UCLP: User Controled Lightpath Provisioning
The UCLP system was borned as a result of a RFP (Request For Proposals) issued by CANARIE in september 2003. Four implementation proposals prepared by four independent teams were accepted, among them the proposal of the CRC (Communications Research Centre, Canada) and the UofO (University of Ottawa, Canada). The i2cat foundation joined the team in april 2004, as a consequence of the MoU signed with the CRC.
The UCLP software can ve very simply thought of as a configuration and partition manager that exposes each lightpath in a physical network and each network element associated with a a lightpath as an object or service that can be put under the control of different network users to create their own logical IP network topologies.
UCLPv1.x
As Bill St. Arnaud (senior director of Research Networks, CANARIE) says:
'UCLP can be very simply though of as a configuration and partition manager that exposes each lightpath in a physical network and each network element associated with a lightpath as an 'object' or 'service' that can be put under the control of different network users to create their own IP network topologies'.
This way several network operators can make part of their resources available to end users so that they can decide when they want to create/delete end to end connections or change the network topology (that's why the system is called User Controled Lighpath Provisioning).

Example of UCLPv1.x system
More info: UCLP design document
HEAnet's UCLPv1
The goal of the project is to adapt UCLPv1 (User Controlled Lightpath Provisioning) system to make it compatible with HEAnet's networks. It will be achieved through 2 deliverables, the first one will implement a new ULCPv1 GUI adapted to HEAnet's requirements, and the second one will be to integrate UCLPv1 and E-DI and its implementation over HEAnet's network.
This project attempts to allow HEAnet network users to manage its own connections (LSP as lightpaths) by means of Ethernet connections, using a modified version of the current release of UCLPv1 developed by CRC (Communications Research Centre) of Canada, University of Ottawa and i2CAT Foundation. The software will provide a web-based GUI to establish, manage and query connections controlled directly by the user.
As a result of this work HEAnet will test this new UCLPv1 implementation, compare it with its current provisioning software and evaluate the possibility of deploying UCLP on its network.
This project started in June 2005 and it is expected to be finished next May/June 2006.
This project will be achieved through the collaboration of different partners: Fundació i2CAT, HEAnet, Cisco Systems, UPC (GCO), Tecsidel (sponsor), NDP, CRC and lead by i2CAT.
Cisco Systems has donated to i2cat Fundation a set of devices that emulates the 10Gbps EoMPLS HEAnet network. The devices are:
- 3 Cisco Catalyst 3750G-12S
- 2 Cisco Catalyst 3750G-16TD
- 2 Cisco 7604 Routers
Tecsidel has financed a part of the human resources.
Project website: http://www.uclp.ca/
