KREONET

Revolutionizing Exascale Science Workflows: KISTI ... 2026. 07. 07 View. 32

We are thrilled to announce that Mazahir Hussain, a former PhD candidate at the KREONET Center (KISTI), has been awarded the prestigious FABRIC Golden-Stitch Best Experiment Award. Announced at the KNIT12 conference in Spring 2026, this accolade recognizes pioneering experimentation that demonstrates how global research infrastructures can integrate with deeply programmable networks to support next-generation scientific discoveries. The groundbreaking experimental results that led to this award were published in the paper titled "SENSE in Practice: Quantifying the End-to-End Benefits of Intent-Based Bandwidth Reservation for Exascale Science Workflows"at the SC25 Workshops in November 2025. The study was co-authored alongside international collaborators from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), ESnet, the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and the University of Amsterdam. The Challenge: Beyond "Best-Effort" Networks for Big Data Science Modern scientific instruments generate astronomical volumes of data. For instance, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) routinely s petabytes of data across continents every single day. To transfer and process these massive datasets, global collaborations rely on a patchwork of distributed computing facilities and high-capacity research networks that are built and operated completely independently of one another. Historically, scientific applications have been forced to view the network as an "opaque infrastructure". Researchers inject their high-value data into a simplistic socket interface and "hope" that it arrives at its destination with acceptable performance. Because these applications cannot dynamically negotiate network parameters, scientific workflows frequently suffer from highly variable and unpredictable data transfer speeds. The Solution: End-to-End Resource Provisioning with Quality-of-Service Guarantees in Heterogeneous Networks To resolve this bottleneck, the research team evaluated the SENSE (Software-Defined Network for End-to-end Networked Science at the Exascale) paradigm. SENSE introduces an intent-based architecture that fundamentally transforms the network into a "first-class schedulable resource," allowing applications to communicate directly with network management layers to request guaranteed bandwidth and predictable performance. To rigorously test SENSE under real-world conditions, Mazahir and the team constructed the MIST (Multi-Infrastructure SENSE Testbed). This geographically distributed, multi-domain testbed interconnected three state-of-the-art cyber-infrastructures: FABRIC: An NSF-funded, deeply programmable national network platform. The National Research Platform (NRP): A stretched, multi-tenant scientific Kubernetes cluster. GNA-G AutoGOLE/SENSE*: A global network automation framework.  *GNA-G AutoGOLE/SENSE WG (Chairs: Tom Lehman/ESnet, Buseung Cho/KISTI, Marcos Felipe Schwarz/RNP, Hans Trompert/SURF) Quantifying the Benefits: Key Experimental Findings The MIST testbed allowed researchers to exee full-stack workloads that modeled the active production LHC Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) infrastructure. The empirical findings presented in the paper successfully quantified the performance advantages of intent-based networking: 1. Rapid and Scalable Network Provisioning The SENSE orchestrator proved remarkably consistent in translating high-level application intent into automated physical configurations across multiple administrative domains: Simple Services (CREATE commands): Successfully provisioned guaranteed paths in an average of 183 seconds. Complex Service Operations (MODIFY commands): Completed multi-domain path modification in an average of 290 seconds. Workflow Modifications: Control plane actions, such as REPROVISION, averaged 178 seconds, while teardown tasks like CANCELREP and CANCEL achieved swift exeion times of 131and 129 seconds, respectively. While a configuration overhead exists, the team notes that for exascale workflows and AI training datasets that take hours or days to transfer, an initial setup delay of a few minutes is entirely negligible. The critical benefit is deterministic, guaranteed path stability throughout the transfer. 2. Accelerating High-Priority Scientific Flows In end-to-end application experiments, the team simulated a massive data transfer scenario involving three separate 12 Terabyte (TB) datasetsrouted between high-performance storage nodes running the production LHC data management stack (incorporating Rucio, FTS3, XRootD, and the Data Movement Manager). The results demonstrated a stark contrast against traditional methods: Under standard Best-Effort networking, all data streams competed for the same link capacity, leading to fair but highly prolonged and synchronized completion times as flows congested the backbone. With SENSE-Provisioned QoS, the network dynamically responded to application-driven priorities. SENSE enforced strict bandwidth separation, allowing high-priority scientific data streams to isolate their traffic and complete significantly fasterthan best-effort alternatives. A Shared Milestone for Global Open Science This research marks a significant milestone in realizing the vision of the Department of Energy’s Integrated Research Infrastructure. By bridging the gap between application requirements and multi-domain network orchestration, this work paves the way for predictable, secure, and automated high-throughput data spaces for international scientific collaborations. The project received support from the U.S. Department of Energy (LBNL), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Ciena, and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) (Grant No. K25L5M1C1). In alignment with open science principles, all benchmarking configurations, collection materials, and reproducible scripts have been open-sourced and are publicly accessible via the SENSE Performance GitHub Repository.

