CI-EN: Revitalizing Emulab for Modern Networking and Systems Research

CI-EN：为现代网络和系统研究重振 Emulab

• 批准号: 1513121
• 负责人: Eric Eide
• 金额: $ 219.95万
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-07-01 至 2020-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1513121&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CI; EN; Revitalizing; Emulab; Modern

This project upgrades the Emulab facility at the University of Utah, which is used by thousands of computer science researchers, educators, and students across the country. Emulab is a scientific instrument for conducting controlled, medium-scale experiments with emulated networks. It is especially appropriate for experiments that require a controlled environment, where network links can be emulated, and where human (or other external) involvement in the experiment is not required. In operation since 2000, it is a central resource in the networking and systems research communities. Hundreds of research papers and dozens of classes have been based on experiments conducted within the Emulab facilities and demand has remained high. While the fundamentals of Emulab are strong, and it is widely used, some of its aspects are showing their age and need to be updated to support cutting edge research going forward. For example, on the hardware side, approximately one-third of the PCs in the testbed are more than 14 years old: these out-of-date PCs are no longer useful for scientific experiments, while user demand for Emulab's more modern PCs exceeds their availability.This project supports the revitalization and ongoing operation of the Emulab testbed. Hardware-related activities include replacing 168 of the oldest nodes with 160 modern multi-core, large memory nodes, and replacing Emulab's obsolete firewall with one capable of supporting current high-performance networks. Software improvements include expanded support for virtualization technologies and modernizing Emulab's web and scripting interfaces to improve ease of use. Operations activities include ensuring 24/7 Internet-based availability of the testbed and assisting users and other sites that run Emulab software.The revitalized Emulab testbed will support cutting-edge research and educational activities, and it will enable thousands of researchers, educators, and students to perform realistic and relevant experiments that would otherwise be impossible. This effect will be magnified by the dozens of other testbed sites that run Emulab software.

该项目升级了犹他州大学的Emulab设施，该设施被全国数千名计算机科学研究人员、教育工作者和学生使用。Emulab是一种科学仪器，用于使用仿真网络进行受控的中等规模实验。它特别适用于需要受控环境的实验，其中可以模拟网络链接，并且不需要人工（或其他外部）参与实验。自2000年开始运行以来，它是网络和系统研究社区的中心资源。数百篇研究论文和数十门课程都是基于Emulab设施内进行的实验，需求仍然很高。虽然Emulab的基本面很强，并且被广泛使用，但它的一些方面正在显示其年龄，需要更新以支持前沿研究的发展。例如，在硬件方面，实验台中约有三分之一的PC使用时间超过14年：这些过时的PC不再适用于科学实验，而用户对Emulab更现代化的PC的需求超过了它们的可用性。该项目支持Emulab实验台的复兴和持续运营。与硬件相关的活动包括用160个现代化的多核大内存节点替换168个最旧的节点，以及用能够支持当前高性能网络的防火墙替换Emulab过时的防火墙。软件改进包括扩展对虚拟化技术的支持，以及对Emulab的Web和脚本界面进行现代化改造，以提高易用性。运营活动包括确保测试平台的全天候互联网可用性，并为运行Emulab软件的用户和其他网站提供帮助。重新焕发活力的Emulab测试平台将支持尖端的研究和教育活动，它将使数千名研究人员、教育工作者和学生能够进行现实和相关的实验，否则这些实验是不可能的。这种影响将被其他几十个运行Emulab软件的测试平台放大。