Enabling Innovation for Arab Academe Through Advanced e-Infrastructures

Yousef Torman, Co-Managing Director, ASREN, torman@asrenorg.net

Congratulations to my daughter

Sundus Torman

Achieved 95.7% in the national secondary school exams (Tawjihi).

The highest score in her school

Special thanks to my wife, Fatima

What are Research & Education Networks?

– Research and education networks are dedicated networks connecting the Universities, Schools, Research Centers, Hospitals, Museums and any other institution that may have research and education activities.

– National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) are established to provide connectivity and communications services for the research and education communities at the national level

– Regional Research and Education Networks (RRENs) are connecting the NRENs to provide connectivity and services to researchers and educators across the boarders.

• Technological: Satisfy high demand eScience initiatives, Multimedia Collaboration, Distributed High Performance Computing (HPC, GRIDs) for Earth Sciences, High Energy Physics (CERN, LHC…), Bioinformatics, Computational Chemistry, Radio-astronomy, Engineering Planning (computations, emulations & simulations), Cultural (archiving, collaborative digital access & processing) …

• Social: Common culture of R&E community, Virtual Organizations VOs, collaborative research, tele-education, Smoothing the Digital Divides, affordable high bandwidth linkage to the Global R&E community

• Economic: Demand aggregators: University & school staff, students, researchers. Consolidation & control of diverse public expenditures. Promotion of Information Society (e-Government, e-Business, e-Health). Stimulation of technological & telecom markets Competitiveness

Main Drivers for Research Networks

Major Objectives for R & E Networks

– Provide scientific research and education institutions with reliable means of communication in order to facilitate ease of cooperation and coordination

– Strengthen the notion of partnership and encourage joint scientific research among communities.

– Minimize cost of research by using diversified academic and technical resources to be made available for use on the network with no need for duplicating investment.

– The fact that students, teaching staff, and researchers use such dedicated networks would eventually uplift efficiency and productivity and would boost the concept of creativity and innovation.

NRENs: Major Services

– Unified connectivity to all research and education institutions to provide country-wide standard communication facilities and capabilities to faculty, researchers, students, and staff, leading to better sharing of resources, information, data, knowledge and expertise.

– Consolidated Internet services, with the NREN acting as an ISP to universities and research institutions. Available statistics in some countries have shown that savings can go up to 40% on access costs, while enabling common access policies and configurations at the national level.

– Connectivity to regional research networks, providing opportunities for joint research collaboration and online education initiatives.

– Access to content, common repositories, and library resources of all universities with a unified subscription to all journals and periodicals for all Universities and research centers.

NRENs: Major Services (continued)

– Video conferencing services, media streaming, IP telephony, access

federations, and wireless roaming for the purpose of facilitating communications, exchanges of lectures, and coordination of meetings, training and conferences between all users in universities and institutes.

– Consolidated agreements with software vendors on behalf of all Universities

for licensing, with savings reaching up to 50% in some cases. – Common caching, filtering and anti-spam and anti-virus protection services

provided by NRENs to all connected institutions. – Furthermore, an NREN can be eligible to create and manage a national Internet

Exchange depending on the regulations of the Country, and provide domain name registry services and networking consultancy.

The Jordanian Universities Network (JUNet)

Starting April 1st 2012, I no longer represent the

Jordanian Universities Network (JUNet) as Executive

Director and the information presented here is

based on my experience with JUNet and does not

necessarily represent the current state of JUNet.

• JUNet was implemented by MoICT of Jordan under the Connecting Jordanians Initiative (CJI) as part of the National Broad Band Network –NBN- Program in 2003.

• The network is built using Dark Optical Fiber leased on IRU basis from the National Electric Company. The last mile is owned by JUNet.

• 11 Public Universities with 20 sites are connected to the network at 1 Gbps. No private University is connected yet.

• 16 Public Community Colleges are connected using leased circuits at lower speeds.

