High End Computer Networking (HECN)

The High End Computer Networking (HECN) Team manages the GSFC Science and Engineering Network (SEN) as a non-mission-dedicated high-end computer network at GSFC. The SEN services GSFC projects and users who have computer network performance requirements greater than those baselined for GSFC's general-use campus-wide Center Network Environment (CNE). The HECN team also conducts network R&D and testbed evaluations with advanced network technology. This research contributes to the next generation high-end computer networks at GSFC.

High End Computer Networking Team

• Bill Fink, NASA, Acting Project Manager
• Paul Lang, ADNET, Network Engineer
• Aruna Muppalla, ADNET, Network Engineer
• Jeff Martz, ADNET, Network Engineer
• Mike Stefanelli, ADNET, Network Engineer
• Pat Gary, Previous Project Manager (in Memoriam)

High End Computer Networking Projects

Awards and Recent Significant Efforts

2017

NASA and Partners Attempt to Demonstrate 400 Gbps iWARP at SC17 (DRAFT)

2016

NASA and Partners Demonstrate 178 Gigabit Per Second Data transfer at SC16. (DRAFT)

2013

NASA and Partners Demonstrated 40- and 100-Gigabit Network Technologies at SC13

2012

NASA and Partners Demonstrated 40- and 100-Gigabit Network Technologies at SC12

2011

NASA and Partners to Demonstrate 40- and 100-Gigabit Network Technologies at SC11

2010

NASA and Partners Demonstrated 40- and 100-Gigabit Per Second Network Technologies at SC10

NASA and Partners to Demonstrate 40- and 100-Gigabit Network Technologies at SC10

New Throughput Performance Transmissions Achieved Via A Single Workstation With a Single 6x10-Gigabit Ethernet Network Interface Card

On September 9, 2010, the National LambdaRail (NLR) posted a press release that features the GSFC High End Computer Network (HECN) Team's end-to-end throughput performance benchmarking over a 4x10 gigabit per second (Gbps) lambda pathway between Chicago and McLean, Virginia, that the NLR enabled for the HECN Team. The HECN Team is using that pathway as part of its High-End Computing 20, 40 & 100 Gbps Network Testbed initiative efforts to assess the throughput performance of wide-area file transfer applications and emerging 40 and 100 Gbps network technologies, and will further use this pathway in support of NCCS' Earth Science Grid Data Node and wide-area file transfer experiments during the SC10 conference to be held in New Orleans, LA, during November 15-18, 2010. A copy of NLR's press release is available here.

17.8-Gbps Disk-to-Disk File Copies Achieved Via Workstations Costing Less Than $9,000

HECN Team Enhances Partnership With Northwestern University's International Center for Advanced Internet Research

GSFC's HECN Team Demonstrates "Live" High-Definition Video-Conferencing With A Roll-About HD VC Station Connected via GSFC's Wireless Guest Network.

2009

Optimizing Wide-Area File Transfer for 10-Gbps and Beyond -- Demos at SC09

Outstanding technical engineering exhibited in developing and maintaining GSFC's multi-10-gigabit-per-second Science and Engineering Network

2008

Outstanding teamwork and technical expertise exhibited during the HEC WAN Transition pre-acceptance checkout, formal acceptance testing, and user transitions activities.

2006