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

该项目升级了犹他大学的Emulab设施，全国数千名计算机科学研究人员、教育工作者和学生使用该设施。Emulab是一种科学仪器，用于通过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年开始运作以来，它是网络和系统研究界的中心资源。数百篇研究论文和数十个课程都是基于在Emulab设施内进行的实验，需求仍然很高。虽然Emulab的基础很强大，而且得到了广泛的使用，但它的一些方面正在显示出它们的年龄，需要更新以支持未来的尖端研究。例如，在硬件方面，试验台中约有三分之一的PC使用年限超过14年：这些过时的PC不再用于科学实验，而用户对Emulab更现代的PC的需求超过了它们的可获得性。该项目支持Emulab试验台的振兴和持续运营。与硬件相关的活动包括用160个现代多核、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。软件方面的改进包括扩大了对虚拟化技术的支持，并对Emulab的Web和脚本界面进行了现代化改造，以提高易用性。运营活动包括确保试验床全天候基于互联网的可用性，并帮助用户和其他运行Emulab软件的站点。重新启用的Emulab试验床将支持尖端研究和教育活动，它将使数千名研究人员、教育工作者和学生能够进行原本不可能进行的现实和相关的实验。这一影响将被运行Emulab软件的数十个其他试验床网站放大。

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For example, on the hardware side, approximately one-third of the PCs in the testbed are more than 14 years old: these out-of-date PCs are no longer useful for scientific experiments, while user demand for Emulab's more modern PCs exceeds their availability.This project supports the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.