JUNet - Background

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JUNET CE

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INTERNET

AS 35656

JUNet 10/1GigabitFiber link

Backup Link

JUNET

PE

CE

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JUNet POP

ProviderCollocation site

ProviderRouter

ProviderRouter

Fiber 10/1Gigabit link

YARMOUKUniversity

University ofJordan

10G

10G

Giga Eth

Provider 10Gigabit Fiber

Link

10/1 GigabitUTP Cable

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Provider Router

JUNet Router

University Router

10G

10G

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STM1

Community Colleges Routers

1G

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1G

WISE

Provider Links

• Consolidation of Internet service

• License Consolidation through signing one agreement with software and services providers on behalf of all Universities

• Integrated Library Management system to serve all libraries in all Universities through one center and one unified system: the

• Consolidated Access to Journals and Periodicals by having one subscription for all Universities

• Video Conferencing Network and services

• Connection to the Pan European Network GEANT under the EUMEDCONNECT Project

• Unified email service for all Universities’ students

JUNet – Services

NRENs Status Around the world, 2011

TERENA Compendium 2011

Global Regional R&E Networks

At the regional level

There is no regional R&E network connecting the Arab NRENs

SD

EUMEDCONNECT Programme

EUMEDCONNECT Research and Education network project 2004 -2015 (3 phases), 14M Euro of EC funding

The only regional Research and Educational Network in the Arab Region National Research and Education Networks in Algeria (ARN), Egypt (EUN), Tunisia (CCK), Jordan (JUNET), Morocco (MARWAN), Palestine (PALNET) and Syria (HIAST) were connected to its European counterpart GÉANT

More 2 million users in around 700 institutions

Exchange Programme to advance e-Infrastructure Know-How

Coordination and Harmonization of Advanced e-INfrastructures

Linking Scientific Computing in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean

The EUMEDGRID Support Project

Other Supporting Projects

Regional Efforts, historical background

• PAN Arab Network, 2005

• Rome Declaration, 2006

• NAP, 2007

• CAMREN 2008

• ASREN 2011

ASREN Official Launch

• Launched in the League of Arab States in Cairo under the Patronage of HE Amre Moussa, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States (Honorary Chairman of ASREN)

• Chaired by HE Talal Abu Ghazaleh

• ASREN was officially Registered in June 2011 in Dusseldorf as a non for profit organization

• A legal non for profit organization with Arab NRENs as shareholders for promoting world-class Pan-Arab e-Infrastructures and E-services for the R&E communities to boost Scientific Research and regional Cooperation

• Vision Statement: Pan-Arab collaborative research and education projects and activities, contribute to boost the scientific research, innovation and education levels in the Arab countries by uplifting efficiency and productivity of research and education communities.

• Mission statement: To implement, manage and extend sustainable Pan-Arab e-Infrastructures dedicated for the Research and Education communities and to boost scientific research and cooperation in member countries through the provision of world-class e-Infrastructures and E-services.

ObjectivesTo build,

maintain and consolidate regional e-

Infrastructures dedicated to e-

Science and education

across the Arab Countries

To facilitate the

collaboration and

cooperation among the researchers

and academicians in the Arab

region

To contribute to create

and sustain National Research

and Education Networks (NRENS)

Regional network that Interconnects the NRENs of the Arab Countries Harmonization of policies and standardsAdvocating at the regional level amongst decision makers and stakeholders

Knowledge resources, exchangesArabic contentsUsage of e-Infrastructures and servicesRegional partnerships joint research

Supporting NRENs to implementing technological solutionsExchange of expertise and best practices

ASREN’s Region is Evolving

NRENs Status Around the World - 2014

Source: TERENA Compendium 2014

Existing Arab NRENs

Morocco CNRST-MARWAN

Algeria CERIST - ARN

Tunisia CCK

Egypt EUN

Sudan SudREN

Somalia SomaliREN

Jordan JUNet

Palestine PalREN

UAE Ankabut

Starting (Planned) NRENs

Lebanon CNRS

Oman TRC-OMREN

Bahrain University of Bahrain

Qatar QREN

Syria SHERN, HIAST ??

