A reliable and powerful infrastructure is a prerequisite for efficient service provision.

In 2023 Arnes concluded the project “Digitalisation for Open Science – establishing the backbone network” through the upgrading of the optic backbone of the Arnes network, which is a major contribution to the development of a modern, accessible and competitive research and education environment, in which progress can be based on science and also connections between research institutions. Alongside organisations in the fields of education and culture and other eligible organisations, with the new connections all Slovenia’s public research organisations are now connected.

The completed modernisation of the Arnes optic backbone for public organisations represents a major contribution in the form of even more stable operation of long-distance optic connections and a higher level of reliability of operation, and now with two-fibre connections it is an ideal basis for setting up new, significantly faster connections between the Arnes network hubs, with speeds of 100 Gb/s to 400 Gb/s and a readiness for new technologies with speeds up to 800 Gb/s. The recovery and resilience funds have served to establish 40 new long-distance connections between Arnes network hubs provided by various fibre optic suppliers. All the hubs are now connected to optic loops, and their operation is significantly more resilient to potential interruptions of individual long-distance connections. The project was placed in the Recovery and Resilience Plan cofinanced by the European Union (NextGenerationEU) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation as part of the Union’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All information on implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Načrt za okrevanje in odpornost or NOO) in Slovenia can be found at noo.gov.si.

OPTIC CONNECTIONS

SPEED OF CONNECTIONS

SYSTEM SPACE

For optimal operation, network devices and computer servers require an appropriate and secure environment, including a stable power source and adequate climate conditions. To this end, we have established two system spaces at ARNES, which house the central node of the ARNES network and the computer equipment used to provide the services. The system spaces are located on our premises at Ljubljana Technology Park and at the Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana. They are interconnected through powerful links that are physically separated through leased optics.

NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE 

Our network infrastructure consists of powerful and redundant interconnections between nodes, nodes with powerful communication and server equipment, as well as devices that provide energy and appropriate climatic conditions for the smooth operation of the equipment.

Network Backbone

The backbone of the ARNES network consists of transmission equipment, switches, traffic routers at nodes and telecommunication connections between them. The backbone network allows us to provide two types of services: point-to-point connections and IP connectivity. Point-to-point connections with a throughput of 1 Gb/s or 10 Gb/s are intended for complex projects and for connecting redundant computer centres. IP connectivity is based on traffic routers and it supports IPv4 and IPv6 protocols with connection throughput of 10 Gb/s between large nodes and 1 Gb/s between smaller nodes. Both services were established using CWDM and DWDM technologies, which enable the transmission of several simultaneous communication channels through one optical fibre. DWDM equipment can transmit up to 16 simultaneous 10 Gb/s channels, while CWDM can transmit up to four 1 Gb/s channels. A cost-effective Ethernet protocol is used.

Point-to-point connections are not geographically limited to Slovenia. With the services of the pan-European research and education network GÉANT, we can provide connections within Europe, and to other continents. Connections between the nodes of the ARNES network were set up via leased fibre optics, and the routes were designed in such a way that the nodes of a certain area were connected into optical loops. In this way, the backbone of the ARNES network ensures highly reliable services. In the event of a failure of one optical link in the loop, we maintain connectivity to all nodes within the same loop. Organizations are connected to the backbone of the ARNES network using their own equipment. IP connectivity service uses traffic routers run by ARNES that are usually set up at the organization’s location.

PoPs

Guided by the mission of providing the education & research community with a more affordable and higher-quality connection to the ARNES network and the pan-European research and education network GÉANT, and indirectly to the Internet, we have set up our own PoPs in Slovenia to which organizations eligible for our services may connect. The node is usually hosted on the premises of organizations that have an optimal location for connecting to the ARNES network and for connecting organizations in their area. The main nodes are located at Ljubljana Technology Park and at Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana.

The design of the ARNES network allows us to quickly adapt to the needs of the research and education community for powerful communication links. With relatively simple interventions, new multi-gigabit connections can be added as needed between the nodes. We will continue to develop the network with the following two goals: We want to provide redundant connections to all PoPs and increase the capacity of connections between nodes commensurate with traffic growth.

SIX.SI – The Slovenian Internet eXchange

ARNES runs the SIX.SI which is intended for the local exchange of IPv4 and IPv6 traffic between internet providers, content providers and hosting providers. By managing SIX.SI, we facilitate a faster exchange of traffic between members and significantly shorten the path that data must travel from the content provider to the end user.

SIX.SI members can connect at two locations in Ljubljana that support connections with speeds of up to 100 Gb/s.