ESLEA - Exploitation of Switched Lightpaths for eScience Applications

ESLEA is a two-year project, running from 1^st February 2005, which aims demonstrate the potential of circuit-switched optical networks (lightpaths) to the UK e-Science community. The project is funded by EPSRC (Grant No. GR/TO4465/01), PPARC and MRC and involves the scientific and technical expertise of CCLRC, National e-Science Centre and the universities of Edinburgh, Lancaster, Manchester, Oxford and University College London.

The UKLight circuit-switched network provides ESLEA with the infrastructure to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of using switched lightpath technologies for e-Science applications. UkLight is an optical R&D network, managed through UKERNA as a complement to the SuperJanet4 production network. It comprises a 10Gbit/s backbone to selected points in the UK and connects to global optical networks via 10Gbit/s links to Chicago (via StarLight) and Amsterdam (NetherLight). Multiplexing technology, based on time slots, allows multiple logical circuits for concurrent running of projects; generally, 1Gbit/s streams are being used by ESLEA.

UKLight enables high-demand applications to deliver massive data sets on a global scale and prove bandwidth-intensive remote visualisation techniques. In addition, it allows ESLEA’s network system researchers to develop both the control models and protocols needed to build scalable switched optical networks without risk of disrupting the production IP service.