Iraq MOHE

KSA KACST - ISU

Libya MOHE

Yemen YCIT-HE

No NREN, No InformationKuwait KITS and Kuwait University

Mauritania

Djibouti

Comoros

Schools Networks

Jordan

Egypt

UAE

NREN Status – Arab World - 2014

Shareholders Progress

Shareholders Update http://www.asrenorg.net/about/shareholders.html

Current Shareholders

In the Process

QatarLebanon

OmanBahrainYemenLibya

Expression of Interest

AGE -OX

AGE -MAGRIB

AGE -OLP

AGE -OP

Global R&E

Network

Internet2 &RED-CLARA

APAN & TEIN

WACREN &UBUNTUNET

GEANT

ASREN Network

AGE-OX

− Cisco ASR 1002x's with full redundancy, donated by Internet Society in cooperation with Cisco

− Operations by DANTE and ASREN

− 1 Gbps cross connect to Open GEANT, linking to GEANT, Internet2, RedClara, Ubuntunet, etc.

− − STM1 Connection to Jordan is available.

AGE - OP− Arabian Global Educational Open PoP

− Installed and operational at London Telicity in cooperation with GEANT

− Operational & ready to interconnect

Supporting NREN creation & developments

Progress with:» Lebanon» Iraq» Bahrain

Discussions with:» Libya» Qatar» Yemen» KSA

Forward:» Kuwait» Djibouti» Comoros» Mauritania

Newsletters

• Several newsletters issued with more than 100 news items

• Circulated to all ASREN database of contacts (~7500)

• More news are published at ASREN News website

http://www.asrenorg.net/media/news.html

Implementation in Morocco, KSA, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, OmanPilots in Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan

• Promote and support technological and scientific collaboration across different eInfrastructures established and operated in various continents to facilitate their uptake and use by established and emerging Virtual Research Communities (VRCs) but also by single researchers

• Not only disseminate, exchange and reinforce the best practices currently adopted in Europe and other continents, but also promote the progress of interoperability among different regional eInfrastructures

• Study and define a path towards a global eInfrastructure ecosystem that will allow VRCs, research groups and even single researchers to access and efficiently use worldwide distributed resources

ASREN Science Gateway

ASREN SGW provides a set of tools, applications, and data that is integrated via a portal with graphical user interface, that is further customized to meet the needs of a specific community.

Thanks to the CHAIN-REDS Project https://sgw.asrenorg.net/

ASREN IdP

• ASREN IdP Identity Provider is a SAML standard-based service powered by Shibboleth

• Allows the use of a single identity to sign-in into secure websites, Science Gateways …

• A member of Grid IDentity Pool (GrIDP) federation and currently authenticates the users of several Service Providers

https://idp.asrenorg.net/ Thanks to the CHAIN-REDS Project

General Objetive

The Middleware for collaborative Applications and Global virtual Communities (MAGIC) Project seeks to establish a set of agreements for Europe, and other participating World Regions, aiming at consolidating and completing the building blocks of middleware necessary for the establishment of a marketplace of services and real-time applications for international and inter-continental research groups which facilitates mobility and the work of global science communities.

H2020-INFRASUPP-2014-2

Specific Objectives

• To foster the deployment of the platforms that enable mobility of people and seamless access to services by promoting the establishment of identity federations connected to eduGAIN, creating awareness of privacy and security issues and spreading eduroam.

• To develop a Model for the provision of services between NRENs of participating World Regions based on Cloud Provisioning that takes advantage of applications developed and run by NRENs across different continents to create a model for a worldwide application market for collaboration tools and services.

