Showing papers presented at "Testbeds and Research Infrastructures for the DEvelopment of NeTworks and COMmunities in 2010"

The w-iLab.t Testbed

Abstract: In this paper, the W-iLab.t wireless testbed is presented. The testbed consists of nearly 200 sensor nodes and an equal amount of WiFi nodes, which are installed across three floors of an office building. The testbed supports wireless sensor experiments, WiFi based mesh and ad hoc experiments, and mixed sensor/WiFi experiments. It is explained how changes in the environment of the sensor nodes can be emulated and how experiments with heterogeneous wireless nodes are enabled. Additional features of the testbed are listed and lessons learned are presented that will help researchers to construct their own testbed infrastructure or add functionality to an existing testbed. Finally, it is argued that deep analysis of unexpected testbed behavior is key to understanding the dynamics of wireless network deployments.

The Great Plains Environment for Network Innovation (GpENI): A Programmable Testbed for Future Internet Architecture Research

Abstract: The Great Plains Environment for Network Innovation – GpENI is an international programmable network testbed centered on a regional optical network in the Midwest US, providing flexible infrastructure across the entire protocol stack. The goal of GpENI is to build a collaborative research infrastructure enabling the community to conduct experiments in future Internet architecture. GpENI is funded in part by the US National Science Foundation GENI (Global Environments for Network Innovation) program and by the EU FIRE (Future Internet Research and Experimentation) Programme, and is affiliated with a project funded by the NSF FIND (Future Internet Design) Program.

Measurement Architectures for Network Experiments with Disconnected Mobile Nodes

Abstract: Networking researchers using testbeds containing mobile nodes face the problem of measurement collection from partially disconnected nodes. We solve this problem efficiently by adding a proxy server to the Orbit Measurement Library (OML) to transparently buffer measurements on disconnected nodes, and we give results showing our solution in action. We then add a flexible filtering and feedback mechanism on the server that enables a tailored hierarchy of measurement collection servers throughout the network, live context-based steering of experiment behaviour, and live context-based control of the measurement collection process itself.

TopHat: Supporting Experiments through Measurement Infrastructure Federation

Abstract: Researchers use the PlanetLab testbed for its ability to host experimental applications in realistic conditions over the public best-effort internet Such applications form overlays whose performance is affected by the underlying topology and its evolution While several topology information services have been proposed for PlanetLab, the TopHat system that we describe here fills a special niche It is designed to support the entire lifecycle of an experiment: from setup, through run time, to retrospective analysis TopHat does so in a new way, by drawing upon excellent, proven third party services, notably the Dimes and Etomic measurement infrastructures, for specialized measurements TopHat has been developed as the active measurement component of PlanetLab Europe, the flagship testbed of the OneLab experimental facility It is part of OneLab’s larger effort to pioneer the federation of previously independent testbeds and measurement systems in order to provide a diverse global scale environment for Future Internet research

Managing Distributed Applications Using Gush

Abstract: Deploying and controlling experiments running on a distributed set of resources is a challenging task. Software developers often spend a significant amount of time dealing with the complexities associated with resource configuration and management in these environments. Experiment control systems are designed to automate the process, and to ultimately help developers cope with the common problems that arise during the design, implementation, and evaluation of distributed systems. However, many of the existing control systems were designed with specific computing environments in mind, and thus do not provide support for heterogeneous resources in different testbeds. In this paper, we explore the functionality of Gush, an experiment control system, and discuss how it supports execution on three of the four GENI control frameworks.

Pan-European testbed and experimental facility federation – architecture refinement and implementation

Abstract: Large future internet research programs such as GENI, FIND, and FIRE are under way that will have a global impact on the current and future internet. Experimental facilities and testbeds are needed to support both revolutionary and evolutionary approaches for re-thinking and improving the internet architecture. The resource federation framework proposed by the authors makes available multi-domain testbeds providing heterogeneous crosslayer infrastructures for broad testing and experimentation purposes. Currently, it is unclear how new concepts and ideas developed by the future internet research community can be integrated into production systems while preserving infrastructure operator investments. Service oriented experimental facilities are required that integrate technologies and concepts across various domains and layers and actively incorporate different market players. In this article, we briefly introduce the network domain federation model as the basis and architectural mindset for the Pan-European Laboratory (Panlab) concept, introduce technical architecture refinements, and outline first implementation results.

