EXPReS Board Meeting January 30, 2008 @ Utrecht, The Netherlands

1. SA2 report Paco Colomer EXPReS Board MeetingJanuary 30, 2008 @ Utrecht, The Netherlands

2. EXPReS Board Meeting EXPReS- Looking Down SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array Courtesy of Paul Boven and Google Maps

3. EXPReS Board Meeting SA2- Network Provisioning 19 partner institutions, operating 21 radiotelescopes Coordination of work and funding at participant national level EC partial funding (8.75:1 in proposal) acts as a great catalyst of work and national funding Work packages: WP1: Feasibility study of last-mile connection of telescopes to JIVE via GÉANT WP2: Provision of the infrastructure and equipment WP3: Connectivity tests SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array

4. EXPReS Board Meeting SA2- Network Provisioning SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array • 11+3 telescopes connected • Routine (“production”) operations at 512 Mbps @ 6 telescopes • Non-constant costs in time • Many participants are able to obtain better deals for cheaper/free connectivity • Deliverables are achieved but spending is low: • Budget = 7.8 M€ (820 k€ to be financed by EC) • YR1 = 2 M€ spent (127 k€ claimed to EC) • YR2* = expect around 2,2 M€ (373 k€ will be claimed to EC) • YR3* = expected 347 k€ (248 k€ will be claimed) • TOTAL expense* = 4.6 M€ (to be claimed 750 k€) *Not including AARNET/SurfNet

5. EXPReS Board Meeting Site Connectivity SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array

6. EXPReS Board Meeting Connectivity status SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array

7. EXPReS Board Meeting Deliverables SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array

8. EXPReS Board Meeting EXPReS SA2 Achievements Routine operations achieved up to 512 Mbps. 1 Gbps achieved with 5 stations in January 2008 1) JIVE/SurfNet 8 x 1 Gbps lines available (+ 1 x 5 Gbps). JIVE cost declared by SurfNet. 2) AARNET/CSIRO CSIRO telescopes connected at 1 Gbps, and tests performed. 3) ASTRON WSRT connected at 1 Gbps. No costs declared to EXPReS. 4) CNIG-IGN Last-mile connection expected in May 2008. Low spending till now. SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array

9. EXPReS Board Meeting EXPReS SA2 Achievements SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array 5) HRAO • Local 1 Gbps link in place. International connection difficult. • No spending till now (10 k€ EC grant) 6) INAF • Medicina connected; pending new fiber route. • Sardinia expects to connect in 2009, in time for EXPReS. • Low spending (expected total 81 k€ - EC may finance up to 110 k€) 7) MPIfR • Effelsberg connected, and first tests performed successfully. • Very good spending profile – provided declaration of MPG costs! 8) MRO • Connected at 10 Gbps. • Low cost but good spending profile.

10. EXPReS Board Meeting EXPReS SA2 Achievements SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array 9) NAIC • Connected at 100 Mbps; test pending. • Reports good spending profile (financial data submission pending) 10) MCU • Torun connected • Low spending (will claim 19.5 k€ out of 25 k€ EC grant) 11) OSO • Connected at 10 Gbps. • Low spending profile (will claim 5 k€ out of 30 k€ EC grant) 12) CAS • Shanghai connected and tests performed. But involved in space missions. • Urumqi will connect in 2009, but maybe out of EXPReS timeframe. • No current plans to connect Mijun and Kumming (now at 34 Mbps)

11. EXPReS Board Meeting EXPReS SA2 Achievements SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array 13) TIGO • International connection difficult. Tests pending. • 500 Mbps operation may need extra EXPReS money (but matching?) 14) UniMAN • Connected at 1 Gbps; soon at 10 Gbps. • Equipment charged to JRA1, not SA2. • Will be able to claim full EC grant. 15) VIRAC • Connection through Stockholm being tested. • Good spending profile; may benefit of extra EC support. • Should demonstrate astronomical operation within EXPReS timeframe.

12. EXPReS Board Meeting Financial status SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array

13. EXPReS Board Meeting About low spending SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array • SA2 EC money covers only a fraction of total cost (1:8) • Even if matching is “required”, EC may pay up to 100% of eligible costs in SAs. Hard limits: • Costs to be approved by the local auditor • Beware of depreciation costs • No VAT is eligible • Connectivity (rent of services) funding limited to 50% • Some partners may not spend their allocated EC share • HRAO, INAF, NCU, OSO, TIGO?

14. EXPReS Board Meeting EXPReS SA2 forecast wishes SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array • Increase of production network to 1 Gbps (tests done!) • Effelsberg will join the production network • Yebes (CNIG-IGN) will connect @ 1 Gbps in May 2008 • VIRAC will demonstrate astronomical performance • Medicina will change to shorter (48 km) dark fiber – with new equipment will allow up to 10 Gbps • Connectivity test: MRO/OSO – JBO at 10 Gbps • Connectivity test: NAIC – TIGO – JIVE at 500 Mbps • Urumqi will connect in 2009 ALL PARTNERS are to send copies of their C-forms, JoR, and audit certificates to the EXPReS Project Manager!!

15. EXPReS Board Meeting Summary SA2: Network Provisioning for a Global e-VLBI Array • Major deliverables are being pursued and achieved. • Most partners have lower costs, as expected. • Total SA2 cost lowered from 7.8 M€ to 4.6 M€ (+Sardinia/Urumqi). EC contribution is 0.82 M€ (0.72 M€ spending “secured”). • Relocation of EC grant from low spending partners (HRAO, INAF?, NCU, OSO) to other (MPIfR, VIRAC?, CNIG-IGN, CSIRO, TIGO?) • AARNET & SurfNet may justify larger spending • Useful to extend SA2 (1 year?) to justify larger spending and allow connection of new telescopes (Sardinia, Urumqi, VIRAC)