Between grids and networks: grid‐enabled network control planes

Purpose – This article seeks to introduce the concept of the Grid‐GMPLS control plane architecture with focus on new services, models, and interoperability issues of Grid‐GMPLS (G2MPLS) and GMPLS control planes. The purpose of this activity is to design, implement and test extensions of the GMPLS Control Plane that can enable the paradigm of a G2MPLS network.Design/methodology/approach – The approach deploys extended GMPLS implementations aiming to facilitate bandwidth provisioning to Grid users.Findings – G2MPLS is a Network Control Plane architecture that implements the concept of Grid Network Services. GNS is a service that allows the provisioning of network and Grid resources in a single‐step through a set of integrated procedures. By providing a unified network/Grid infrastructure the control plane can adapt to the demands of applications having intensive requirements on both computational and network resources.Research limitations/implications – The project delivers the prototype implementation of G...