How to Build Complex, Large-Scale Emulated Networks

Abstract: This paper describes AutoNetkit, an auto-configuration tool for com- plex network emulations using Netkit, allowing large-scale networks to be tested on commodity hardware AutoNetkit uses an object orientated approach for router configuration management, significantly reducing the complexities in large-scale network configuration Using AutoNetkit, a user can generate large and complex emulations quickly without errors We have used AutoNetkit to successfully generate a number of different large networks with complex routing/security policies In our test case, AutoNetkit can generate 100,000 lines of device configuration code from only 50 lines of high-level network specification code

Open Urban Computing Testbed

Abstract: We present a unique urban computing testbed for studying the utilization of ubiquitous computing technology in the public urban space of a city center. The testbed comprises of a wide range of pervasive computing infrastructure and different middleware resources. We demonstrate the applicability and benefits of the testbed in evaluating technology pilots and prototyping new ubiquitous services in real-world urban setting. We conclude with a discussion on the challenges in deploying this kind of a large-scale testbed in a public urban space.

OpenEPC: A Technical Infrastructure for Early Prototyping of NGMN Testbeds

Abstract: The challenging and ever increasing requirements of future applications demand new concepts for better control and management of network resources. The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) introduced in their latest specifications the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) architecture for transparently unifying the parameters of different technologies, like the UMTS, WLAN, non-3GPP access technologies and a future Evolved Radio Access Network, called Long Term Evolution (LTE), with the use of multiple application platforms such as IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and the Internet. This paper describes a testbed implementation of the Evolved Packet Core named OpenEPC which provides a reference implementation of 3GPP’s EPC developed by the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS. OpenEPC is a set of software components offering advanced IP mobility schemes, policy-based QoS control, and integration with different application platforms in converging network environments. This initiative, in addition to fostering research and development, enables academic and industry researchers to rapidly realize state-of-the-art NGMN infrastructures and application testbeds.

Towards a Virtualized Sensing Environment

Abstract: While deploying a sensor network is necessary for proof-of-concept experimentation, it is a time-consuming and tedious task that dramatically slows innovation Treating sensor networks as shared testbeds and integrating them into a federated testbed infrastructure, such as FIRE, GENI, AKARI, or CNGI, enables a broad user community to benefit from time-consuming deployment exercises In this paper, we outline the challenges with integrating sensor networks into federated testbeds in the context of ViSE, a sensor network testbed we have integrated with GENI, and describe our initial deployment experiences ViSE differs from typical embedded sensor networks in its focus on high-bandwidth steerable sensors

Design of a Configurable Wireless Network Testbed with Live Traffic

Abstract: Testbeds have become standard tools for performance evaluation in wireless networks as they allow for evaluation with realistic wireless propagation and interference conditions, hardware constraints and timing requirements. However, in most testbeds, traffic and user mobility is generated by either using synthetic load generation tools, or replaying traffic traces. Evaluations using live traffic generated by real users, possibly moving around the network, are typically not possible. This is the main motivation of our research: building a wireless research testbed that enables experimentation with live traffic. In this paper, we present the design and architecture of a campus-wide wireless network testbed towards this goal. Our testbed enables both transparent Internet access and seamless mobility to the network users, and supports full network reconfigurations in the presence of live traffic. The reliability of user traffic is guaranteed by failure avoidance mechanisms that are invoked whenever a disruption occurs in the network.

Challenges in Deploying Steerable Wireless Testbeds

Abstract: Phased array antennas enable the use of real-time beam-forming and null-steering to further increase control of signal strength and interference in wireless networks. Understanding the potential of this platform for both mesh and single-hop networks is becoming more important as smart antennas begin to appear in emerging networking standards. Prior attempts to test non-standard antenna platforms have typically focused around simulations, fixed (non-steerable) directional antenna testbeds, and small scale temporary setups utilizing 1 or 2 phased array antenna nodes over the span of a few hundred meters. This paper presents the challenges encountered – and solutions developed – in building WART, a permanent, campus-wide testbed for wireless networking with beam-forming antennas.

