Internet2

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Internet2 is a non-profit computer networking consortium led by members from the research and education communities, industry, and government. It was established in 1996 to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet.

History

Internet2 was founded in 1996 by 34 universities under the auspices of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID). The goal was to create a high-performance network that would support the needs of the research and education community, which were not being met by the commercial Internet at the time.

Mission

The mission of Internet2 is to provide a collaborative environment for developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies. This includes supporting the needs of the research and education community, fostering innovation, and enabling the next generation of Internet technologies.

Network Infrastructure

Internet2 operates the Internet2 Network, a nationwide high-performance network that provides advanced networking capabilities to support the research and education community. The network is designed to support high-bandwidth applications and services, such as high-definition video conferencing, large-scale data transfer, and collaborative research.

Key Components

• Advanced Layer 2 Services: These services provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity for research and education applications.
• Layer 3 Services: These services offer traditional IP routing and advanced features such as multicast and IPv6 support.
• Performance Measurement and Monitoring: Internet2 provides tools and services to monitor and measure network performance, ensuring high levels of reliability and performance.

Collaborations and Partnerships

Internet2 collaborates with a wide range of organizations, including universities, research institutions, government agencies, and industry partners. These collaborations help to drive innovation and the development of new technologies and applications.

Applications and Services

Internet2 supports a wide range of applications and services that are critical to the research and education community. These include:

• High-Performance Computing: Internet2 provides the network infrastructure needed to support high-performance computing applications.
• Telemedicine: Internet2 supports telemedicine applications, enabling remote diagnosis and treatment.
• Digital Libraries: Internet2 supports the development and deployment of digital libraries, providing access to vast amounts of information and resources.

Future Directions

Internet2 continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of the research and education community. Future directions include the development of new network technologies, such as software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV), as well as the expansion of the Internet2 Network to support new applications and services.

See Also

• National Science Foundation
• Next Generation Internet
• Research and Education Network
• High-Performance Computing