Participant Support: FABRIC Operations: Accelerating Innovation and Research

Project Abstract The NSF FABRIC network testbed provides a unique environment for researchers to develop, explore, and evaluate leading edge network protocols, architectures, services, and applications. FABRIC provides a programmable network infrastructure with advance computational and storage capabilities embedded in the network including GPUs, FPGAs, network processors, programmable switches, and large amounts of high-speed storage. These features enable a new model for network communication in which an application can run anywhere in the network as opposed to only at the edge or the core. The proposed effort is a follow-on to the successful implementation of the NSF-funded FABRIC mid-scale project which is completing its deployment of a nationwide advanced programmable infrastructure. This proposal describes the operational support efforts that will be developed, implemented, and carried out to support the emerging FABRIC infrastructure. The University of Kentucky will subcontract with UNC/RENCI to support the project by assisting in the operations and management of the FABRIC infrastructure, supporting, testing, and developing measurement and monitoring services, and developing and supporting services related to user support.