ASSERT: A Wireless Networking Testbed

Abstract: As wireless networks become a critical part of home, business and industrial infrastructure, researchers will meet these demands by providing new networking technologies. However, these technologies must be tested before they can be released for mainstream use. We identify the key design considerations for a wireless networking testbed as a) accuracy b) controllability c) mobility d) repeatability e) cost effectiveness f) data collection g) resource sharing h) multi-nodal capability i) scalability. In this paper we portray how we have used coaxial cables and our custom hardware of RF switches and programmable attenuators to create Advanced wireleSS Environment Research Testbed (assert), addressing the above requirements. assert supports various types of wireless devices, providing researchers in academia and industry with the necessary experimentation tools to validate their designed protocols and devices.

Virtualized Application Networking Infrastructure

Abstract: In this paper, we present a new platform for experimenting with networked systems and distributed applications called Virtualized Application Networking Infrastructure (VANI). This infrastructure is designed as a converged communications and computing infrastructure that would facilitate operation of an open applications marketplace. VANI enables introduction of new network architectures that require in-network (hardware-accelerated) content processing and storage. We describe the VANI architecture and the resources it provides. VANI has two main planes; control and management plane, and applications plane. VANI resources are virtualized and made available to the researchers and application providers through a service-oriented control and management plane. The current VANI resources are processing, storage, networking and various software-based resources. VANI also includes a new reprogrammable hardware resource that enables experimenting with hardware-based or hardware-accelerated networking algorithms and protocols. We present performance evaluations of this reprogrammable hardware resource, and the VANI virtual networking mechanism. The results show that by using the reprogrammable hardware resource, researchers can evaluate high performance and high throughput networking algorithms as easily as evaluating software-based networking algorithms.

AMazING – Advanced Mobile wIreless playGrouNd

Abstract: We describe a wireless testbed composed by 24 wireless nodes that can be used to perform a broad range of studies in the area of next generation networks. This paper addresses the difficulties and constrains faced by the authors throughout the deployment process of such testbed. Flexibility and controllability were key concerns driving the testbed design. The testbed can be remotely managed through a series of remotely accessible web services performing low-level management. Validation results are presented, showing the interference levels of the testbed as well as its maximum throughput capabilities.

Towards maximizing wireless testbed utilization using spectrum slicing

Abstract: As experimentation becomes one of the de-facto approaches for benchmarking, researchers are turning to testbeds to test, review and verify their work. As a result, several research laboratories build wireless testbeds, in order to offer their researchers a real environment to test their algorithms. As testbeds become more and more popular, the need for a managerial tool that will not only provide a unified way for defining and executing an experiment and collecting experimental results, but that will also serve as many users as possible maximizing the utilization of its resources, is growing. In this spirit, we propose a scheme that exploits wireless testbeds functionality by introducing spectrum slicing of the testbed resources. This scheme can be incorporated inside OMF, an already existing wireless testbeds managerial framework, which is widely used by many researchers.

The Network Testbed Mapping Problem

Abstract: The Network Testbed Mapping Problem is the problem of mapping an emulated network into a test cluster such as Emulab or DETER. In this paper, we demonstrate that the Network Testbed Mapping Problem is \({\mathcal NP}\)-complete when there is constrained bandwidth between cluster switches. We demonstrate that the problem is trivial when bandwidth is unconstrained, and note that a number of new proposals for data center networking have removed this barrier. Finally, we consider new heuristics in the bandwidth-limited case.

From Kansei to KanseiGenie: Architecture of Federated, Programmable Wireless Sensor Fabrics

Abstract: This paper deals with challenges in federating wireless sensing fabrics. Federations of this sort are currently being developed in next generation global end-to-end experimentation infrastructures, such as GENI, to support rapid prototyping and hi-fidelity validation of protocols and applications. On one hand, federation should support access to diverse (and potentially provider-specific) wireless sensor resources and, on the other, it should enable users to uniformly task these resources. Instead of more simply basing federation upon a standard description of resources, we propose an architecture where the ontology of resource description can vary across providers, and a mapping of user needs to resources is performed to achieve uniform tasking. We illustrate one realization of this architecture, in terms of our refactoring the Kansei testbed to become the KanseiGenie federated fabric manager, which has full support for programmability, sliceability and federated experimentation over heterogeneous sensing fabrics.

