The TEN-34 Task Force Group, a consortium of European research bodies, has addressed the problem of how to scale the Internet`s Infrastructure to keep up with its massive growth in usage. The consortium has just completed a successful independent test of Tag Switching, pioneered by Cisco Systems, which demonstrated its validity as a potential ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) networking solution that will guarantee a manageable, dynamic future for the information superhighway.
Following extensive research into potential solutions, the TEN-34 Task Force Group, set up a trial during which Internet IP (Internet Protocol) interconnection was scaled successfully across existing WAN (Wide Area Network) ATM switching infrastructures between European National Research Networks in Austria (ACONET), France (RENATER), Germany (DFN), Italy (GARR), Spain (REDIRIS) and Switzerland (SWITCH) using Tag Switching technology.
The trial, which deployed Tag Switching protocol technology and switching/routing hardware from Cisco, was performed over the JAMES broadband infrastructure (Joint ATM Experimentation on European Services). JAMES is co-funded by Europe`s top 20 service providers and the European Commission.
The success of the trial is particularly encouraging for Internet service providers, who are increasingly faced with the problem of more and more users, who also want better and more complex services, especially within business use of the Internet.
For Internet service providers (ISPs) the advantages of being able to scale the Internet across long distance WANs using ATM include:
- increased forwarding and routing capacity for public services
- improved traffic management between core Internet sites
- easier support for new Internet services
- more flexibility to adapt to evolving needs of Internet users
- the ability to remain profitable by offering new services
The unequivocal results offer both Internet Service Providers and, ultimately, Internet users, great benefits for the future. Jean-Marc Uze, technical manager at RENATER and coordinator of the tests, says of the experiment: "We have clearly been able to show that Tag Switching is a promising Internet technology by optimising the use of ATM for IP service in the backbone, to achieve simplicity, flexibility and scalability."
Tag Switching & Multiprotocol Label Switching Tag Switching is a software solution developed by Cisco as part of its multilayer switching programme. The theory behind the protocol is the integration of Layer 3 routing (network layer) and Layer 2 switching (data link layer) within the core network of the Internet. Tag switching software can run on standard ATM switches and GigaSwitch Routers to provide seamless IP Internet services on high speed switching infrastructures. The TEN-34 demonstration of tag switching was achieved using standard ATM switches (LS1010) and routers (7200 and 7500) from Cisco`s product line.
Tag switching was first launched by Cisco in September 1996, since when the company has been spearheading standardisation of such technologies. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) supports this philosophy. Following this successful implementation of its Tag switching protocol, Cisco is strongly positioned to be a key player in the on-going development and specification of Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocol in the future.
Editors Note
Further information about the TEN-34 network, Task Force TEN experiments, Tag switching and MPLS:
http://www.dante.net./ten-34.html http://www.dante.net/tf-ten/ http://www.dante.net./ten-34/nn-high-speed.html http://www.labs.bt.com/profsoc/james/ http://www.urec.fr/Renater/jmu/jameslbs.html
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