Topology WG: Domestic US Peering

Internet2's members rely, not only on excellent networking among members, but also on excellent networking between Internet2 universities and select federal research laboratories. To help satisfy these needs, the working group contributes in several specific ways:

• Internet2 participates in the Joint Engineering Team (JET). While the JET is a creature of the federal Large Scale Networking effort, Internet2 has been invited to participate in it since spring 1997 and, since summer 2000, has contributed to JET chairing activities. The Topology WG chair contributes to this participation.
• One specific JET project is the creation and nurturing of NGIXes (for Next Generation Internet eXchanges). There are currently three, located at NASA Ames, at the Chicago StarTap ATM switch, and at the University of Maryland. The Topology WG considers how to work with the JET to evolve these NGIXes to ensure robust, low-latency interconnection between the Internet2 infrastructure and the federal networks that participate in the JET.
• The Topology WG will also serve to identify the needs of Internet2 members for access to specific resources best reached by interconnection to federal networks. Examples might include agency-related laboratories or observatories. Based on these needs and on knowledge within the Topology WG of the interconnectivity of advanced domestic networks, effective ways to satisfy these needs will be identified.

Both Internet2 staff and other WG members can contribute to these.