Feather-Weight Network Namespace Isolation Based on User-Specific Addressing and Routing in Commodity OS

Abstract: Container-based virtualization is the most popular solution for isolating resources among users in a shared testbed. Container achieves good performance but makes the code quite complicated and hard to maintain, to debug and to deploy. We explore an alternative philosophy to enable the isolation based on commodity OS, i.e., utilizing existing features in commodity OS as much as possible rather than introducing complicated containers. Merely granting each user-id in the OS a dedicated and isolated network address as well as specific routing table, we enhance the commodity OS with the functionality of network namespace isolation. We posit that an OS’s built-in features plus our feather-weight enhancement meet basic requirements for separating activities among different users of a shared testbed. Applying our prototype which has been implemented, we demonstrate the functionality of our solution can support a VINI-like environment with marginal cost of engineering and tiny overhead.

Experimental Evaluation of OpenVZ from a Testbed Deployment Perspective

Abstract: A scalable approach to building large scale experimentation testbeds involves multiplexing the system resources for better utilization. Virtualization provides a convenient means of sharing testbed resources among experimenters. The degree of programmability and isolation achieved with such a setup is largely dependent on the type of technology used for virtualization. We consider OpenVZ and User Mode Linux (UML) for virtualization of the ORBIT wireless testbed and evaluate their relative merit. Our results show that OpenVZ, an operating system level virtualization mechanism significantly outperforms UML in terms of system overheads and performance isolation. We discuss both qualitative and quantitative performance features which could serve as guidelines for selection of a virtualization scheme for similar testbeds.

From learning to researching - ease the shift through testbeds

Abstract: This papers presents an e-learning platform that improves the current state of the art by successfully integrating four features.

ETOMIC advanced network monitoring system for future Internet experimentation

Abstract: ETOMIC is a network traffic measurement platform with high precision GPS-synchronized monitoring nodes. The infrastructure is publicly available to the network research community, supporting advanced experimental techniques by providing high precision hardware equipments and a Central Management System. Researchers can deploy their own active measurement codes to perform experiments on the public Internet. Recently, the functionalities of the original system were significantly extended and new generation measurement nodes were deployed. The system now also includes well structured data repositories to archive and share raw and evaluated data. These features make ETOMIC as one of the experimental facilities that support the design, development and validation of novel experimental techniques for the future Internet. In this paper we focus on the improved capabilities of the management system, the recent extensions of the node architecture and the accompanying database solutions.

A virtual ad hoc network testbed

Abstract: Testing of applications for ad hoc networks poses a special technical challenge due to the difficulty of conducting experiments in an ad hoc network environment at a scale larger than a few nodes. One approach is to conduct experiments in a testbed that can imitate an ad hoc network. This requires the development of technologies that enable multiple instances of unmodified application software on a set of hosts to communicate via a simulated network that behaves like a real ad hoc network. In this paper, we describe the testbed developed under the virtual ad hoc network (VAN) testbed project for testing applications over ad hoc networks, with a special focus on network management applications. The testbed employs Xen-based virtualisation to achieve resource scalability. The infrastructure for the testbed provides an integrated platform consisting of virtual nodes running the actual software under test, augmented with a simulated network environment. Our goal is to enable software testing over large-scale (500-1000 nodes) ad hoc networks using the VAN testbed.

Distributed Ontology-Based Monitoring on the IBBT WiLab.t Infrastructure

Abstract: Testbeds as a means to evaluate protocol and software development are gaining importance, not least because of the oftentimes unpredictable influence of environmental behaviour. IBBT, the Interdisciplinary Institute for Broadband Technology, recognizes the importance of such testbeds and has therefore invested in WiLab.t, a wireless sensor and mesh testbed. It contains over 200 wireless and programmable nodes. The monitoring and management of such a testbed is very important so as to guarantee a proper functioning and stable environment to be used by researchers. This is however not a trivial task, even more so when in the future, the testbed is expanded with new devices and as such becomes a heterogeneous environment. Therefore, we have developed an ontology-based monitoring approach, which allows hiding the heterogeneity from the monitoring application and enables to process the data in a formal manner. Additionally, it allows adaptation according to characteristics of the local deployment, without the need to re-engineer the entire monitoring application every time alterations are made to the testbed.

Experimentally-Driven Research in Publish/Subscribe Information-Centric Inter-Networking

Abstract: Testing and evaluating new architectural propositions is a challenge. Given the usual variety of technologies and scales involved in the necessary evaluation, a one-size-fits-all approach does hardly suffice. Instead, a collection of evaluation and experimentation methods must be chosen for a comprehensive testing of the proposed solutions. This paper outlines some of the approaches chosen for an architectural proposition that establishes a publish/subscribe-based internetworking layer for the Future Internet. For that, we outline challenges we identified when turning to experimentation as a means of evaluation. We then present the variety of emulation as well as experimental test bed efforts that attempt to address these challenges. While this is not to be seen as a conclusive summary of experimental research in this space, it is an attempt to summarize our efforts as a work-of-progress for others working the architectural field.