KISTI Builds the World’s First Secure Global Resea... 2026. 04. 14 View. 34075

KISTI Builds the World’s First Secure Global Research Backbone… Accelerating International Joint Research Collaboration - KISTI and ETH Zurich Sign MOU to Build and Operate a Secure Global Research Backbone Network  □ The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI, President Sik Lee) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ETH Zurich on April 9 to advance the establishment and operation of the world’s first secure global research backbone and to promote future international joint research. The initiative is based on SCION, a next-generation Internet architecture that addresses the limitations of the conventional Internet built on Internet Protocol (IP) and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).    * SCION (Scalability, Control, and Isolation On Next-Generation Networks) is a future Internet architecture developed by ETH Zurich’s Network Security Group, led by Professor Adrian Perrig. Designed to address security issues in the current Internet, SCION significantly enhances network security. It is already being used in Switzerland, including by the Swiss National Bank and more than seven ISPs. □ KISTI’s Korea Research Environment Open NETwork (KREONET) has been pursuing cooperation with ETH Zurich’s Network Security Group since 2017. Following in-depth discussions beginning in 2021 on SCIERA, a secure global research backbone based on SCION, KREONET of Korea, G&Eae;ANT of Europe, and SWITCH, the Swiss National Research and Education Network, have jointly built and are now operating the SCIERA backbone.    * SCIERA (SCION Education, Research and Academic Infrastructure) is a SCION-based global research network that connects researchers across Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and even Africa. KISTI has established and is operating the SCIERA infrastructure over KREONET across the Asia–North America–Europe segment. □ KREONET is a world-class national research and education network capable of transmitting massive volumes of data at ultra-high speed for big science, convergence research, and the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and high-performance computing (HPC). Through this MOU, the two institutions will pursue △ the joint development and operation of SCIERA, △ the establishment of a secure science and technology research backbone based on SCION, and △ the development of advanced testbeds. In addition, the two sides plan to expand SCION-based international joint research through international collaborative research programs, including the European Union’s Horizon programme. □ Buseung Cho, Director of KREONET Center at KISTI, said, “Through cooperation with the ETH Zurich SCION team, we will not only advance the establishment and operation of the SCIERA infrastructure as a secure global research backbone, but also prepare joint international research to develop SCION-based high-performance virtual private network (VPN) technologies between Korea and Switzerland, as well as between Korea and Europe. We will further strengthen practical research collaboration so that these technologies can be applied to global scientific and technological research fields that require highly secure and high-performance networks.” □ Professor Adrian Perrig of ETH Zurich, who leads the SCION project, said, “KISTI is a highly innovative research institute in networking, and KREONET is a globally leading research and education network. We are very excited to collaborate with KISTI to build the world's first high-security research network.” KISTI–ETH Zurich MOU Signing Ceremony Architecture of the SCION-based Global Research Network https://www.kisti.re.kr/eng/news/post/eng_news/6939?t=1776141165134#

KREONET 2025 Research & Innovation Support Highlig... 2025. 12. 11 View. 46664

KREONET 2025 Research & Innovation Support Highlights

Sweden-Korea Polar Connect Roundtable Dialog 2025. 09. 09 View. 52181

from Per Nihlen (CTO at SUNET/Swedish Research Council)'s linkedin Posts A truly fantastic week in Seoul 🇰🇷🇸🇪🇪🇺We had the privilege of holding a roundtable discussion on Polar Connect in Seoul. A strategic dialogue on how a direct digital link between Europe and Korea could serve as a cornerstone for future connectivity. Such an infrastructure would not only enhance resilience, reduce latency, and secure greater capacity, but also play a key role in bringing our digital economies closer together.By enabling faster, more secure, and sustainable data flows, Polar Connect has the potential to strengthen innovation ecosystems, digital trade and research collaboration, while also providing critical infrastructure for the development and deployment of AI and data-driven technologies.This initiative represents an opportunity to continue building on long-term trust, reinforcing partnerships, and establish new frameworks for cooperation. Ensuring that Sweden, Europe and South Korea remain at the forefront of the global digital transformation.A special thanks to His Excellency Ambassador Karl-Olof Andersson for generously hosting us at the Swedish Residence, and to Director General Katarina Bjelke, Director General David Edvardsson, Director Buseung Cho and Dr. Rainer Wessely for their insightful presentations, strong commitment, and leadership in moving this important agenda forward.hashtag#PolarConnect hashtag#Vetenskapsrådet hashtag#NORDUnet hashtag#Polar hashtag#Sweden hashtag#SouthKorea hashtag#EU hashtag#Kisti hashtag#CEFDigital hashtag#DigitalEU

KREONET Workshop 2025 2025. 08. 29 View. 50034

Mark your calendars for the upcoming KREONET Workshop 2025 held November 10-12 in Seoul at the Swiss Grand Hotel Seoul.  Date: November 10-12 Venue: Swiss Grand Hotel Seoul (https://www.swissgrand.co.kr/) The workshop will includes the following contents. - Next Generation Network Technology Session : AI/AIOps, Non-Data, Next Generation Wired/Wireless Networking etc. - KREONET User Community Session : Globus, T&I (KAFE), eduroam etc. - KREONET Advanced Research Community Session: Aerospace/Satellite, Bio/Genomics, High Energy Physics, High Performance Computing, Astronomy, Climate etc. - Collaboration Meeting: KREONET Regional Center Steering Committee, KREONET Technical Community WG(Open source, Young generation group, Cloud and Datacenter), National Data eXchange (NDeX) Partners meeting etc. The workshop program will be opened soon.

