2004 Internet2 Annual Report

The Internet2 community has deployed an unsurpassed infrastructure comprised of advanced nationwide, regional and campus networks. This infrastructure is connected to high-performance networks around the world. However, high-speed network links do not guarantee high-performance networking. Users of state-of-the-art, 10 gigabit-per-second networks currently encounter many of the same network performance problems faced by dial-up Internet users. In response, Internet2 initiated the End-to-End Performance Initiative (E2Epi) to help identify the source of network performance problems; develop measurement and troubleshooting tools; collaborate with related projects; and foster communication among researchers, network operators, and end-users. The objective of E2Epi is to encourage a predictable and well-supported network environment so that users can routinely and successfully use advanced Internet applications. E2Epi has initially focused on developing the End-to-End Performance Improvement Performance Environment System (E2E piPES), a framework of tests, tools, and information resources that provide network engineers information about delay, bandwidth, routing, and other network characteristics that assist in the resolution of network performance problems