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Established in 2001, GLIF provides a global-scale laboratory to facilitate the development of

applications and middleware, and to build distributed systems. It is also a forum for making

contacts, exchanging information and experiences, and resolving technical problems. Those

taking part in GLIF are working towards the harmonization of policy, service and fault-

management processes.

GLIF makes use of the cost and capacity advantages offered by optical multiplexing, in order to

build an infrastructure for powerful distributed systems that utilize processing power, storage and

instrumentation at various sites around the globe. The aim is to encourage the shared use of

resources by eliminating the traditional performance bottlenecks caused by a lack of network

capacity.

GLIF Resources:

The GLIF infrastructure is currently based around a number of lambdas contributed by GLIF

participants who own or lease them. These are interconnected through a series of exchange points

known as GOLEs (GLIF Open Lightpath Exchanges). Together, these lambdas and GOLEs are

referred to as the GLIF resources.

GOLEs are usually operated by GLIF participants, and are comprised of equipment that is

capable of managing lambdas and performing lightpath set-up and tear-down. This allows

different lambdas to be connected together to create end-to-end lightpaths.

A lightpath is defined as a communications channel (virtual circuit) established over designated

lambdas that connects two end-points in the network. It can take up some or all of the capacity of

these lambdas, or indeed can be concatenated across several lambdas. Lightpaths can be

established using different protocol mechanisms, depending on the application.

The network resources that make up GLIF are provided by independent network operators who

collaborate to provide end-to-end lightpaths across their respective optical domains. GLIF does

not provide any network resources itself, so researchers need to approach a GLIF network

resource provider if they wish to obtain lightpath services.

More information about GLIF resources and a list of GOLEs can be found at

http://www.glif.is/resources/.

GLIF Working Groups:

During 2007, GLIF's collaborative activities were organized in four working groups:

Governance Working Group17

1.

The Governance Working Group sets objectives, formulates policies and defines conditions for

participation in GLIF. It supervises the work of the GLIF Secretariat and adopts its budget. The

Working Group is chaired by Kees Neggers (SURFnet).

Technical Issues Working Group18

2.

17

http://www.glif.is/working-groups/gov/

18

http://www.glif.is/working-groups/tech/

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