SURF.net news

Tag: SURF-netwerk

  • SURFnet Infinity: first production traffic

    SURF is building the next generation of the SURF network: SURFnet Infinity. The first production traffic was routed over SURFnet Infinity on August 7. The first metro nodes have been installed in Breda, and the initial access rings have been migrated from SURFnet8 to SURFnet Infinity—the latest generation of the SURF network. Our colleague Max Mudde previously wrote an article about this. We shared an initial update in early June, which you can read here.

    Work continued steadily throughout the summer, so time for a new update from the project team.

    The core is in place

    The core network was accepted on August 5. This followed a month of “soaking tests” involving continuous test traffic and simulated outages on the new core, as well as a reconfiguration of the network around Utrecht to provide extra redundancy for fiber-optic routes. The core and peering routers (HPE PTX10008) are now operational at the four core locations and two peering locations, interconnected by 400G links.

    First metro location live

    On August 6, the metro nodes were installed at Avans University of Applied Sciences in Breda. A day later, around 10:30 AM, the first access rings switched over to SURFnet Infinity. On-site access connections will follow in September.

    What’s next

    •          Migration of internet exchanges and direct peers to the new peering routers is 50% complete; finalization is scheduled for the end of August.

    •          The remaining metro locations will follow—a total of 55 locations across the Netherlands.

    •          In the autumn, we will bring the SURFnet Infinity route reflectors online and phase out the SURFnet8 ones.

    •          Next up is the migration of NetherLight, our international exchange point.

    Want to know more?

    See this video! Or read SURFnet Infinity: approach and first steps to learn how the migration is structured. Technical blogs detailing the setup of the new network will follow in the coming months.

  • SURFnet Infinity: approach and first steps

    SURF is building the new generation of the SURF network: SURFnet Infinity. The successor to SURFnet8. Previous generations, from SURFnet1 through SURFnet8, were heavily defined by the choice of a single network vendor. With SURFnet Infinity, SURF is opting for a vendor-independent architecture based on open standards, so that the network can continue to evolve without restriction: hence the name Infinity, and not SURFnet9.

    Technical Product Manager Max Mudde previously wrote this article about it.

    In this article, you can read how the migration project was set up, what is happening now, and what steps will follow.

    What we already did

    Last year, we made two important decisions regarding the configuration of this new network. HPE was selected for the backbone and border domains, and Salumanus for the optical transceivers. Construction is now beginning: the core, IP peering, and metro sites. The optical layer and access sites will follow at a later stage.

    What is happening now

    Through July 2026: construction of new core

    The core of the new network is being built at four new core locations: Delft, Eindhoven, Amsterdam, and Zwolle. During the same period, we are implementing redundancy on the fiber optic routes between these locations, ensuring that every core location is fully redundantly connected to the other three.

    This construction is proceeding entirely parallel to the existing SURFnet8. There is no impact on current services.

    From July 2026: IP peering migration

    Starting in July, we will transfer IP peering—SURF’s external internet connectivity—to the new network. To do this, we will install new peering routers that will be redundantly connected to both SURFnet8 and the new network. Subsequently, we will migrate the peering functionality in phases from the current SURFnet8 routers to the new routers.

    From September 2026: metro locations migration

    Starting in September, we will migrate the metro locations step by step. At each location, we will install two new routers: one router that will be redundantly connected to two core locations and to which the access rings will be linked, and one router to which existing access ports will be migrated.

    Impact on members

    The development of the new core has no impact on service delivery.

    The migration of the metro locations requires slightly more effort: during the work, access rings and access ports will be temporarily interrupted and subsequently connected to the new hardware. As a result, institutions will temporarily have less redundancy, while service delivery remains available.

    The result is a connection to a network with higher capacity, better fault isolation, and more flexibility for future upgrades.

    Each member will receive its own ticket prior to the work, containing an explanation of the schedule and the expected impact.

    More information and updates

    All project information regarding SURFnet Infinity can be found on the project page on the wiki. More project updates and a number of technical blogs regarding the setup of the new network will follow in the coming months.