networks, etc.
The work as presented in this abstract has been
done as part of the Dutch Research project; ̃Data Logistics for Logistic
Data" (DL4LD), supported by the Dutch Organisation for Scientific
Research (NWO), the Dutch Institute for Advanced Logistics TKI Dinalog
(http://www.dinalog.nl/) and the Dutch Commit-to-Data initiative
(https://www.dutchdigitaldelta.nl/big- data/over-commit2data). CIENA is
an essential partner providing funding and equipment in DL4LD.
This UvA demonstration is based on the principle
that every user should be assured that their data are routed securely
through a Trusted Path, even in case of congestion or flow steering. The
demonstration comprises of a remote connection to a testbed with
optical connections between programmable P4 switches that utilize
In-Band Network Telemetry (INT). All P4 switches, share the same key to
encrypt with a Telemetry Collector to decrypt packet header control
information (via Symmetric Cryptography) that traverse the data plane.
All INT packets carry encrypted Path Tracing and Trust information about
their source node. This establishes a level of trust for the current
path. The demonstration includes a congestion scenario, where a backup
path is used. The change of the path will then be visible to the user
with a Graphical User Interface. This conveys transparency, route
accountability and trust to the path and the underlying hardware.
