EARN BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Minutes of the Meeting Held November 19 and 20, 1987

 

PLACE: Hotel Pullman Saint Jacques, Paris, France

EARN DIRECTORS:

EARN STAFF:

OBSERVERS:

ABSENT:

 

Jose Barbera, Spain (deputising Arturo Ribagor-da on November 19, observer for IRIS on November 20)

Kurt Bauknecht, Switzerland

Paul Bryant, U.K., EARN Technical Director

Birgitta Carlson, Sweden

Avi Cohen, Israel

Rene Florizoone, Belgium

Frode Greisen, Denmark

Michael Hebgen, Germany, EARN General Secretary

Matti Ihamuotila, Finland

Jean-Claude Ippolito, France, EARN Treasurer

Dennis Jennings, Ireland, EARN President

David Lord, CERN, EARN Vice-President

Oguz Manas, Turkey

Kees Neggers, Netherlands

Stelios Orphanoudakis, Greece

Arturo Ribagorda, Spain

  1. Salami, Algeria

Stefano Trumpy, Italy

Alain Auroux, Manager, Paris Office

Joe Chester, Executive Assistant, Dublin Office

Ann Hovenden, Secretary, Dublin Office

Colin Allen, Digital (Europe)

Mats Brunell, NORDUNET

Herb Budd, IBM (Europe)

Thedi Hatt, SWITCH

Odd Jorgensen, Digital (Europe)

Boudewijn Nederkoorn, SURFNET

Nicholas Newman, CEC

Philippe Salzedo, REUNIR

Ian Smith, JANET

Peter Tindemans, COSINE

Klaus Ullmann, DFN & RARE

Austria, Iceland, Ivory Coast, Norway, Portugal

 

References relate to the papers in the briefing document and sup­plemental papers for this meeting.  Agenda items are numbered in

 

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87.18  WELCOME

Dennis Jennings, chairman, opened the meeting, welcoming all par­ticipants. He summarized major activities of the EARN Executive Committee (EXEC) since the last BOD meeting.

The EARN BOD formally thanked IBM Europe for the initiative and support of EARN in the past 4 years including a grant of 250.000 ECU for the management of EARN.

87.19  AGENDA

The chairman suggested a schedule for this and future BOD meet­ings

  • 00 am – 6.00 pm for the 1st day
  • 30 am – 3.30 pm for the 2nd day

and some changes, additions and rearrangements in the agenda which were approved.

87.20  MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING

The minutes were presented by Michael Hebgen and with minor changes on page 1 approved. The BOD requested to speed up the distribution process for the minutes.

Matters arising: The closure of the ARPANET gatway at WISCVM and a letter to the Belgium PTT will be discussed under related top­ics.

87.21  MIGRATION (PAGE 145)

1) With millions of ECU of support from DEC for OSI migration the
EARN EXEC will prepare a detailed plan over the next months
and present it to the EARN BOD for approval.  The development
of the migration plan will be a very public procedure seeking
for many input from other networks,  national networks and
organisations like RARE, COSINE, CEC, CEPT etc.

The EARN BOD approved the EARN-DEC program in the overall con­text of the EARN OSI migration. Kees Neggers thanked the EARN EXEC for the effort to achive this support.

2) Nick Newman mentioned many programs and financing of the CEC
and the major RARE criteria (commercial providers,  standards,
geographical coverage).  The CEC will help “closed” networks
like EARN/EUNET for transition to get a true european infra­
structure for data communication.

 

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The EARN BOD authorized Dennis Jennings to welcome on behalf of the EARN BOD the expected press release from Mr. Carpentier (CEC) and to start discussions with the CEC for joined pro­grams and activities.

