Workpackages

To achieve the LIGHTNESS objectives the project activities have been organized into six work packages:

WP_interconnections

WP1: Project management

WP1 is responsible for the organizational structure of the project and dissemination management. More specifically this work package will focus on the following activities:

  • Establish clear communication channel between the project partners as well as the project consortium and the Commission (Project Officer). For this reason project meetings and conferences will be organized in order to monitor the project performance, to communicate results and define the necessary steps towards the project completion. This will help the partners to be aware of their responsibilities and tasks. In addition, regular communication and information flow with the Project Officer needs to be established.
  • Resource management and mobilization has to be maximized in order to optimize the project efficiency. The project may be slightly modified or re-focus if necessary taking into account project evolution and risks.
  • Reporting to Project Officer: Quarterly management reports, yearly review reports (APRR), cost claims, and a final report have to be prepared and submitted to the Project Officer.
  • Working towards delivering quality project results.

The project leader (Interoute s.r.l.) is responsible to organize the communication between partners and coordinate their efforts, optimizing the project efficiency. Also, the project leader will coordinate the information exchange to the Project Officer.

Deliverables

D1.1 – Project Reference Manual
Month: 03, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D1.2 – Project Quality Insurance Manual
Month: 06, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D1.3 – Knowledge Management Guide
Month: 06, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D1.4 – First year progress Report
Month: 12, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO
D1.5 – Second year progress Report
Month: 24, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO
D1.6 – Final progress Report
Month: 36, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO

WP2: Requirements and architecture design

WP2 will identify the main requirements of future Data Centres (DCs) Network. Once identified the requirements, this work package will design the proper architecture for the intra-DCs networks according to the previously identified requirements. Finally, WP2 will also provide performance evaluation of the proposed intra-DCs network architecture in order to demonstrate that the system matches its initial expectations, taking into account commercial and scientific applications.

Deliverables

D2.1 – Report describing the selected applications
Month: 03, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D2.2 – Design document for the proposed network architecture
Month: 09, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D2.3 – Simulation framework description and preliminary results
Month: 24, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D2.4 – Analysis of the application infrastructure management using the proposed DCN network architecture
Month: 34, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO
D2.5 – Report on simulation results and scalability studies of the proposed DCN network architecture
Month: 36, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO

WP3: Data Plane design, implementation and evaluation

WP3 aims at the realization and evaluation of the switches prototypes for the implementation of the data plane of the DCN. An OPS node with distributed electrical control comprising a large number of ports operating at data rate of 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s will be investigated. The OCS node and relative electrical control will be also in parallel designed and realized. The TOR switches operating at 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s that represent the edge node interfaces of the OPS-OCS interconnects network will be realized. Experimental assessment of the switched will be performed. Moreover, possible physical layer solution for interconnecting inter-data centre network (operator network) to intra-data centre network will be evaluated.

Deliverables

D3.1 – Design and early evaluation results of OPS, OCS and TOR switches
Month: 12, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D3.2 – Implementation results of OPS, OCS and TOR switches
Month: 18, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D3.3 – Evaluation of OPS, OCS and TOR switches’ prototypes including electronics control and interfaces
Month: 24, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU

WP4: Unified Control Plane for intra-Data Centre network

WP4 will design, implement and experimentally validate a unified network control plane to provision highly resilient network services in the hybrid Optical Packet-Circuit Switching for the LIGHTNESS intra-DC scenario, involving OPS, OCS and hybrid OPS/OCS TOR switches. WP4 will also design, prototype, and validate the control interfaces for provisioning of dynamic and on-demand connectivity services in the DCN as well as the control interface for monitor, provision and configure the OPS, OCS and hybrid TOR switches provided by WP3.

Deliverables

D4.1 – The LIGHTNESS network control plane architecture
Month: 09, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D4.2 – The LIGHTNESS network control plane protocol extensions
Month: 18, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D4.3 – The LIGHTNESS network control plane interfaces and procedures
Month: 18, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D4.4 – Preliminary LIGHTNESS network control plane prototypes
Month: 26, Nature: R, Dissemination level: RE
D4.5 – Final LIGHTNESS network control plane prototypes
Month: 30, Nature: R, Dissemination level: RE

WP5: Experimental validation

WP5 aims to integrate the data plane nodes developed in WP3 and unified control plane developed in WP4 and experimentally validate their overall performance. More specifically, this WP will focus on the integration of the data plane testbed that consists of the OPS switch, the OCS switch and the TOR switch to create a data plane testbed platform. This data plane is integrated with the control plane. The end-to-end optical data plane and intra-DC and inter-DC connectivity and service scenario evaluation with regards to delivering minimum possible ultra-low intra-DC latency and highly aggregated inter-DC capacity is performed. Finally, LIGHTNESS will evaluate the overall performance from data flow transport to service/connection establishment and DC application delivery and benchmarking.

Deliverables

D5.1 – Data plane systems integration
Month: 28, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D5.2 – Control and data plane integration
Month: 32, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D5.3 – Demonstration of DC applications over LIGHTNESS system and trials
Month: 36, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU

WP6: Dissemination, Standardization and Exploitation

WP6 will disseminate the technical achievements of LIGHTNESS in order to advertise the LIGHTNESS project concepts, to get feedback from the industrial and research community while promoting the LIGHTNESS research ideas to a global scale. WP6 will be also responsible to promote the LIGHTNESS achievements in relevant standardization bodies (IETF, OGF, etc.) and to establish liaisons with related international projects.

Deliverables

D6.1 – Project website
Month: 01, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D6.2 – Dissemination, standardization and exploitation plan
Month: 03, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D6.3 – First year report on dissemination, standardization and exploitation activities
Month: 12, Nature: R, Dissemination level: PU
D6.4 – Mid-term report on dissemination, standardization and exploitation activities
Month: 24, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO
D6.5 – Final report on dissemination, standardization and exploitation activities
Month: 36, Nature: R, Dissemination level: CO