TF-MSP Amsterdam THE ROLES OF NREN based on current activities in Funet Harri Kuusisto network specialist Funet network services

About Funet  Operated by CSC – IT Center for Science, which is administred by the Ministry of Education  ”About 15 person” operating Funet Half does network, other half network services & CERT  There are 84 organisations in Funet All the universities and polytechnics Most of the public research institutions  Most of the services are operated&administred by Funet  Some (new) services are outsourced/subcontracted

Roles can be polymorphic ➢ Why? ➢ development of the IT environment ➢ characteristics of product/service ➢ product life cycle location ➢ the role of NREN usually changes during time ➢ NREN as a developer ➢ pulling force (technology development, IPv6 etc…) ➢ pushing force (answering customer needs etc…)

The roles we have found (1/4) ➢ Service provider ➢ pure service provider: servers, support, helpdesk etc. ➢ Co-operative service provider with company/university X ➢ NREN may just host server(s) or accept use of its network or “brand” (funet.fi) ➢ Marketing “department” ➢ emphasis at the beginning of life cycle ➢ “Have you heard about this new service…”

The roles we have found (2/4) ➢ Bargainer ➢ natural goal: agreed price, terms, licences etc. ➢ conclusive skeleton agreement (for example years) ➢ Funet example: server certificates, IPTV, Videoconferencing service ➢ framework agreement allowing organisation to start negotiations/procurement ➢ subcontract -model / outsourcing ➢ NREN specifies and packages service, monitors it, keeps quality and development meetings with the provider etc. ➢ Funet example: IPTV aka ‘Funet Antenna’ ➢ NREN’s role as a spokesman or a trustee ➢ after bargaining service might be offered to organisations who then may join or not ➢ some survey or piloting needed before bargaining

The roles we have found (3/4) ➢ Joint purchaser ➢ one-time purchasing for group of joining organisations ➢ Customer in some cases (yes, really!) ➢ server certificates as an example in Funet ➢ Challenger with important questions ➢ Is this service still used? Is it needed? ➢ Is it being replaced with something? ➢ emphasis later on service life cycle

The roles we have found (4/4) ➢ Helpdesk ➢ Internet is broken, where should I call? ➢ Organisation assembler ➢ Technical seminars for all organisations (the biggest one held once per year in Funet) ➢ Offering wiki and other tools for all organisations ➢...and maybe more? ➢ at least hybrid(s) of roles mentioned above

IPTV and Videoconferencing Service ➢ Funet had a big role planning these services with co- operation between commercial parties ➢ For example Videoconferencing Service Provider made major changes its existing product ➢ They actually changed their closed product to open GDS solution!

This article is from Latest publications: CSC News 04/2008

Oh, and one more role! ➢ Jubilee celebrator :-) ➢ Funet is now 25 years young ➢ Internet came to Finland 20 years ago by Funet

Thank You! Questions? Answers?