3) Paul Bryant presented the migration strategy paper (page 153) and mentioned that NSAP adressing at X.121 level needs to be harmonized with JANET, RARE etc. After a detailed discussion the EARN BOD approved a changed version of the migration strategy (page 156):

EARN Network enhancement and OSI integration strategy

Convert backbone to X.25 (1984) Interim – run NJE/RSCS over X.25 Use X.400 for mail

Use FTAM/JTM/VTP when products are available Allow X.3, X.28, X.29 dialog

Interim – allow other protocols for connectivity Phase out NJE/RSCS and other protocols when possi­ble

Encourage national EARN to migrate within national plans

RSCS RFC822/X.400 relay and RSCS/FTAM relay Investigate public/private backbone Seek support from national and international orga­nisations

The above was adopted as a policy statement by the EARN Board of Directors.

The EARN EXEC should develop an implementation plan to be pre­sented at the next EARN BOD meeting; statements of interest for this task force came from Dennis Jennings, Paul Bryant, Kees Neggers and Birgitta Carlson.

The EARN EXEC received the approval to move ahead with some details when applicable in anticipation of the plan with information of the EARN BOD.

4) Paul Bryant mentioned the report of the last EARN Technical meeting in Perugia which is available via NETSERV (3 docu­ments). Dennis Jennings mentioned the next EARN Technical meeting in Lisbon where details of the operation of the exi-siting and future network are to be discussed.

87.22 MANAGEMENT REPORT (PAGE 10)

 

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The management report by the EARN BOD.

presented by Dennis Jennings was accepted

 

87.23 OPERATING PROCEDURES (PAGE 172)

Michael Hebgen presented and the EARN BOD adopted the following operating procedures:

1)  ELECTRONIC VOTING

Because of the need to come to decisions in the mean­time between the two regular anniversary meetings of the EARN Board of Directors (BOD) the following operating procedures for electronic voting will be defined:

  1. If not explicitly stated within the proposition to be
    voted on, the normal reaction  time is  four (4)
  2. A proposition is accepted if the majority of EARN
    BOD members give a positive vote, except the cancel­
    lation of membership which requires a 2/3 majority.
  3. A proposition is deferred until the next EARN BOD
    meeting if at least three (3) BOD members wish so.
  4. Decisions will be ratified by the next EARN BOD meet­

2)  DEPUTIZING FOR EARN DIRECTOR

Each EARN BOD member is permitted and encouraged to declare the deputy EARN Director of his country and maybe one other person (a secretary e.g.) to ensure that electronic mail is read in time. The electronic addresses of these persons will be included into the distribution list EARN-BOD at IRLEARN. In case of absence of the EARN BOD member the deputy EARN Director of the country is entitled to vote on behalf of the EARN BOD member.

3)  DOCUMENTS

All documents produced are open by default unless explicitely stated. Working papers must be marked “DRAFT”.

The EARN BOD nominated Michael Hebgen for chairman and Avi Cohen, Frode Greisen and Stelios Orphanoudakis for members of the Oper­ating Procedures Group, which will deal with further suggested points for electronic voting procedure.

 

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87.24 PUBLICITY

Dennis Jennings encouraged each EARN BOD member to enforce coun­try distribution of press releases, to tailer them to local usage and to help the EARN Dublin office with country addresses. Press releases will be distributed immediately to the EARN BOD either on paper or electronically.

Ann Hovenden reminded December 1st as the deadline for the coun­try report to enable publication in January 1988.

87.25 DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY (PAGE 17)

Joe Chester presented these medium to long term considerations which are an attempt to define the goals and what EARN is and will be. EARN tries to find commonality and enhancements of user needs like infrastructure, services, connectivity and cooperation – no extend of the physical network is mentioned.

After a controversary discussion it was stated, that this paper is a DRAFT and all participants are invited to comment. The observers are asked not to distribute this draft.

87.26 VOLUME CHARGING (PAGE 99)

Dennis Jennings reported on activities of the EARN EXEC like negotiations with the German PTT, planned meeting with the CEPT and with the CEC. He also gave an update of the Belgium situ­ation. Michael Hebgen gave a german update on volume charging and actual activities especially in the scientific area.

The EARN BOD agreed on actions to continue to seek elimination in cooperation with other organisations. All activities must be coordinated with the EARN country Director.

