Advancing our strategy and shaping our position on the board.
Some thoughts from Inder on the year-that-was.

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Dear Friends, Well-wishers, Colleagues, and all of ESnet,

Chess! 2020 has been much more challenging than this game. It’s also been a year where we communicated through the squares on our zoom screens, filled with faces of our colleagues, collaborators, and loved ones.

In January, Research and Education leaders came together in Hawaii at the Pacific Telecommunications Council meeting to discuss the future of networking across the oceans. It was impossible to imagine then that we would not be able to see each other again for such a long time. Though thanks to those underwater cables, we have been able to communicate seamlessly across the globe.

Looking back at 2020, we not only established a solid midgame position on our ESnet chessboard, but succeeded in ‘winning positions’ despite the profound challenges. The ESnet team successfully moved our network operations to be fully remote (and 24/7) and accomplished several strategic priorities. 

ESnet played some really interesting gambits this year: 

1. Tackled COVID-related network growth and teleworking issues for the DOE complex
   • We saw a 4x spike in remote traffic and worked closely across several Labs to upgrade their connectivity. We continue to address the ever-growing demand in a timely manner. 
     
     
   • As we all shifted to telework from home, ESnet engineers developed an impromptu guide that was valuable to troubleshoot our home connectivity issues. 
2. Progressed greatly on implementing our next-generation network, ESnet6
   • We deployed and transitioned to the ESnet6 optical backbone network, with 300 new site installations, 100’s of 100G waves provisioned, with just six months of effort, and while following pandemic safety constraints. I am grateful to our partners Infinera (Carahsoft) and Lumen for working with our engineers to make this happen. Check out below how we decommissioned the ESnet5 optical network and lit up the ESnet6 network.
   • Installed a brand new management network and security infrastructure upgrades along with significant performance improvements.
   • We awarded the new ESnet6 router RFP (Congratulations Nokia and IMPRES!); the installs start soon.
   • Issued another RFP for optical transponders, and will announce the winner shortly.
     
3. Took initiative on several science collaborations to address current and future networking needs
   • We brainstormed new approaches with the Rubin Observatory project team, Amlight, DOE and NSF program managers to meet the performance and security goals for traffic originating in Chile. We moved across several countries in South America before reaching the continental U.S. in Florida (Amlight), and eventually the U.S. Data Facility at SLAC via ESnet.
   • Drew insights through deep engagement of ESnet engineers with the High Energy Physics program physicists, for serving the data needs of their current and planned experiments expediently.
     Due to the pandemic, a two-day immersive in-person meeting turned into a multi-week series of Zoom meetings, breakouts, and discussions.
   • When an instrument produces tons of data, how do you build the data pipeline reliably? ESnet engineers took on this challenge, and worked closely with the GRETA team to define and develop the networking architecture and data movement design for this instrument. This contributed to a successful CD 2/3 review of the project—a challenging enough milestone during normal times, and particularly tough when done remotely. 
   • Exciting opening positions were created with EMSL, FRIB, DUNE/SURF, LCLS-II…these games are still in progress, more will be shared soon. 
     
4. Innovated to build a strong technology portfolio with a series of inspired moves
   • AI/ML
     • We demonstrated Netpredict, a tool using deep learning models and real-time traffic statistics to predict when and where the network will be congested. Mariam’s web page showcases some of the other exciting investigations in progress. 
     • Richard and his collaborators published Real-time flow classification by applying AI/ML to detailed network telemetry.
   • High-touch ESnet6 project
     • Ever dream of having the ability to look at every packet, a “packetscope”, at your fingertips? An ability to create new ways to troubleshoot, performance engineer, and gain application insights? We demonstrated a working prototype of that vision at the SC20 XNET workshop. 
   • SENSE
     • We deployed a beta version of software that provides science applications the ability to orchestrate large data flows across administrative domains securely. What started as a small research project five years ago (Thanks ASCR!) is now part of the AutoGOLE project initiative in addition to being used for Exascale Computing Project (ECP) project, ExaFEL.
   • TCP
     • Initiated the Q-Factor project this year, a research collaboration with Amlight, funded by NSF. The project will enable ultra-high-speed data transfer optimization by TCP parameter tuning through the use of programmable dataplane telemetry: https://q-factor.io/
     • We testbed thoroughly the interactions between TCP congestion control algorithms, BBRv2 and CUBIC. A detailed conversation with Google, the authors of the BBRv2 implementation, is in progress.
       
5. Initiated strategic new games, with a high potential for impact
   • FABRIC/FAB
     • Executed on the vision and design of a nationwide @scale research testbed working alongside a superstar multi-university team.
     • With the new FAB grant, FABRIC went international with plans to put nodes in Bristol, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Geneva. More locations and partners are possibilities for the future.  
   • Edge Computing
     • Created an prototype FPGA-based edge-computing platform for data-intensive science instruments in collaboration with the Computational Research Division and Xilinx. Look for exciting news on the blog as we complete the prototype deployment of this platform.
   • Quantum
     • We helped organize the Quantum Networking Blueprint workshop in February this year, articulating priority research areas needed to capture the Quantum Repeater grand challenge. 
   • 5G
     • What are the benefits of widespread deployment of 5G technology on science research? We contributed to the development of this important vision at a DOE workshop. New and exciting pilots are emerging that will change the game on how science is conducted. Stay tuned. 

Growth certainly has its challenges. But, as we grew, we evolved from our old game into an adept new playing style. I am thankful for the trust that all of you placed in ESnet leadership, vital for our numerous, parallel successes. Our 2020 reminds me of the scene in Queen’s Gambit where the young Beth Harmon played all the members of a high-school chess team at the same time. 

Several achievements could not make it to this blog, but are important pieces on the ESnet chess board. They required immense support from all parts of ESnet, CS Area staff, Lab procurement, Finance, HR, IT, Facilities, and Communications partners.

I am especially grateful to the DOE Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research leadership, NSF, and our program manager Ben Brown, whose unwavering support has enabled us to adapt and execute swiftly despite blockades. 

All this has only been possible due to the creativity, resolve, and resilience of ESnet staff — I am truly proud of each one of you. I am appreciative of the new hires that trusted their careers with us and joined us remotely—without shaking hands or even stepping foot at the lab.

My wish is for all to stay safe this holiday season, celebrate your successes, and enjoy that extra time with your immediate family. In 2021, I look forward to killer moves on the ESnet chessboard, while humanity checkmates the virus. 

Signing off for the year, 

Inder Monga