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There are a myriad of computing resources in the World, most of which are underused. Efficiently using some of these devices raises several interesting opportunities. For instance, devices are spread everywhere, so locality can be deeply exploited. Furthermore, combining the computational capacity of all, or some, of them may conform a virtual cluster more powerful than any current data center. And, finally, by using resources already there avoids the need for a specific investment on specific infrastructures, as well as significantly reduces the operational costs. In this paper we propose a research architecture for global resources management which aims at exploiting the availability of this vast amount of heterogeneous resources at the edge of the network. We have designed the Progressive Mapping System (PMS) as a system that keeps track of the available resources and, upon an application launching, finds the best devices configuration for optimal application execution, considering both, the application performance requirements and the resources availability and performance features, while guaranteeing the Quality of Service (QoS). The PMS implements a graph of devices where nodes describe their performance features and edges describe their geographic distance as well as communication capabilities. Given an application description, which includes some performance description and quality of service requirements, the PMS system selects a subset of the global graph by solving a mixed integer quadratically constrained programming formulation, which finds the appropriate set of nodes for optimal application execution performance. One of the novelties of the PMS system is that it considers the geographic positioning of the devices and the application locality requirements to deeper exploiting locality issues. The PMS system is yet in a preliminary implementation stage. In this paper we describe the system overview, the architectural design, and discuss some research challenges which are critical for an effective PMS implementation.

Smart cities are becoming popular and, with them, a plethora of resources is emerging turning into a massive concentration of computing devices. In such environments, the deployment of a smart resources management system is envisioned as an extraordinary opportunity to provide almost unlimited computing and networking capabilities obtained by putting together a vast set of nearby devices, hence offering high performance computing while benefiting from low latency networking. In this scenario, where millions of highly heterogeneous devices are available, a key challenge is to select the set of devices suited the most to carry out some specific tasks. In this paper, we present a performance estimation model intended to find an optimal solution for load distribution over massive heterogeneous systems, considering the effects of both, distributed computing and network overhead. The current implementation is in a preliminary stage, considering only fully parallel applications. Trials conducted considering several hardware configurations, with either homogeneous or heterogeneous systems, show the fact that the predicted performance matches the one obtained by the experimental executions with an almost negligible deviation. These initial results encourage us to continue developing the model for more complex and realistic applications.

Smart cities are the current technological solutions to handle the challenges and complexity of the growing urban density. Traditionally, smart city resources management rely on cloud based solutions where sensors data are collected to provide a centralized and rich set of open data. The advantages of cloudbased frameworks are their ubiquity, as well as an (almost) unlimited resources capacity. However, accessing data from the cloud implies large network traffic, high latencies usually not appropriate for real-time or critical solutions, as well as higher security risks. Alternatively, fog computing emerges as a promising technology to absorb these inconveniences. It proposes the use of devices at the edge to provide closer computing facilities and, therefore, reducing network traffic, reducing latencies drastically while improving security. We have defined a new framework for data management in the context of a smart city through a global fog to cloud resources management architecture. This model has the advantages of both, fog and cloud technologies, as it allows reduced latencies for critical applications while being able to use the high computing capabilities of cloud technology. In this paper, we present the data acquisition block of our framework and discuss the advantages. As a first experiment, we estimate the network traffic in this model during data collection and compare it with a traditional real system

The Path Computation Element (PCE) is positioned nowadays as one of the solutions that almost every carrier will eventually deploy. The PCE architecture as well as a number of components, including the PCE Communication Protocol (PCEP), have been standardized by the IETF. However, a number of challenges remain to be solved on its way from standards to deployment. In particular, the existing proposals for multilayer path computation within the PCE framework need to be further developed and tested, before considering their possible integration into operational networks. This is especially true for the interoperability of the various PCE implementations and the extensions such as the Virtual Network Topology Manager (VNTM) which cannot be taken for granted. This paper presents a functional implementation of coordinated computation of multilayer paths supported through inter-layer PCE communication, where one PCE is developed by industry and the other as an open-source effort. To this end, we consider an IP/MPLS network deployed over a Wavelength Switched Optical Network (WSON), each of which deploying its own PCE, in an attempt to create an inter-operable multilayer solution. We discuss the key challenges that the research community will face in this area, which in turn will drive a considerable part of the upcoming efforts in terms of standardization

In recent years, the size and dynamics of the global routing table have increased rapidly along with an increase in the number of edge networks. The relation between edge network quantity and routing table size/dynamics reveals a major limitation in the current architecture. In this paper we introduce the two problematics target as the main cause for the Internet scalability issue. Subsequently, we describe the different proposals that address the scalability problem. We group them in three categories: Separation, Elimination and Geographic

We show that a modified version of a path-vector protocol can drastically reduce the blocking and converge significantly faster, while exchanging less number of routing messages both during failure-free conditions and during a convergence.