• To seek consensus among participating World regions on the importance of interoperability of Real Time Applications and work towards the adoption of standards to promote the creation of a worldwide environment for these applications.

• To foster the collaborative work of Global Science Communities by actively promoting the participation of Latin American and other regions’ researchers in European Commission Calls

AficaConnect2 will provid connectivity to Africa in 3 clusters:

– Cluster 1: the current AfricaConnect countries in operation in Eastern and Southern Africa . This Cluster is directly contracted between UA and the EC.

– Cluster 2: newly ready countries in West and Central Africa organised under WACREN with support from GÉANT

– Cluster 3: North African countries organised under ASREN with support from GÉANT

EUMEDCONNECT3 is now extended to end Dec 2016

e-AGE 2011, Amman, 10-11 December 2011

• The 1st International Platform on Integrating Arab e-infrastructure in a Global Environment, e-AGE2011, conducted in Amman December 2011 under the Royal Patronage.

• The conference was attended by high level representatives including Ministers and decision makers, academics, network professionals, researchers, scientists from 32 countries.

• The event included: – EUMED Event 4– Internet2 SIG Middle East Meeting– ASREN 1st Annual Meeting

• 11 Arab representatives were present and 8 of them signed letters of accord to start joining ASREN

http://eage2011.asrenorg.net

e-AGE 2012, Dubai, 12-13 December 2012

• Under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Nahayan Sultan Al Nahayan, Zayed University. hosted by Ankabut and NRF, UAE.

• More than 150 participants and 55

distinguished speakers from 45 countries among them representatives of NRENs and RRENs from around the world

• Launching the idea of UAE as R&E Hub for connectivity and services

• Launching the report on the Arab e-Infrastructure Status Report

e-AGE 2013, Tunis, 10-11 December 2013

Main Events:• Main event eAGE 2013• Technical Workshop on

NREN NOCs run by NSRC• CHAIN-REDS Workshop• EUMEDCONNECT3 Project

Meeting, • AROQA ACQUIN

Workshop, • AROQA 5th Conference

200 participant and 44 speakers from23 countries

e-AGE 2014, Muscat, 10-11 December 2014• Under the Patronage of His Highness Sayyid Taimur Bin As’ad Al

Said with High level ministerial attendance

• Witnessed the presence of 15 Arab NREN representatives

• More than 60 speakers from 45 countries in 13 sessions and roundtables and 20 paper submissions.

Main Events: • e-AGE 2014 Main conference• The 7th Event on Eu-Med e-

Infrastructure • The 4th annual meeting of ASREN• CERN MENA meeting• AROQA 6th Annual Conference• EUMEDCONNECT3 Project Meeting

e-AGE 2015, Morocco, 10-11 December 2014

Revealing and Harvesting Knowledge

Main Events:• 8th Event on EMED e-Infrastructure• 5th annual meeting of ASREN• EUMEDCONNECT3 and

Africaconenct2 Project Meetings• Technical workshops on networks,

clouds and science gateways.• AROQA 7th Annual Conference

Networking with the world• Internet Organizations including ISOC, MENOG, Ripe NCC, ICANN and AfriNIC to work

together in supporting the capacity building process.

• Ministries, national organizations and institutions to support the development of NRENs and promote e-Infrastructures and developing research communities.

• Regional and international organizations including World Bank, League of Arab States, ITU, FARSC, UNESCO, ISESCO, NATO…

• Regional R&E networks like APAN, Internet2, TEIN4, RedCLARA, WACREN and Ubuntunet. The aim of this collaboration is to share knowledge and experience and to cooperate in connectivity and services.

• Research centres and research projects like CERN, SESAME, LinkSCEEM2, NSCA to extend the collaboration and to facilitate using these resources by research communities in ASREN region.

• Looking forward to network and cooperate with Groningen Declaration

Thank YouYousef Torman

Managing DirectorArab States Research and Education Network, ASREN

www.asrenorg.net torman@asrenorg.net