Good evening,
I represent 2 different networks in different capacities, AS53740 (optbit, personal research and education) and AS3789 (Essentia Health, https://www.essentiahealth.org/about/).
Both networks are based out of Duluth and neither of them are current members of MICE.
A remote switch in Duluth would lower the barrier to entry for a number of organizations that provide regional content and resources.
For AS3789, it would mean providing better access to telehealth resources in a traditionally underserved region where high latencies and low bandwidth have caused slow adoption.
I would be in favor of a remote switch in Duluth.

Thanks,
Abhi

-----Original Message-----
From: MICE Discuss <MICE-DISCUSS@LISTS.IPHOUSE.NET> On Behalf Of Richard Laager
Sent: Friday, May 11, 2018 2:52 PM
To: MICE-DISCUSS@LISTS.IPHOUSE.NET
Subject: [MICE-DISCUSS] RFC: Remote Switch in Duluth

The following is from Ryan Goldberg of Compudyne:

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Compudyne/AS47096 is interested in operating a MICE remote switch in Duluth.

We have two 10G paths from 511 to Duluth (one on Charter, one on
Enventis) in a ring of 5 Juniper MX boxes (2 at 511, 3 in Duluth – the 3 in Duluth are interconnected over dark fiber).  We hit a little over 5G on 5min averages in total between the two 511<->Duluth legs.  Latency is 4-5ms.

We currently participate in MICE via MNVoip’s extension, mainly because it makes more overall sense to pick up MICE + SIX + Denver + KC all on one interface (for now).  We’d probable leave it like that for a while.

For the proposed extension switch we’d do a two site VPLS config on the MXes, with on a fresh, dedicated 10gig port at 511 and corresponding 10gig port in Duluth.  We’d start with an EX4200-24F in Duluth, and run the usual Juniper-y stuff (from http://micemn.net/technical.html).
Initial participants would only be on 1gig ports on the 4200.

As for location, we’re currently leaning toward “the Missabe Building”
at 227 W 1st St, Duluth, MN  – this is our primary downtown Duluth POP, and aside from our fiber, and there’s high-count fiber from at least 5 other carriers in the building.  The space has dual AC and is backed by generator power.

Upgrade path is 100G 511<->Duluth, at least on one leg.  If business drives it, we’ll just do it.  Otherwise it’s budgeted for next year.  As for the switch, we’d move to a ex4550.
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Without taking any position on this here yet, I'd like to highlight a couple of facts:

The proposed transport is over a VPLS link (i.e. shared with other traffic, not a dedicated wave).

In the past, and quite possibly still, we have had participants connected over shared links, but not entire remote switches.

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Richard