Abilene Network
Abilene is an advanced backbone network that supports the development
and deployment of the new applications being developed within
the Internet2 community. Abilene connects regional network aggregation
points, called gigaPoPs, to support the work of Internet2 universities
as they develop advanced Internet applications. Abilene complements
other high-performance research networks. [Abilene
Website]
Abilene Connector
Abilene connectors are research and educational institutions
connecting directly to the Abilene network. Abilene connectors
may be gigaPoPs, universities, affiliate members or other regional
networks.
Abilene Primary Participant
Primary Participants are Regular, Affiliate and Corporate members
who pay membership fees. Primary institutions are typically
colleges and universities, but may also be other types of research
organizations with the capability of committing and deploying
the substantial resources necessary to implement Internet2 capabilities.
Before requesting an application to become an Abilene Primary
Participant, your organization must be an Internet2 member.
[Abilene
Participation Application]
Advanced Backbone
Network
The high-performance networks participating in Internet2 that
provide the environment in which new network applications and
capabilities can be deployed and tested.
Affiliate Members
Affiliate members are nonprofit organizations that are research-
and/or education-oriented. Affiliate members are organizations
with a strong interest in the mission and goals of Internet2.
Many affiliate members are providing leadership in developing
the Internet2 gigaPoPs. Affiliate members pay Internet2
membership dues and Abilene connection fees (if connected).
[Request
an Application]
Affiliate Membership
Collaboration Sites
Affiliate members that are nonprofit organizations that are
research- and/or education-oriented labs and who meet certain
conditions may apply to become collaboration sites. They may
connect directly to Abilene or through a gigaPoP. Affiliate
members with collaboration site status are responsible for Internet2
membership dues and Abilene connection fees.In addition to the
Collaboration Site Application, the Abilene Participation Applicaiton
is also required. [Request
an Collaboration Application] [Abilene
Participation Application]
Association Members
This membership category is intended
for non-profit, higher education associations with a national
or international scope. The majority of the association’s
members must also be non-profit organizations. Other non-profit,
membership-based consortia with a primarily educational membership
and missions that focus on advanced technologies for research
and education will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and
may be required to submit letters of support from current Internet2
Regular members along with their application. [Request
an Application]
Associations that wish to be connected to Abilene must become
Affiliate Members with Collaboration Site Status and Abilene
Primary Participation.
Corporate Member
Internet2 corporate members are committed to promoting the development
and deployment of advanced Internet applications and network
services. Corporate members are responsible for Internet2 membership
dues and Abilene connection fees if they choose to be an Abilene
Participant. [Request
an Application]
Corporate Partners
Corporate partners commit $1million+ dollars over the course
of three years. Internet2 corporate partners and sponsors have
made significant commitments to collaborating with Internet2
universities. Corporate partners are responsible for Internet2
membership dues and Abilene connection fees they choose to be
an Abilene Participant. [Request
an Application]
Corporate Sponsors
Corporate sponsors commit $100,000+ dollars over the course
of three years. Internet2 corporate partners and sponsors have
made significant commitments to collaborating with Internet2
universities. Corporate sponsors are responsible for Internet2
membership dues and Abilene connection fees they choose to be
an Abilene Participant. [Request
an Application]
Corporate Collaboration
Sites
Corporate members who have research- and/or education-oriented
labs and who meet certain conditions may apply to become corporate
collaboration sites. It is common for corporate collaboration
sites to have existing research orientated relationships with
Internet2 Regular Members that require a high performance connection.
Corporate collaboration sites may connect directly to Abilene
or through a gigaPoP. Corporate members with collaboration site
status are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and Abilene
connection fees. In addition to the Collaboration Site Application,
the Abilene Participation Applicaiton is also required
[Request
a Coporate Collaboration Site Application] [Abilene
Participation Application]
GigaPoP
GigaPoPs are regional network aggregation points formed by Internet2
universities to connect to a variety of high performance, and
other types of networks. GigaPoPs provide scalable high-speed
connection points. Internet2 gigaPoPs do not pay Internet2 membership
dues. A university may be its own gigaPoP, a gigaPoP may be
part of a University or its own separate entity.
International MoU Partner
Through mutual agreements with similar organizations around
the world, Internet2 is establishing ties that will help ensure
the continued global interoperability of advanced networking,
and enable collaboration between U.S. researchers, faculty,
students and their overseas counterparts. An international advanced
network organization that has signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to participate in Internet2 activities may connect to Abilene
via a peering network. International partners are not subjected
to Internet2 membership dues and are not considered Internet2
members. [Request
More Information]
International University
Universities not located in the United States may not become
members of Internet2. Instead, Internet2 has developed relationships
with International Partners who are also dedicated to advanced
networking. In some cases, the International Partner may operate
a high performance network by which an International University
may connect. Many International Partner organizations peer with
the Abilene network.
[Request
More Information]
Peering Networks
Peering networks are located in the U.S. or Internationally
that peer with the Abilene network. The peering network is dedicated
to high-performance research and education. Examples include
the vBNS, NREN, DREN,
and ESnet.
Regular Member Universities
Member Universities are leading the Internet2 effort to develop
new networking capabilities and advanced applications necessary
to enhance research and education into the next century. Member
universities are responsible for Internet2 membership dues and
Abilene connection fees (if connected).
[Request
an Application] [Abilene
Participation Application]
Sponsored Educational Group Participants
(SEGP)
Networked aggregates of educational institutions (including
nonprofit and for-profit K – 20, technical, and trade
schools) which may also include museums, art galleries, libraries,
or hospitals that require routine collaboration on instructional,
clinical, and/or research projects, services, and content with
Primary participants or with other Sponsored participants. Internet2
will charge the Connector for the Sponsored Educational Group
Participant an annual fee of $30,000 per connector per state,
plus a variable fee of $2,000 times the current number of Congressional
representatives for that state. Sponsored Educational Group
Participants may pay fees to the Connector and/or to the sponsoring
Internet2 member, where these fees apply to the specific conditions
of connection. No fees are assessed directly of the Sponsored
Educational Group Participant itself by Internet2. This fee
structure will be assessed on an annual basis. Sponsored Educational
Group Participants or NOT considered members of Internet2.
[SEGP
Application] [FAQ]
[Questions]
Sponsored Participants
Sponsored participants are educational institutions (including
both not-for-profit and for-profit K-20, technical, and trade
schools), museums, art galleries, libraries, hospitals, as well
as other non-educational, not-for-profit or for-profit organizations
that require collaboration on instructional, clinical and/or
research projects with Primary participants or with other sponsored
participants. Such organizations are either not eligible or
not able to become an Internet2 member. Only Internet2 University
members who are primary participants may sponsor a sponsored
participant. Sponsored participants are not responsible for
membership dues to Internet2 and do not pay any fees to the
Abilene Network. Sponsored participants may be responsible for
costs associated to the Abilene Connector or to transport (e.g.,
local loop) providers. These costs are at the discretion of
their sponsoring Internet2 Regular Member who is an Abilene
primary participant.
[Sponsored
Participation Application] [FAQ]
[Questions]
