The network is based on the MPLS backbone infrastructure of Orange Business Services (OBS - a merger of Orange, Equant and France Telecom on 1 June 2006). This technology allows OBS to implement an IP Virtual Private Network (IPVPN) for the RMDCN community. The main characteristics for the new network are:
- It provides any-to-any connectivity between the RMDCN members.
- It provides a Gold or Silver Service Level:
- The Gold Service Level provides Class of Service mechanisms. Three Classes of Service have been defined: D1 class is for highest priority traffic and should get 75% of the bandwidth; D2 class is for medium priority traffic and gets 20% of the bandwidth and D3 class is for lowest priority traffic and gets 5% of the bandwidth. Please note that these bandwidth allocations only will take effect when the access circuit of a site is congested.
- It can provide Load Balancing for Mission Critical sites.
- Resilience is available in three options:
- Mission Critical: The site has got two diversely routed circuits to different OBS Points of Presence. The circuits are connected to two separate routers on the User Site.
- Extra Enhanced: The site has got two diversely routed circuits to different OBS Points of Presence. The two circuits are connected to the same router on the User Site.
- Enhanced: This uses the OBS NAS backup service which uses warm standby routers and ISDN dialup connections. This then creates a logical connection to the ECMWF routers which then acts as a gateway for the site into the IPVPN.
The new network connects 49 sites as listed in the following table.
Country/Site | Access Speed | IPVPN Port Speed | Resiliency | CoS | Load Balancing | NAS Backup Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Austria | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Belgium | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Bulgaria | 1.5M | 1.5M | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Canada | 2M | 2M | N/A | Gold | NO | N/A |
China | 4M | 3M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Croatia | 512k | 512k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 256k |
Czech Republic | 6M | 5.1M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Denmark | 10M | 5M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
ECMWF | 100M | 100M | mission critical | Gold | YES | N/A |
Estonia | 64k | 64k | enhanced | Silver | NO | 64k |
EUMETSAT | 10M | 8.6M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
EUMETSAT-EUMETCast * | 4M | 3.5M | N/A * | Gold | NO | N/A |
Finland | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
France | 10M | 10M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Germany | 10M | 8M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Greece | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Hungary | 1M | 1M | enhanced | Gold | NO | 256k |
Iceland | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
India | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Ireland | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
| Israel | 2M | 1M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Italy | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Japan | 10M | 10M | mission critical | Gold | YES | N/A |
Jordan | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Latvia | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Lebanon | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Lithuania | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Silver | NO | 128k |
Luxembourg | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Macedonia (FYR of) | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Morocco | 1M | 768k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Netherlands | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Netherlands-DR * | 2M | 2M | N/A * | Gold | NO | N/A |
Norway | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Poland | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Portugal | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Romania | 2M | 256k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 128k |
Russian Federation | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Serbia | 512k | 512k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 256k |
Slovakia | 256k | 256k | enhanced | Silver | NO | 128k |
Slovenia | 256k | 256k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 256k |
South Africa | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
South Korea | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Spain | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Sweden | 10/8M | 8.2/6.8/M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
Switzerland | 2M | 2M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N?A |
Turkey | 8M | 8M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
United Arab Emirates | 128k | 128k | enhanced | Gold | NO | 64 |
United Kingdom | 10M | 6M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
USA | 1.5M | 1.5M | mission critical | Gold | NO | N/A |
* No backup mechanism. | ||||||
An overview of the network configuration is shown in the following figure.
The following figure shows the global coverage.
In the framework of the WMO/ECMWF agreement on the RMDCN, the ECMWF project team manages the network and monitors the QoS (Quality of Service) on a 24-hour basis for all participating Centres. All the changes, new requests and connections affecting the network are co-ordinated by the project team. The manpower costs for these tasks are funded by the ECMWF Member States. The RMDCN web site provides the participating Centres with up-to-date information.
The RMDCN is a private network open to the meteorological community. To join the RMDCN, new members must complete an "Accession Agreement". For further information please contact the WMO.