We show that a modified version of a path-vector protocol can drastically reduce the blocking and converge significantly faster, while exchanging less number of routing messages both during failure-free conditions and during a convergence.

Optical networks provide a clear opportunity to redesign the multi-domain routing paradigm. This paper reviews the current limitations in multi-domain routing as well as some of the research lines in the optical area.

In the recent years, the majority of the world’s Critical Infrastructures (CIs) have evolved to be more flexible, cost efficient and able to offer better services and conditions for business growth. Through this evolution, CIs and companies offering CI services had to adopt many of the recent advances CIPSEC-Enhancing Critical Infrastructure Protection of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) field. This rapid adaptation however, was performed without thorough evaluation of its impact on CIs’ security. It resulted into leaving CIs vulnerable to a new set of threats and vulnerabilities that impose high levels of risk to the public safety, economy and welfare of the population. To this extend, the main approach for protecting CIs includes handling them as comprehensive entities and offer a complete solution for their overall infrastructures and ICT systems (IT&OT departments). However, complete CI security solutions exist, in the form of individual products from IT security companies. These products, integrate only in-house designed and developed tools/solutions, thus offering a limited range of technical solutions. The main aim of CIPSEC is to create a unified security framework that orchestrates state-of-the-art heterogeneous security products to offer high levels of protection in IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) departments of CIs, also offering a complete security ecosystem of additional services. These services include vulnerability tests and recommendations, key personnel training courses, public-private partnerships (PPPs), forensics analysis, standardization activities and analysis against cascading effects.

Optical networks provide a clear opportunity to redesign the multi-domain routing paradigm. This paper reviews the current limitations in multi-domain routing as well as some of the research lines in the optical area.

Para comprender bien el proyecto es necesario introducir el concepto de TestBed. Se traduce al castellano como banco de pruebas, la prioridad es implementar un entorno de trabajo en el cual los investigadores puedan testear sus soluciones teóricas a problemas de la realidad y obtener resultados de una manera empírica, con el objetivo final de asegurar la seguridad de sus soluciones y poder implementarlas. El grupo de investigación CRAAX (nuestro cliente) se encuentra actualmente trabajando en un proyecto europeo llamado mf2c (management Fog to Cloud), el cual consiste en desarrollar soluciones informáticas para una SmartCity. Este proyecto consiste en el diseño, fabricación y primeras pruebas de un TestBed de una SmartCity, que tiene la finalidad de testear las primeras fases del mf2c. En este documento se encuentra todo el proceso llevado a cabo para la implementación de este TestBed mediante el uso del Design Thinking y metodologías ágiles. Estas metodologías se basarán en generar ideas innovadoras y entender y dar solución a las necesidades reales de los usuarios en periodos de tiempo cortos, en nuestro caso, 6 meses. La implementación del TestBed ha sido realizada por los miembros de este proyecto y se encuentra ubicado en el laboratorio de la UPC (Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña) en la segunda planta del edificio Neàpolis en Vilanova i la Geltrú. El TestBed tiene una superficie de 15 metros cuadrados y consiste en una maqueta de 5 calles, 3 verticales y 2 horizontales, con un puente levadizo sobre la calle central. Dispone de semáforos, farolas, coches y edificios. Todos estos elementos están interconectados y son capaces de generar un cambio de estado. Además, se utiliza tecnología RFID para poder conocer la ubicación de los coches en todo momento. Se ha comprobado el funcionamiento de cada elemento del TestBed y de todo el conjunto mediante una DEMO (demostración física) que consiste en el avance de uno de los coches por las pistas del TestBed interactuando con los demás elementos. La implementación de todos los elementos planteados en este proyecto ha sido exitosa y el producto final satisface al cliente. Creemos que las claves de este proyecto fueron realizar reuniones cada 2 semanas con el cliente y el trabajo progresivo cada semana. El TestBed puede seguir creciendo y lo hemos dejado preparado para futuras implementaciones.