Title :
vBNS: the Internet fast lane for research and education
Author :
Jamison, John ; Wilder, Rick
Author_Institution :
MCI, Reston, VA, USA
fDate :
1/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The very-high-speed Backbone Network Service (vBNS) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored high-performance network service implemented by MCI. It was first implemented as an IP/ATM network with an OC-3 (155 Mb/s) infrastructure. The vBNS was activated on a test basis late in 1994, and the full network topology was on-line in early 1995. The NSF´s high-performance connections program is now expanding the vBNS to reach more research and education (R&E) institutions, and the vBNS backbone is currently being upgraded to OC-12 (622 Mb/s) speeds. The vBNS supports scientific applications between NSF-supported supercomputer centers (SCCs), directly connected research institutions, and research institutions that are served by other networks. The vBNS also provides a test environment for early deployment and evaluation of new internetworking technologies
Keywords :
Internet; asynchronous transfer mode; educational computing; educational technology; internetworking; network topology; research initiatives; 155 Mbit/s; 622 Mbit/s; IP/ATM network; Internet; MCI; NSF; National Science Foundation; OC-3 infrastructure; education; high performance connections program; high performance network service; internetworking technologies; network topology; research; research institutions; scientific applications; supercomputer centers; test environment; very-high-speed Backbone Network Service; Asynchronous transfer mode; FDDI; Internet; Protocols; Spine; Supercomputers; Switches; Switching circuits; Telecommunication traffic; Wide area networks;
Journal_Title :
Communications Magazine, IEEE