87.27 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

1) Birgitta Carlson mentioned a change in the procedure that the EARN country Director may give provisional approval – see also the new EARN brochure.

The associate membership of EDS,  Interatom and Oxford Instru­ments has been approved,  3 requests are in process and a new

one from MRWFC(Medium Range Weather Forecasting) just has arrived. All EARN BOD members are asked to inform thru Joe Chester the EARN membership committee about actual and maybe new associate members.

The EARN BOD authorized the EARN membership committee to

 

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develop an associate membership application easier to check the conditions.

form to make it

 

  • The EARN BOD appointed Arturo Ribagorda, Stelios Orphanoudak-
    is, Kees Neggers and Frode Greisen to the EARN Membership Com­
  • After discussion of the Draft (page 82) the EARN BOD agreed on
    an annual associate membership fee to be implemented at coun­
    try level.

87.28 MEMBERSHIP (PAGE 22)

 

The electronic votes printed on page 42 were corrected together with Luxembourg 4 new countries were elected:

and

 

 

 

Algeria, Cyprus, Yugoslavia: for 16, against 0, not voted 6 Luxembourg – unopposed vote during EARN BOD meeting

In the case of Hungary the EARN EXEC has decided to go to the EARN BOD with the received applicatrion request because of a “COCOM proscribed country”. The EARN BOD wishes Hungary to be a member of EARN and instructs Dennis Jennings together with Stefa-no Trumpy to clearify the situation, to setup a draft and to inform the EARN BOD.

87.29 BITNET REPORT

Dennis Jennings gave a short report an the NSF plans and the ARPANET gatway situation. The node WISCVM closes the gateway end of this year and BITNET has planned 7 regional gateways to ARPA/NSF to be available in January 1988.

Stefano Trumpy stated that EARN cannot use the Italian gateway to ARPANET because UK is formally opposing any european non-Italian traffic.

He also described the ASTRO project and will arrange a presenta­tion and demonstration during EARN88.

87.30 TOPOLOGY

Alain Auroux explained the reasons for the topology changes which are volume tariffs in Germany, traffic and migration aspects.

After a lengthy discussion of different options and opportunities the EARN BOD agreed on an interim minimal change topology within

 

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the constraint of the funding model “each country pays for one international line”. The votes were 14 for, 1 gainst and 1 obs-tain. The agreed topology, funding and share of the transatlan­tic link is listed in the appendices A and B.

87.31 TECHNICAL GROUP

Paul Bryant presented the proposed draft agenda for the next Technical Meeting in Lisbon which was distributed before the meeting over EARN. This meeting is focussing on several issues of management of the EARN network. The EARN BOD amended the fol­lowing topics to the agenda:

  • Discussion on MOP – MVS
  • Operations Group
  • Development of plans for management and operation of the net­
    work

The EARN BOD gave a vote of thank to Berthold Pasch who has done an excellent job in NETSERV development and european country coordination.

87.32 CLOSED SESSION

The minutes of the closed session are listed in a separate appen­dix C.

87.33 TRANSNATIONAL PAYMENT

1) The EARN BOD agreed the details of transnational payment
mechanism for 1988:

  • Each country pays for one international line and has to
    find bilateral agreement with the partner country.
  • For the share of the transatlantic link the EARN associa­
    tion will send an invoice to each country.

The EARN manager Alain Auroux should be kept informed about all activities so he may help in case of problems.

2) Each EARN BOD member present reported the status of funding
for 1988 with the result that financing of EARN for 1988 is
secured.

87.34 EARN 88

Oguz Manas gave an overview of the status and planning for con­ference EARN88. The EARN BOD approved the programme and voted for focusing on 1 or 2 themes like european infrastructure, Internet­working or migration.

 

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The next EARN BOD meeting is scheduled for April 21 and 22, 1988, following the EARN88 conference in Izmir, Turkey.

87.35 LIAISON

The reports from Dennis Jennings and Joe Chester on a wide range of activities was adopted by the EARN BOD and approval was given for continuing discussion.

