Last week, SURF hosted GÉANT and the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) in Utrecht for the first Workflow Orchestrator partner meeting. We discussed the future of our open-source collaboration and how we can enhance interoperability between our networks.
You can find more information about our collaboration on the Workflow Orchestrator programme website.
Join us at AutoCon1 and TNC24 to learn more about our vision for network automation and orchestration!
As part of the GÉANT workshop on Time and Frequency Transfer, SURF visited CERN in Geneva, home to the LHC particle accelerator. During the visit, there was a unique opportunity to explore the ELENA experiment, where researchers focus on decelerating created antimatter.
In addition, SURF is currently rolling out the SURFtime&frequency pilot service. This Dutch TFT network, based on the White Rabbit protocol, will support scientific use cases from institutions such as Delft University of Technology, Nikhef (the National Institute for Subatomic Physics), the European Space Agency (ESA), ASTRON, and many others.
SURF facilitates the high-bandwidth connections between Amsterdam and Geneva. With the advent of the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider at CERN, traffic is expected to increase fivefold in the coming years. This upgrade will enable more precise measurements, allowing for more detailed research into the origins of the universe. As a result, the amount of research data is projected to grow by five to seven and a half times compared to current levels. All this data must be distributed via various networks, including SURF’s network, to universities and research groups in the Netherlands and worldwide.
To successfully handle this massive data volume, SURF is working with partners on the optical network. For the upcoming test, they are collaborating with supplier Nokia. Nokia has developed a new generation of network cards that allow for higher transmission rates between Amsterdam and Geneva. The test is scheduled for early next year, but preparations are already in full swing:
