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Performance
Network-intensive applications are increasingly being used on Merit's Member networks and across
Merit's network, Internet2, and the commodity Internet. Many of these applications, such as videoconferencing and
remote instrument manipulation, require sustained low-latency and high-bandwidth connections. As the Internet2 GigaPoP for
Michigan, Merit's network must be able to support these requirements and provide very high speed data connectivity to
Abilene, Internet2's cross-country backbone network.
In order to provide reliable connectivity for these applications, Merit analyzes performance on each of the relevant network
segments, including:
- Local campus networks at each endpoint
- Merit's backbone network
- Internet2
- Commodity Internet
Merit is actively working with the Internet2 End-to-End Performance Initiative (E2EPI) working group to assure high-speed
connectivity on the Merit network, and to make tools and best practices available to our Members.
MeasurementMerit is developing a network measurement infrastructure of servers and testing tools that can not only provide
a regular health report on Merit's backbone, but also allow ad hoc measurements from end-user locations to
known points on the backbone.
Measurement servers will be deployed at Merit's ingress/egress locations to the commodity Internet and to
Internet2—currently, three measurement servers are being deployed to Chicago, Wayne State University, and at
Merit's data center in Ann Arbor. Network engineers will be able to run performance tests between these boxes
and with other measurement nodes located on Abilene backbone to help monitor end-to-end performance. End users
will also be able to test their connection to Merit's backbone, which will help to diagnose some of the
difficult "last-mile" performance issues.
Merit Network's Measurement InfrastructureMerit is currently deploying a number of measurement nodes across its backbone network. Tools such as iperf and owamp are
being used for ad hoc and periodic measurements of Merit's network segments.
Each measurement server is running the NTAP code from CITI for Authentication and Authorization, the NDT last
mile measurement tool from Internet2 and bwctl from Internet2.
Merit's measurement infrastructure is being developed in close cooperation with
Internet2. In addition,
the Networking R&D group is actively working with Merit Network engineers on a case-by-case basis to use
Class of Service policies that will elevate videoconferencing streams in the face of congested
links to Merit's network.
Merit engineers are available to assist Members with planning, testing and troubleshooting for applications
requiring high
end-to-end performance. This can be particularly useful when applications involve multiple sites across two or more
network
providers.
Contact your support team for more information.
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Need more information?
Contact a Merit Network Connectivity Specialist at
or 734-527-5700.
If you're a current Merit Member,
please contact your
Member Services Support Team.
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