CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

LLanka anka EEducational ducational AAnd nd RResearch esearch

NNetworketwork

Ajantha Atukorale & Nimal RatnayakeAjantha Atukorale & Nimal Ratnayake

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

HistoryHistory

• The necessity of Academic network that The necessity of Academic network that connects all Universities and R&D connects all Universities and R&D institutions across the country was institutions across the country was proposed to UGCproposed to UGC

• It was accepted in principle but It was accepted in principle but implementation got delayed due to lack of implementation got delayed due to lack of fundsfunds

• LEARNMail, the 1st E-mail service in Sri LEARNMail, the 1st E-mail service in Sri Lanka was started in 1990Lanka was started in 1990

• Maintained by group of volunteersMaintained by group of volunteers

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

HistoryHistory

• CINTEC approved a grant to set up the 1st CINTEC approved a grant to set up the 1st phase of the LEARNphase of the LEARN

• To connect three universitiesTo connect three universities– University of ColomboUniversity of Colombo– University of MoratuwaUniversity of Moratuwa– The Open UniversityThe Open University

• Phase 1 completed in 1995Phase 1 completed in 1995

• Three universities connected by 64Kbps Three universities connected by 64Kbps leased lines (via SLT)leased lines (via SLT)

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

HistoryHistory

• After the successful completion of the After the successful completion of the phase-1, more universities were interested phase-1, more universities were interested in connecting to LEARNin connecting to LEARN

• The need for a management body was The need for a management body was identifiedidentified

• LEARN management committee was LEARN management committee was approved by UGC (on 17th October 1996)approved by UGC (on 17th October 1996)

– UGC chairman or his nomineeUGC chairman or his nominee– Technical managerTechnical manager– Administrative managerAdministrative manager– SecretarySecretary– One member from each universityOne member from each university

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

Current StatusCurrent Status• 11 Universities (with multiple campuses)11 Universities (with multiple campuses)

• National Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundation (NSF)

• University Grants Commission (UGC)University Grants Commission (UGC)

• Internet connection via two local ISPsInternet connection via two local ISPs– SLT & LankaComSLT & LankaCom

• An aggregate of 2.5 Mbps Internet An aggregate of 2.5 Mbps Internet bandwidthbandwidth– Monthly pays more than Rs. 1million to Monthly pays more than Rs. 1million to

ISPsISPs

• Owns /17 IP blockOwns /17 IP block

• Also uses 10.0.0.0/8 IP block within LEARNAlso uses 10.0.0.0/8 IP block within LEARN

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

Services ProvidedServices Provided• LEARN manages the available bandwidth LEARN manages the available bandwidth

to get the optimum use of it:to get the optimum use of it:– Proxy servers (load balancing with Delay Proxy servers (load balancing with Delay

Pools)Pools)– Traffic shaping (to allocate bandwidth to Traffic shaping (to allocate bandwidth to

different sites)different sites)

• Electronic Mail:Electronic Mail:– Incoming/Outgoing mail relayIncoming/Outgoing mail relay– Virus/Spam filtering Virus/Spam filtering

(AmaViS/SpamAssassin)(AmaViS/SpamAssassin)– Virtual hosting & POP/IMAP based mailVirtual hosting & POP/IMAP based mail

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

Services ProvidedServices Provided• DNSDNS

• Cache Proxy Servers for web accessingCache Proxy Servers for web accessing

• Training Programs & WorkshopsTraining Programs & Workshops

• International events such as NetSA’03International events such as NetSA’03

• ConsultationConsultation

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

Training ….Training ….

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

Future PlanesFuture Planes

• Connects the rest of the Universities and Connects the rest of the Universities and Research InstitutesResearch Institutes

• Introduce new servicesIntroduce new services

• E-learning (Remote/Distance Learning)E-learning (Remote/Distance Learning)

• Video conferencingVideo conferencing

• Voice over IPVoice over IP

• Multicasting special eventsMulticasting special events

• Grid Computing Research/ApplicationsGrid Computing Research/Applications

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Ajantha Atukorale

APAN 2004, Honolulu

Future PlanesFuture Planes

• Expand the local connectivityExpand the local connectivity– May be up to 45/155 Mbps May be up to 45/155 Mbps ??????

• Expand the International bandwidthExpand the International bandwidth– Multiples of E1s to 45/155Mbps Multiples of E1s to 45/155Mbps ????????

CONNECTING THE NATION SINCE 1990

Thank youThank you