With FlowVisor, researchers exploring totally new ways of using networks could run experimental software in one "slice" of a network while preventing it from taking over the resources that other users on the network need. Researcher Luke Fowler of the University of Indiana demonstrated this capability at the conference, applying controls on the slices of a network that prevented a resource-hungry experimental application called "Nutty Professor" from overloading the network's control system.

Internet2 also hopes to foster the concept of a so-called "science DMZ," which can set scientific applications apart from the rest of the traffic on university networks. Scientists have different needs from casual Internet users, Boyd said: high bandwidth, long sessions and dedicated connections over long distances.

At the same time, science applications don't necessarily require some of the tools needed for average consumer traffic. For example, because the scientists are trusted users, they may not need to go through a firewall. With a special virtual path across the network, data-intensive scientific uses such as exchanging data on the Higgs boson atomic particle can get the performance needed while running over the same physical network as average students' traffic, said Inder Monga, a researcher at ESnet.

The IDG News Service