Network Performance Measurements as Part of Feasibility Studies on Moving an ATLAS Event Filter to Off-Site Institutes

Abstract

In this paper we present a system for measuring network performance as part of the feasibility studies for locating the ATLAS third level trigger, the Event Filter (EF), in remote locations. Part of the processing power required to run the EF algorithms, the current estimate is 2000 state off the art processors, can be provided in remote, CERN-affiliated institutes, if a suitable network connection between CERN and the remote site could be achieved. The system is composed of two PCs equipped with GPS systems, CERN-designed clock cards and Alteon Gigabit programmable network interface cards. In the first set of measurements we plan to quantify connection in terms of end-to-end latency, throughput, jitter and packet loss. This will be followed by running streaming tests and study throughput, IP QoS, routing testing and traffic shaping. Finally, we plan to install the event filter software in a remote location and feed it with data from test beams at CERN. Each of these tests should be preformed with the test traffic treated in the network on the “best effort” basis and also when the traffic is sent via a ‘dedicated’ channel. The description of the system initially deployed in CERN-Geneva/Switzerland and Cracow/Poland is followed by results from the first measurements.