Implementing a National Co-Managed MPLS Network WMO CBS ET-CTS Toulouse, France May 2008 Allan Darling, NOAA’s National Weather Service WMO CBS ET-CTS Toulouse, France May 2008 Allan Darling, NOAA’s National Weather Service

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR2 Background Backup RTH Washington site let to the need to replace customer point-to-point circuits An MPLS network provided by Sprint with virtual IP addresses used for all external services was the chose solution NWSTG MPLS network architecture was chosen as the replacement for NWS national point-to-point circuits (NWSnet) NWSnet MPLS network architecture was chosen as the replacement for NOAA national point-to-point circuits (NOAAnet) Over 70 sites migrated thus far Will replace over a dozen legacy NOAA networks Network to be utilized by all NOAA organizations Backup RTH Washington site let to the need to replace customer point-to-point circuits An MPLS network provided by Sprint with virtual IP addresses used for all external services was the chose solution NWSTG MPLS network architecture was chosen as the replacement for NWS national point-to-point circuits (NWSnet) NWSnet MPLS network architecture was chosen as the replacement for NOAA national point-to-point circuits (NOAAnet) Over 70 sites migrated thus far Will replace over a dozen legacy NOAA networks Network to be utilized by all NOAA organizations

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR3 Benefits  Improved overall routing performance Replaces traditional hub-and-spoke architecture with any-to-any architecture Addresses network single points of failure Carrier MPLS network reroutes around internal failures Highly scalable / agile Reduces time to establish new pathways between existing points on network No additional cost to establish and utilize new pathway Indirect cost: utilization of access point bandwidth  Improved overall routing performance Replaces traditional hub-and-spoke architecture with any-to-any architecture Addresses network single points of failure Carrier MPLS network reroutes around internal failures Highly scalable / agile Reduces time to establish new pathways between existing points on network No additional cost to establish and utilize new pathway Indirect cost: utilization of access point bandwidth

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR4 Benefits Consolidation leads to reduced management overhead Centralized management, monitoring Self managed Carrier managed Co-managed (not typical but currently the model for NOAAnet) Consolidation leads to reduced management overhead Centralized management, monitoring Self managed Carrier managed Co-managed (not typical but currently the model for NOAAnet)

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR5 Lessons Acquisition schedule must be balanced against implementation schedule Buy access circuits too early – pay for unused resource Buy access circuits too late – implementation delayed awaiting resource Planning IP address management is particularly important when migrating existing networks so as to minimize disruption during migration Acquisition schedule must be balanced against implementation schedule Buy access circuits too early – pay for unused resource Buy access circuits too late – implementation delayed awaiting resource Planning IP address management is particularly important when migrating existing networks so as to minimize disruption during migration

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR6 Lessons Important to understand Internet connectivity of networks to be replaced to avoid asymmetric routes when MPLS is implemented Legacy network security implemented via static routing (application specific routing) must be considered and re-implemented prior to migration to MPLS Important to understand Internet connectivity of networks to be replaced to avoid asymmetric routes when MPLS is implemented Legacy network security implemented via static routing (application specific routing) must be considered and re-implemented prior to migration to MPLS

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR7 Lessons Carrier management policies may not address organization’s operational needs NOAA is currently co-managing with Sprint to give us additional oversight and to maintain migration schedule NOAA will take over management after migration is complete Decision drivers Carrier planned maintenance outages cannot be scheduled for RTH operational windows Carrier responsiveness for addressing operational center needs, particularly outside of the continental U.S. Carrier not driven to meet NWS internal migration schedule Carrier management policies may not address organization’s operational needs NOAA is currently co-managing with Sprint to give us additional oversight and to maintain migration schedule NOAA will take over management after migration is complete Decision drivers Carrier planned maintenance outages cannot be scheduled for RTH operational windows Carrier responsiveness for addressing operational center needs, particularly outside of the continental U.S. Carrier not driven to meet NWS internal migration schedule

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR8 Backup Center Connectivity

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR9 Lessons

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR10 Lessons

26-30 May 2008WMO CBS - ET-CTS Toulouse, FR11 Lessons