On advance reservation of heterogeneous network paths

A new resource abstraction called Path is introduced in the framework of resource reservation for the optimization of user applications. A network Path is allocated in an on-demand fashion using a number of different signaling methods and is built using a chain of Path Elements that may belong to different administrative domains. Three different implementation technologies are presented: DiffServ, MPLS and the Light Path. We then discuss approaches to the integration of network Paths into the Grid. New and existing mechanisms, leading to novel ways to abstract a network Path, are explored in the area of resource management, advance reservation, authentication, authorization, accounting and coallocation. Finally we show how the support of policy-based co-allocation of path elements across multiple administrative domains can be implemented.