KISTI Strengthens Research Network Security with R... 2025. 08. 29 View. 51161

KISTI | Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information has introduced full-scale Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) to KREONET (Korea Research Environment Open NETwork) — becoming the first in Korea to operationalize RPKI across a national research and education network. In collaboration with KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency), KISTI has established a routing authentication framework that issues and validates Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs) for KREONET’s autonomous system numbers (ASNs). This framework ensures that only verified IP prefixes are advertised through the network, significantly reducing the risk of route hijacking and configuration errors — both of which can disrupt large-scale scientific data transfers and collaborative research activities.This RPKI deployment is part of KISTI’s broader effort to comply with Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS) — a global initiative led by the Internet Society to enhance Internet routing security. By adopting RPKI, KISTI contributes to a more secure and resilient Internet infrastructure, while also strengthening the trustworthiness of KREONET as a critical platform for AI- and HPC-based data-intensive research and international collaboration.🔎 (KR) Learn more about KREONET: https://kreonet.net/📰 (KR) Learn more about this news: https://lnkd.in/gCKm7u6M👉 Let’s connect with KISTI: 🌐 Website: https://lnkd.in/g-hB-Ad3 📸 Instagram: https://lnkd.in/gBAx4uSH ▶️ YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gYchPvtJ

From KREONET to ESnet Berkeley Lab: How Mazahir’s ... 2025. 08. 25 View. 62067

Every second, the detectors of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN record more than a billion proton-proton collisions. After real-time filtering, the four main experiments—ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb—still generate tens of petabytes of data annually. When the accelerator is upgraded to its high-luminosity phase later this decade, this volume is expected to reach into the hundreds of petabytes. Moving these datasets from the French-Swiss border to analysis centers across five continents requires far more than just bandwidth; it demands networks that can be provisioned, monitored, and adapted similarly to how large experimental facilities manage their detectors and accelerators.   This is precisely the goal of SENSE (Software-defined networking for science at exascale), an orchestration framework developed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), in collaboration with several partners. SENSE considers the network as a first-class scientific instrument, capable of reserving capacity, satisfying strict quality-of-service requirements, and offering researchers “intent-based” services—requests phrased in terms of science rather than hardware.   Mazahir Hussain, a Ph.D. candidate at KISTI’s KREONET in South Korea, has spent the past few months at Berkeley Lab as an ESnet visiting researcher, working on performance evaluation of the SENSE project for the data-intensive era of the High-Luminosity LHC. Working with Justas Balcas, Xi Yang, and ESnet director Inder Monga, Mazahir helped develop MIST—the Multi-Infrastructure SENSE Testbed—which connects three different research cyberinfrastructures: • FABRIC, the U.S. National Science Foundation’s adaptive, programmable network platform • The National Research Platform (NRP) based at the Supercomputer Center of UC San Diego • AutoGOLE, an international testbed operated by research and education networks, where KREONET provides two data-transfer nodes via the Network Service Interface (NSI) protocol   MIST currently links six FABRIC sites (CERN, AMST, NEWY, STAR, UCSD, LOSA), Caltech on AutoGOLE, and UCSD on the NRP. It manages them with workflows patterned after the CMS experiment’s global data-handling model. The design is based on three principles: 1) heterogeneity—multiple administrative domains and hardware types; 2) comprehensive, reproducible instrumentation; 3) full-stack, resource-intensive workloads that mirror real scientific processes. Photo: Mazahir Hussain with Chin Guok, Chief Technical Officer of ESnet, at the Poster Session at Berkeley Lab Results show that SENSE can establish end-to-end circuits within minutes in multi-domain, sustain line-rate transfers amid competing traffic, and provide detailed telemetry. Mazahir shared these findings at Berkeley Lab’s recent Scientific Computing Poster Session, demonstrating how dynamic network orchestration can enhance data transfer performance for LHC experiments by accommodating different priorities.   This internship strengthens the connection between KREONET and ESnet at a time when global science is gearing up for unprecedented data production. By proving that networks can be programmed as confidently as supercomputers and detectors, the MIST project brings the community closer to a future where transferring a petabyte becomes as routine as scheduling a job on a cluster—exactly what the next decade of LHC research will demand.