Interoperability in Heterogeneous Resource Federations

Abstract: Currently, a number of research activities worldwide focus on resource federations to enable remote resource access and the setup of large scale experiments. With the global efforts in sharing experimental facility resources across organizational boundaries, interoperability issues are becoming increasingly important. To this end, this paper describes a model that defines the necessary entities for inter resource federation scenarios. The model is then discussed by means of a concrete use case federating Panlab and PlanetLab resources. In this respect Panlab and PlanetLab are considered to be federations themselves. Our findings show that the two approaches can be matched following the general model. This allows for federating resources not only across the boundaries of administrative (organizational) domains but even across the boundaries of federations. Those federations in themselves provide collections of resources offered by several administrative domains and use different control frameworks to enable resource access and management.

Novel results on SCTP multihoming performance in native IPv6 UMTS-WLAN environments

Abstract: Multihoming is one of the most attractive features of stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) aiming to make this prosperous transport scheme competitive in mobile environments when the mobile hosts are equipped with multiple interfaces. The complementary characteristic of the 3G universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) and wireless local area network (WLAN) architectures motivates operators to integrate these two successful technologies. Recently spreading wireless devices are increasingly provided with multiple networking interfaces such enabling end-users to access internet services using e.g., the WLAN's higher bandwidth wherever available, and connecting to the UMTS network in other cases. This paper investigates the performance of multihomed SCTP hosts through extensive experimental studies in such an integrated heterogeneous environment. In order to do this, we designed and implemented a real native IPv6 UMTS-WLAN testbed equipped with novel IPv6-based mobile technologies, such providing ideal conditions for SCTP multihoming performance analysis. In this testbed architecture we analysed numerous settings to measure the handover behaviour of the protocol in terms of handover effectiveness, link changeover characteristics, throughput and transmission delay. As our results show, accurate SCTP parameter setup can significantly decrease the handover delay and eliminate the data transmission interrupts.

Design, Implementation and Testing of a Real-Time Mobile WiMAX Testbed Featuring MIMO Technology

Abstract: Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) is a technology that enhances wireless systems capacity, data rate, and coverage by utilizing the spatial diversity provided by multiple antennas. However, these benefits come at the expense of increased computational complexity. Implementing a broadband MIMO wireless communication system in a real-time testbed is a challenging task, entailing numerous pitfalls. This paper presents several implementation aspects of a real-time MIMO testbed based on the mobile WiMAX standard. The focus is mainly laid on the bit-intensive baseband digital signal processing at the receiver.

Packet Tracking in PlanetLab Europe – A Use Case

Abstract: Making observations is fundamental for experimental research. Experimental facilities have to provide sophisticated and flexible tools to support scientific experiments by logging experiment results and monitoring environment conditions. Standardized measurements in experimental facilities can also provide consistent input for experiments with adaptive algorithms. In this paper we present a packet tracking architecture for PlanetLab Europe. Packet tracking correlates information from multiple observation points to observe the packet’s path and experienced transmission quality. In our approach we use statistical sampling to control the measurement resource consumption and show how data selection processes at multiple observation points can be synchronized. As an example use case we show how the packet tracking architecture is used to support experiments on functional composition.

FIRST@PC MediaX: A Service-Oriented Testbed for Realistic Media Networking Experiments

Abstract: As an effort to devise and experiment diverse types of media-oriented service compositions supported by Future Internet infrastructure, this paper introduces an attempt to build a service-oriented testbed named as FIRST@PC (Future Internet Research on Sustainable Testbed based on PC) MediaX (Media eXperiment). Following the SOA (service oriented architecture) paradigm, FIRST@PC MediaX targets a flexible and cost-effective testing environment where media-oriented service compositions are flexibly realized on top of virtualized computing/networking resources. In this paper we will discuss on-going efforts on designing and building this testbed with several PC-based devices for media acquisition, media processing, display (networked tiled display), and networking. Specially, the preliminary implementation of agent-based software toolkit called as OMX (Open Media eXperiment for service composition) is explained and verified by testing a HD-media service scenario that combines multiple HD videos.