HBONE/HBONE+ Today
The backbone of the communication and computer network of the Hungarian academic and educational community is HBONE. HBONE serves Hungarian higher education, public education, research and development, libraries and public collections, as well as many other public institutions. Its dedicated, high-capacity and reliable telecommunications core network and services provide the foundation for other, more complex and value-added advanced services.
The HBONE backbone consists of nodes (PoP in the figure) – which are basically located in an academic institution – and redundant and high-speed connections between the nodes. KIFÜ operates high-performance communication equipment (DWDM, router, switch) servers and other equipment necessary for the operation of ICT services in PoPs and endpoints, in an air-conditioned and uninterruptible power supply environment.
The HBONE backbone consists of nodes (PoP in the figure) – which are basically located in an academic institution – and redundant and high-speed connections between the nodes. KIFÜ operates high-performance communication equipment (DWDM, router, switch) servers and other equipment necessary for the operation of ICT services in PoPs and endpoints, in an air-conditioned and uninterruptible power supply environment.
The historical past: HBONE
Prior to 2010, the HBone backbone network was basically characterized by connections with a maximum bandwidth of 10 Gbps and characterized less reserved leased solutions, with a service-homogeneous environment focusing mainly on IP network features. From 2010, both the network infrastructure and the basic services were scheduled to be developed. It has developed to:
The current generation of HBONE+
The new generation HBONE (also known as (HBONE+) – which was completed by the end of 2010 – was a significant technological advance. It was no longer an IP network, but a so-called hybrid multiservice infrastructure that uses DWDM technology in an integrated way in addition to the IP layer. The connections are based on leased optical fiber (DF) connections, on which the DWDM layer is implemented by KIFÜ, with its own Nokia DWDM devices, which means a high degree of flexibility and expandability on demand.
It is used to implement all the advanced hybrid network services that are also supported by GEANT (see the figure). The DWDM channels of the new hybrid network are capable of operating at data rates of up to 200 Gbps (currently typical speeds are 10, 40 and 100 Gbps). Unlike traditional telecommunication solutions, the new generation of HBONE and DWDM technology is not only used in the backbone network, but also takes it all the way to large end users, creating new services. Of course, the flexible Ethernet-based IP/MPLS layer above the DWDM layer is also developed and operated by KIFÜ, mainly with the support of Cisco solutions.
It is used to implement all the advanced hybrid network services that are also supported by GEANT (see the figure). The DWDM channels of the new hybrid network are capable of operating at data rates of up to 200 Gbps (currently typical speeds are 10, 40 and 100 Gbps). Unlike traditional telecommunication solutions, the new generation of HBONE and DWDM technology is not only used in the backbone network, but also takes it all the way to large end users, creating new services. Of course, the flexible Ethernet-based IP/MPLS layer above the DWDM layer is also developed and operated by KIFÜ, mainly with the support of Cisco solutions.
The future of HBONE+, DIÁKHÁLÓ
The future of HBONE+ is clearly the evolution of the Hungarian EDUCATION into a multi-service top platform while maintaining the basic functions and goals. While it remains the “engine” of higher education and research-academic connections, it will cover the entire vertical of education, from ‘kindergarten to university’, from endpoints to content delivery.
From an infrastructural point of view, in addition to strengthening the capacity and reliability of the backbone network, its network edge PoP-s will be systematically and gradually extended to the counties (174 counties, with optical connections, mainly on leased infrastructure) from the existing university HBONE+ PoPs. These enable KIFÜ to take network flexibility, manageability and development of service provision even more in hands. With this development in the coming years, HBONE+ will become an even more integral part of the multi-service educational infrastructure and even the ecosystem, which is collectively known as the “DIÁKHÁLÓ”.It is used to implement all the advanced hybrid network services that are also supported by GEANT (see the figure). The DWDM channels of the new hybrid network are capable of operating at data rates of up to 200 Gbps (currently typical speeds are 10, 40 and 100 Gbps). Unlike traditional telecommunication solutions, the new generation of HBONE and DWDM technology is not only used in the backbone network, but also takes it all the way to large end users, creating new services. Of course, the flexible Ethernet-based IP/MPLS layer above the DWDM layer is also developed and operated by KIFÜ, mainly with the support of Cisco solutions.
From an infrastructural point of view, in addition to strengthening the capacity and reliability of the backbone network, its network edge PoP-s will be systematically and gradually extended to the counties (174 counties, with optical connections, mainly on leased infrastructure) from the existing university HBONE+ PoPs. These enable KIFÜ to take network flexibility, manageability and development of service provision even more in hands. With this development in the coming years, HBONE+ will become an even more integral part of the multi-service educational infrastructure and even the ecosystem, which is collectively known as the “DIÁKHÁLÓ”.It is used to implement all the advanced hybrid network services that are also supported by GEANT (see the figure). The DWDM channels of the new hybrid network are capable of operating at data rates of up to 200 Gbps (currently typical speeds are 10, 40 and 100 Gbps). Unlike traditional telecommunication solutions, the new generation of HBONE and DWDM technology is not only used in the backbone network, but also takes it all the way to large end users, creating new services. Of course, the flexible Ethernet-based IP/MPLS layer above the DWDM layer is also developed and operated by KIFÜ, mainly with the support of Cisco solutions.
The KIFÜ Hungarian Research and Educational infrastructure recognised as an Excellent Research Infrastructure in 2021.
