ION Inter-Domain Controller

A ION Network (formerly Dynamic Circuits Network, DCN) is an advanced computer networking technique that combine packet-switching, which has a communication system based on Internet Protocol, and circuit-switching techniques similar to that of traditional telephone network systems. This process provides the user with a dedicated line to send information across the network. The reason that the ION implements the circuit switching technology is that by doing so, the user can decrease the time that it takes to send packets across a network. In the normal packet-switching technology, the delay for sending each packet depends on the size of the packet that is being sent. Bigger packets take a longer time to send. The circuit-switching technology, however, has a constant bit delay, therefore each bit takes the same amount of time to send every time. Once these two technologies are overlapped, you create a system that is able to send packets on a dedicated line at the same rate and thereby creating a faster network. The idea for the DCN was pioneered by the Internet2 Consortium, led by the research and education community.
The Inter-Domain Controller protocol is a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) based XML (Extensible Markup Language) messaging protocol that transports information over an HTTP Secure connection. The SOAP provides the network with a basic messaging framework that web services can be built upon and the HTTPS connection ensure that the information being transferred will be encrypted making it only accessible to the source and the destination terminals. By using SOAP, it allows the user to upload information to a server and presents it in a format that can almost immediately be used when applying it to another web service.
The purpose of this project is to create a ION Network for the University of Houston so that it will be able to connect to the Internet2 through Rice University. Networks with many users can easily become congested and have enormous hang time when trying to connect to remote servers. With the ION, the university will be able to share information more securely and efficiently, thereby expediting communication processes and enhancing the educational community as a whole. The goal of the project is to set up ION servers that connect to the Rice University ION, which is also connected to Internet2, to create a network that is both fast and reliable. The only problem that remains is creating the connections which can be a confusing and tedious process.

Student:
Prentiss Walker

Lab Instructor:
Sergio Chacon