Abstract -- RUNNet - Federal University Network of Russia

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Abstract -- RUNNet - Federal University Network of Russia Regional Track
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RUNNet - Federal University Network of Russia

Vasilyev, Vladimir N. ( vasilev@ipmo.spb.su)
Gugel, Yuri V. ( gugel@ifmo.ru)
Kirchin, Yuri G. ( kirchin@ifmo.ru)
Robachevsky, Andrei M. ( andrei@ifmo.ru)

Abstract

One year has passed since first announcement of RUNNet project at INET'94/JENC5. During this year the project made a path from a set of general ideas to the fully operating network connecting universities of Russia. On this way RUNNet has solved several fundamental problems: channel infrastructure and topology, organizational structure, and information services.

What made it possible to do this progress is stable financial support from the State Committee for Higher Education of Russian Federation and great user demand for such a network which stimulated enthusiasm of the people involved in the project.

The network architecture and information services are being developed based on the general principles:

Academic nature. The network provides services for the benefit of Russian scientific and educational community.
Federal level. The network covers practically the whole territory of Russian Federation.
Connectivity for regional networks. RUNNet provides inter-connectivity and access to the Internet to the regional networks of science and education.
Accepted use policy. RUNNet accepts traffic from regional networks of science and education. Access to the Internet is regulated by corresponding agreements with foreign networks.
Information services. RUNNet creates and develops own information services according to three main schemes: Order, Project and Climbing. The schemes determine methods of development, access and announcement of different groups of information services.
Network administration. RUNNet is guided by a system of cooperating administrative and public bodies reflecting common and particular needs of users. RUNNet core configuration - backbone topology - is supervised by RUNNet Board and Technical meeting - the main body for preparing technical proposals for the network development and its implementation.

RUNNet Federal Nodes interconnected by high speed links constitute so-called backbone topology of the network. Federal Nodes are located now in Moscow, St.Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Petrozavodsk, Saratov and Ulianovsk. The following stages will bring RUNNet connectivity to Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Nyzhni Novgorod, Tambov, Rostov-na-Donu, Vladivostok.

Federal Nodes act as RUNNet points of presence providing regional networks of science and education with network and information services. Also Federal Nodes play an important role in RUNNet cooperation program, an optional Internet Exchange network may be organized at Federal Node for peering with other service providers in a region.

The majority of backbone channels are based on satellite technology as the most suitable one for high speed links covering Russia extent. Fiber optics is used where possible, e.g. RUNNet (St.Petersburg FN) - NORDUnet (Helsinki) and St.Petersburg - Moscow (planned). In future plans there is transfer of the backbone channels to terestrial high speed links with preserving satellite media for back-up needs.