A letter from SWITCH was presented by Kurt Bauknecht and noted by the EARN BOD.

Michael Hebgen January 20, 1988

Appendix A EARN TOPOLOGY

EARN Topology – as decided during the EARN Board

19/20 November Based on minimum changes due to the German situation

List of international lines – Country A pays the line A-B

A                 B

Austria           Switzerland

Belgium           France

Denmark        Sweden

Finland           Sweden

France            Switzerland

Germany           France (64 Kb)

Greece            France

Iceland          Sweden        Switched line

Ireland          U.K.

Israel          France

Italy             France

Ivory Coast     France

 

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Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

  1. K.

France

Sweden

Spain

France

Switzerland

Germany

France

Switzerland

 

The cost of the intercontinental line Montpellier – CUNY is shared by all above countries

Appendix B TRANSATLANTIC LINE

Transatlantic line: Countries contribution

Annual cost of the line: 130 000 ECUs

Based on Nov. 87 exchange rates.

 

RARE Keys

Cost  10 percent  Total (ECU)  contengency  (ECU)

 

 

 

Austria

Belgium

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Ivory Coast

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

U.K.

12

12

12

12

20

20

7

1

7

12

20

1

16

12

7

16 16 16 12 20

251

 

 

4.8 6215
4.8 6215
4.8 6215
4.8 6216
8.0 10359
8.0 10359
2.8 3625
0.4 518
2.8 3625
4.8 6215
8.0 10359
0.4 518
6.4 8287
4.8 6215
2.8 3625
6.4 8287
6.4 8287
6.4 8287
4.8 6215
8.0 10359

130000

621 621 621 621

1036

1036

363

52

363

621

1036 52 829 621 363 829 829 829 621

1036

13000

6836 6836 6836 6836

11395

11395

3988

570

3988

6836

11395 570 9116 6836 3988 9116 9116 9116 6836

11395

143000

 

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Appendix C 87.32 CLOSED SESSION

On the 2nd day a closed session only for EARN BOD members and EARN staff was scheduled.

87.36 CEPT LIAISON

Stefano Trumpy informed the EARN BOD about a planned meeting with the CEPT on December 15, 1987, in Copenhagen, an EARN only meet­ing at the beginning followed by a broader meeting with other parties. He also mentioned a remarkable result of COSINE discus­sions that one of the possible infrastructures in Europe is a private leased line X.25 network like EARN.

87.37 FINANCE

1) Jean-Claude  Ippolito presented and explained the auditors
report from Fiduciaire de France for 1985,  1986 and 1987,  up
to October 19.

The EARN BOD formally noted the report and decided that approval for 1985, 1986 and 1987 – when closed – is subject to a final statement that the EARN associations book keeping is examined and correct.

The auditors report must be itemized at least with the same headings as in the budget proposal on a year and quarter year basis – quarter year starting with 1987. A presentation of the actual and planned budget should be given each half year in advance to the EARN BOD meeting.

The EARN BOD also requested a report on the obligations, duties and responsabilities of an EARN BOD member under the french law of the EARN association.

2) Jean-Claude  Ippolito presented a budget proposal from July
1987 to June 1989.  Kurt Bauknecht stated that he is dissatis­
fied with the EARN Executive Committee and he requested alter­
native budgets for the next 5 years to be prepared;  the
request was seconded by Frode Greisen and Avi Cohen.

After a lengthy and controversary discussion the EARN BOD took the following motion:

 

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The EARN EXEC should prepare a financial plan for the next five years (starting in July 1987) taking into account the following factors:

  1. A single office starting in February 1989, date of
    the change of President.
  2. A revision of the estimates provided in the proposed
    budget in particular to adjust the expendeture so
    that the use of the IBM grant terminates in the end
    of June 1989 with the least deficit.
  3. Several alternatives of staffing level will be pre­

This plan will be circulated to the EARN BOD members in the first half of February 1988 for comments.

Distribution of the consequential contributions will be shown using the same keys as for the transatlantic link.