[tt-tf] TTM service 2007-2009

Hi all,

Please see below.  For discussion,

Henk

- - - -

Draft proposal for the TTM service 2007-2009.

Services on the boxes:
Starting with the current set of boxes and services:
    * Delay/Loss/Jitter/Traceroute:
At RIPE52, there was clear interest in the data. 
We propose to continue these measurements. The 
software on the TBs exists as well as the code to 
analyze it. We do want to make a couple of adjustments
    * OWAMP will be added as a method to do 
measurements on demand, either between TB’s or 
outside the TTM network (subject to access restrictions).
    * Data will be collected at a central point 
and initial processing will still be done. 
However, we will reduce the number of plots and 
lists produced by default on a daily basis to 
something like: daily plots, daily overviews, 
weekly overviews. All other plots will only be 
generated on demand. This will result in a bit of 
lag when one asks for a plot. On the other hand, 
producing a large number of plots that nobody 
ever looks at is not a good idea either.
    * Network alarms will be revisited, is anybody ever looking at them?
    * Data will continue to be visible on the TB itself.
    * We will set up a DQM mechanism, with a 
daily routine to look at the data and see if the 
plots make sense (rather than what we do today: are they being filled).
    * DNSMON
        * DNSMON is a valuable service and we 
will keep it. Features to be added could include:
            * IPv6
            * Trends/Alarms
See below.
    * New: Protocol beacons
        * The boxes will start to run protocol 
beacons, i.e. something that sends out packets 
for a service on a regular basis, allowing people to monitor their systems.
        * An example is the multicast work. 
Another example are the debogon prefixes on the RIS.
    * New: Network experiments.
        * We will set up “shell accounts” that 
will allow interested parties to do one-off 
network experiments. (Proposal, measurement, analysis, publication).
        * The TB will just offer the framework 
for the experiment and a little operator support, 
whoever proposes the experiment will be responsible for doing the work.
        * Similar models have been proposed 
(VINI, PlanetLab, 
), we will see what we can 
copy and where we can collaborate.
        * This is intended as a community 
services for R&D that requires access to real hosts in the real Internet.
        * Example from the past: Kroot anycast measurements.
    * New: CBM reference point/server: the boxes 
will be set up such that interested ISPs can use 
them for this purpose. The box will offer the 
configuration site, plus a target for the 
measurements. The NCC will look into aggregation 
of data, from reports for one user, to a report for one ISP.

Ownership of the boxes:
    * For both TTM and DNSMON, it is essential 
that there are a large number of active TTM boxes at interesting locations.
    * For this reason, the NCC proposes to 
install a number of boxes at important locations 
for free.  The NCC pays for the hardware and 
service contract, the local site only for 
power/connectivity/operations (making it 
essentially free).  Rough criteria for hosting a box:
        * Major AS
        * Only one box per AS, if a site wants more, they have to pay
        * Commitment from the site to operate the box for a 3 year period.
Selection will be a “beauty contest”.
    * Other sites can still order boxes as 
before, the same goes for AS who want to install more than one box.

Hardware:
Outdated hardware, hardware without a current 
contact person, etc, is an ongoing concern for 
our operations people. We suggest the following changes:
    * We start writing off the hardware, say 3 or 
4 years (perhaps longer for the clocks). After 
this period, a box will be automatically switched 
off unless a site buys new hardware.
    * Current hardware older than 3 years will be phased-out and/or replaced.
    * We will allow people to build their own 
box, subject to the restriction that our software 
will run on it without modifications. This means 
that FreeBSD should run on the box without modifications.
    * We will start to support GPS-free boxes 
(TSC clock) once that technology is mature. A 
nearby Stratum-1 NTP server may be required.

Administrative:
Our finance department faces a lot of problems 
collecting the service fee. It is often not clear 
to people that the SF is an integral part of the 
service. Also collecting money from hosts where 
the contact people have disappeared. We suggest:
    * The current service contracts will be 
revisited and replaced (taking into account the 
text of the current contract) by a new contract.
    * In the new system, there will be one contract to cover:
        * Hardware
        * Service fee for a 3 year period
        * Shipping, import/export duties, 

The host has to pay the entire sum at once, in 
advance. After that, there will be no “hidden fees”.
    * HW support for the boxes will cover the 
lifetime of the boxes. In other words, one knows 
in advance that the service will be there for 3 years.
    * The service for sites who have not paid for 
several years and who we don’t consider interesting will be stopped.
    * Sites will be asked to provide current 
contact information and to regularly check this.

Lifetime of this proposal:
This is a 3-year plan, 2007-2009, to be evaluated afterwards.

Operational (for the NCC):
    * The number of operational problems will be 
reduced, as the H/W will be newer as well as more uniform.
    * Contacts for the boxes should be well known again.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henk Uijterwaal                           Email: henk.uijterwaal(at)ripe.net
RIPE Network Coordination Centre          http://www.amsterdamned.org/~henk
P.O.Box 10096          Singel 258         Phone: +31.20.5354414
1001 EB Amsterdam      1016 AB Amsterdam  Fax: +31.20.5354445
The Netherlands        The Netherlands    Mobile: +31.6.55861746
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1160438400 + 381600 = 1160820000.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henk Uijterwaal                           Email: henk.uijterwaal(at)ripe.net
RIPE Network Coordination Centre          http://www.amsterdamned.org/~henk
P.O.Box 10096          Singel 258         Phone: +31.20.5354414
1001 EB Amsterdam      1016 AB Amsterdam  Fax: +31.20.5354445
The Netherlands        The Netherlands    Mobile: +31.6.55861746
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1160438400 + 381600 = 1160820000.