GÉANT's terabit-ready network is the most advanced and well-connected research and education network in the world.

Managing such an extensive network is a complex task and GÉANT has created an expert support structure to ensure the reliability, integrity and security of the GÉANT network and its users. One of the specialist teams working to manage the GÉANT network is the operation centre. which handles the coordination and execution of GÉANT's operational service provision.

Provision of the GÉANT network is a large and complex international service supporting a wide range of users and projects across Europe and the rest of the world. Many of the technologies used by these projects are at the leading edge of high-performance networking. GÉANT engineers work closely with the technology providers to develop support and management systems to operate this network and the services on it.

GÉANT supports the exchange of knowledge and best practices among the network operations staff of our member organisations through the SIG-NOC special interest group.

GÉANT Operations Centre (GOC)

Supporting network and service delivery round the clock.

Day-to-day management of the GÉANT network is handled by the Operations Centre (GOC). The GOC acts as a first point of contact for its subscribers and other NOCs (network operations centres). It:

• receives reports of service problems;
• diagnoses network problems;
• oversees repairs and corrective maintenance;
• resolves issues pertaining to the network and supported services and assists as required;
• monitors network health;
• creates tickets for network incidents and planned maintenance.

The GÉANT Operations Centre is active 24x7x365 (366 in a leap year!) days per year. The GOC has a particular responsibility for the support of GÉANT multi-domain services, i.e. those services that span several national networks and GÉANT. In this capacity the GOC ensures the reliable and ongoing operation of those central systems and processes which underpin the multi-domain services.

The GOC also provides 24x7 support for the EUMEDCONNECT and EaPConnect network infrastructures.