Taming lambda's for applications: the OptIPuter system software

Summary form only given. Dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM), dark fiber, and low-cost optical switches provide the technological capability for private, high bandwidth communication. However, achieving any substantial application benefit from use of these resources is dauntingly complex and error prone. These emerging environments are often called lambda grids. We are developing a simple abstraction called a distributed virtual computer (DVC), which provides convenient application use of dynamic optical resources. DVC descriptions naturally express communication and computation resource requirements, enabling coordinated resource binding. In addition, their shared namespace provides a natural vehicle for incorporating a range of novel capabilities, including novel transport protocols which expose and exploit the capabilities DWDM environment, including efficient multi-point to point (GTP), optical multicast, real-time communication, and fast point to point transports. DVC's also provide a convenient model for integrating a wide array of network-attached instruments and storage. We describe initial experience with DVC's and how they provide an integrating architecture for lambda grids. The OptlPuter project is a large multi-institutional project led by Larry Smarr at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Tom DeFanti at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Other software efforts include optical signaling software, visualization, distributed configuration management, and two driving applications involving petabytes of data (in conjunction with the Biomedical Informatics Research Network and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography). The project also includes construction of a high-speed OptlPuter testbed spanning UCSD and UIC.