macedonian academic and research network - marnet

Fourth International Conference e-Society.MK 10.12.2008

Macedonian Academic and Research Network (MARNet)

Fourth International Conference e-Society.Mk: ICT in Education

Skopje, Macedonia10 December 2008

Prof. Dr. Margita [email protected]

MARNet MB


About MARNet

• MARNet is organizational unit of the Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje establish in 1994 year by auspices of the Ministry of research of R. Macedonia.

• Mission – Provide international and national networking services to the

Macedonian academic research & educational community and support to their research and educational activities,

– Promote and disseminate the use of ICT in the academic and research sector.

• Role– Connection to the international networks with basic IP provision;– Maintain and management of the national DNS,– International memberships,– National academic network policy and development.


MARNet international organizations participation

TERENA 1994CEENET 1994RIPE

GEANT3 2008


MARNet international connectivity

www.seeren.org• SEEREN2 (6FP project) connectivity to GEANT2• 68 Mbps 2008 Athens• 155 Mbps Vienna point to point link to GEANT2 in few days• 622 Mbps – 10 Gbps, 3Q 2009 – 2013 GEANT3

4 mbps 2004 34 mbps 200668 mbps 2007

http://www.seeren.org/


SEELIGHT Project

South-East European Lambda Network Facility for research and education

HIPERB

Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkan

Expected start beginning of 2009

Regional plan


MARNET actual/potential users

Actual and potential users (estimation) Users Connectivity

University Ss Cyril & Methodius SKOPJE Academic staff / students 1 Gbps

University Ss Climent Ohridski BITOLA Academic staff / students 64 kbps

University STIP Academic staff / students

University SEE , TETOVO Academic staff / students

University , TETOVO Academic staff / students

Private Universities Academic staff / students

Research / MANU, independent R&D institution Research Staff

National & University Library SKOPJE Staff / users 2 Mbps

Faculty libraries, SKOPE Staff / users 1 Gbps

University Library BITOLA Staff / users 64 kbps

Public libraries, Special libraries, Archives, Museums, Cultural heritage institutions

Experts/librarians

Research associations Experts

Secondary schools (75 libraries) Teachers / pupils

Primary schools/ clones (340 libraries) Teachers / pupils

Government departments (national/regional/local) Administrative staff 2 Mbps

Hospitals/others Staff


MARNet network

l– Skopje -MAN optics deployed 2004

– Based on gigabit multilayer switches

– Interconnect University campuses’ LANs

– Wireless optics and radio backup deployed 2004

– Interchange point with national ISPs

– Participants: Faculties & Research Institutes in Skopje

– National library– Austrian

Government grant + NATO NIG project


Gigabit Metro Optical Network

Facts & FiguresOwned by MARNet – Ss Cyril and Methodius, UniversityTotal length: 20 kmThroughput: 1 Gbit/secOptical cable with 12-18-24 fibersMore than 95% students and academic staff of the University are covered


• One of the key aims of the ERA – European Research Area Integrated networking & Grid environment = eInfrastructure

• MARNet strategy is participation in ERA & regional developments:– NATO NIG, UNESCO-HP, Austrian government Grant – SEEREN1/2 regional connectivity to GEANT2– GEANT3 member

• SEEFIRE: studying the feasibility of long-term solutions for dark fiber backbone in the region

• SEELight: long term lambda connectivity• SEEGRID1/2 & SEEGRID-SCI:

building the regional Grid infrastructure within and beyond EGEE

– 1st phase: infrastructure establishment, pilot applications,– 2nd phase: infrastructure expansion, multi-disciplinary app.– 3th phase regional grid applications: seismology,

meteorology, environmental sciences• SEE ERA-EI South east European Research Area for eInfrastructures • ELISE: E-learning for Improving access to Information Society for SMEs in the SEE

Area, Academia & SME’s cooperation in the SEE to improve the general competitiveness of the region

• Tempus project: Video Conferencing Educational Services

Following European Vision


Results -Services and tools structure

• Participate in implementation of some of a plethora of state of the art tools were incorporated and expected to be implemented through the ongoing and future projects

Starting: Video conferencing, EDUROAM, CERT


ACADEMIA & SME’s COOPERATION

ELISE E-learning for Improving access to Information Society for SMEs in the SEE Area

• Training tutors, SMEs • e-Learning platform, teleconferencing• 10.000 booklets• Policy maker

workshops


Conclusions

• Maturity of the MARnet is achieved, proved by acceptance in GN3• Thanks to SEEREN1/2, SEEGRID1/2, SEEGRID-SCI, SEEFIRE, ELISA

and national financial support, remarkable results were achieved in the SEE region regarding– eInfrastructure (including grid)– Human networks– Academia & SMEs cooperation

• Involvement of important stakeholders was achieved – Government– Public bodies– Academia – Businesses

• Significant experience in management of the multi country projects were gained

• New human networks were established pawing the way to new joint projects and cooperation


Conclusions

• Complementing EC Framework Programs with regional/national initiatives (e.g. in the case of SEE initiatives like the Balkan Action Plan), EU structural funds, support/funding programs from global organizations like NATO, UNESCO, donations from industry HP, CISKO, SUN, etc., can contribute to the sustainability of the efforts

• We expect further international participation in joint projects in high performance networking, e-Science and e-Education


Further plans

• But sustainability of MARnet will be achieved with expected low for MARNet status and stabile Governmental financing

• Highest priority development of the National backbone that will interconnect all the academic and research institutions in Macedonia

• Including possible other users: schools, public libraries, cultural and heritage institutions, hospitals and others

• In next 4 years upgrading international links in the range of622 Mbps -10 Gbps