Technology Directions

The guiding principles behind the RISQ network's architecture are rooted in its mission. At the technical level, the network is reliable, high-performance, able to sustain high rates of throughput, and provides the advanced functionality required by research and higher education. From an economic standpoint, it provides the best quality-price ratio on the market and allows its financial backers — Quebec universities and various levels of government — to keep capital and operating costs under control.

The RISQ network is thus fundamentally an IP network, based on a dark fibre optic infrastructure and deploying a wide array of tried and true technologies such as WDM, SONET, Ethernet, MPLS and VPN, to name only the main ones.

RISQ's priority technology directions

Segmentation of the network into functional layers

A functional layer architecture ensures maximum flexibility for expansion and minimizes the operational impact of upgrades.

Dark fibre infrastructure

RISQ achieves total control of its network by taking advantage of the freedom to run its fibre optic infrastructure using technology, equipment and protocols of its own choosing. To this end, RISQ either owns its own fibre optic links, or secures exclusive leased links for guaranteed twenty-year periods (with extension options of five or ten years).

A three-level IP routing structure

RISQ's IP routing structure is comprised of three levels: the Core or "backbone network", Regional Distribution and, finally, Client Access. Once again, a clear, well-defined structure reinforces flexibility for updates and expansion.

Redundancy

The redundancy of Core and Regional network paths when economically viable ensures that the network remains operational in case a link goes down. This is also available as an option at the Client Access level of the routing structure.

MPLS and VPN for access management

To mitigate the limitations of TCP/IP protocols, the MPLS protocol achieves superior routing performance and offers many advantages such as better traffic management capabilities. Virtual private networks (VPNs) support allows to implement detailed management of client access privileges and bandwidth allocation to the various services offered by RISQ: virtual networks (VLANs), RISQ Internet, CA*net and commercial Internet access.

Ethernet-based interfaces

Ethernet technology is also implemented at the client interface level (Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet) and, if possible, at the interface with other networks (notably CA*net 4 at 1 or 10 gigabits).

Encapsulation of IP within an Ethernet frame

For short haul purposes IP is encapsulated within an Ethernet frame, itself transported directly on an optical wavelength. By minimizing the number of protocol layers in this way, we optimize the overall performance of the network.

Encapsulation of Ethernet frames within a SONET frame

For long haul purposes Ethernet frames are then encapsulated within a SONET (time-division multiplexing) frame in order to maintain their integrity. Next-generation SONET technologies also provide higher topological flexibility.

WDM technology for optical transport

Finally, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technologies allows the infrastructure's transport capacity to be expanded simply by modifying the multiplexing equipment. As a result, there is great flexibility in scaling and an extremely advantageous maximization of initial investments.

These guiding principles lead to a flexible, extensible, economical and practical operational approach. The resulting technological structure is clear, future proof and effective.