Monitoring advanced network health status

Multi-Domain PMI System showing End-to-End Measurement Path.

Prasad Calyam, Ph.D., a senior systems developer and engineer for the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) and Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet), is devising methods to improve the performance of next-generation computer networks.

“The next generation of networks will be crucial for transmitting the huge amounts of research data generated for and processed by sophisticated applications, for projects such as the Large Hadron Collider, on high performance computers at universities, Department of Energy labs and businesses,” said Calyam. “In this project, we are developing novel research methods to measure and analyze network health status. The research findings are being incorporated to extend the ‘ActiveMon’ network health monitoring software that was created earlier at OSC/OARnet."

In another project, Calyam and Paul Schopis, director of networking for OARnet, are creating new techniques to measure data traffic on futuristic, global networks, especially for the National Science Foundation’s Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) project. GENI will allow researchers throughout the country to build and experiment with completely new and different designs and capabilities that will provide the basis for the creation of a 21st century Internet.

“This project will require the integration of software for centralized and distributed orchestration of active data traffic measurements into the on-going efforts of prototype implementation and deployment of the GENI facility,” said Calyam.