Forskningsnettet

What is a lightpath?
Lightpaths are dedicated end-to-end connections between two locations with a standard capacity of 1 Gbit/s. We can also provide 10 Gbit/s lightpaths and other alternative solutions.

The new lightpaths can connect two institutions with a primary connection to Forskningsnettet in Denmark or connect an institution in Forskningsnettet with an international partner organisation.

A lightpath can typically be used for regular exchange of large amounts of data, for remote real-time visualisation, and for steering of equipments. When the traffic takes place on segregated connections it is not disturbed by other users.

Please contact netdrift@uni-c.dk if you are interested in using our Lightpath Service so that we can discuss your requirements.

How long does it take to get a lightpath?
In the future, it is anticipated that lightpaths will be provisioned on a dynamic basis and directly set-up by our users.

Today, once both institutions and Forskningsnettet have approved the connection, our objective is that lightpaths can be set up and fully functional within 3 weeks between two member institutions of Forskningsnettet for a period ranging from 6 months to several years. We expect to be able to provide connections within 5 weeks to European institutions. For connections with institutions outside Europe, this might be somewhat longer.

In all cases, lightpaths are delivered to the point where institutions are connected to Forskningsnettet. Institutions must then extend the lightpath in their own infrastructure in an appropriate way.

How much does it cost to get a lightpath?
All lightpath related services, such as the set-up, maintenance and support for the establishment of lightpaths on Danish territory, are covered by the regular subscription paid by the institution to Forskningsnettet. A small part of this subscription depends on the total number of transponder sets in use by the institution at the beginning of the year. In practice, this will usually mean that the provision of 1Gbit/s lightpaths between two Forskningsnettet institutions is included in their subscription to Forskningsnettet.

On the other hand, extra-services, such as a 10 GBit/s lightpath or a second lightpath for redundancy or for international connections, will normally imply adjustments of the subscription fee.

Please contact our Lightpath Service at netdrift@uni-c.dk to discuss this further.

What does it require to get a lightpath?
If you want to have a lightpath in order to connect to another institution, you should be aware of the following 4-phase process. Remember that the staff of Forskningsnettet can support you for each of these phases.

Phase 1: Basic information
Provide Forskningsnettet Lightpath Service, netdrift@uni-c.dk, with basic information on the required connection

Get approval from the IT services at your institution as well as at your partner institution (be it in Denmark or in another country).

Forskningsnettet will need the following information in order to establish the lightpath:

• Identity of the user/project representative
• Identity of the institution
• Technical contact person at the institution
• Short description of the project
• Other user to be connected to (identity, institution and ideally technical contact person at the institution
• Duration of the connection
• Capacity required.

Phase 2: Feasibility study
Forskningsnettet will then evaluate the technical feasibility of the project. This will mainly concern the kind of connection from your institution to Forskningsnettet (is it or is it not connected to our optical network?) as well as the kind of connection of your partner institution either to the optical network of Forskningsnettet or to the backbone of a National Education and Research Network in the case of international partners.

Phase 3: The lightpath is set-up
In case of a lightpath between two institutions connected to Forskningsnettet where the connection is feasible, which it is in most cases, Forskningsnettet will establish a lightpath between the point of presence of your institution on Forskningsnettet and the point of presence of your partner institution on Forskningsnettet. Forskningsnettet will then support the IT service at your institution and in your partner institution to extend the lightpath service to project groups across the local infrastructure in an appropriate way.

In case of an international connection, Forskningsnettet will negotiate with its international partners in order to have a connection to the partner institution and then support, if required, the IT service at the partner institution to extend the lightpath service to project groups across the local infrastructure in an appropriate way.

Phase 4: The lightpath can now be used
Once the lightpath is set up, you will  have the possibility to use this connection for a period ranging from 6 months to several years.