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Reproducibility of Science is considered as one of the main principles of the scientific method, and refers to the ability of an experiment to be accurately reproduced, by third person, in complex experiment every detail matters to ensure the correct reproducibility. In the context of the ICCS 2011, Elsevier organized the executable paper grand challenge a contest to improve the way scientific information is communicated and used. While during this contest the focus was on developing methods and technique to realize the idea of executable papers, in this paper we focus on the operational issues related to the creation a viable service with a predefined QoS.

We present a framework that enables application developers to create complex and application specific network services. The essence of our approach is to utilize programmable network elements to create a software representation of network elements in the application. We show that the typical pattern of an application specific network service is a control loop in which topology, paths, and services are continuously monitored and adjusted to match application specific qualities. We present a platform in which network control applications can be developed and illustrate possible use cases. Based on these use cases, new research questions are identified.

This article introduces the Interactive Network concept and describes the design and implementation of the first prototype. In an Interactive Network humans become an integral part of the control system to manage programmable networks and grid networks. The implementation consists of a multi-touch table that allows multiple persons to manage and monitor a programmable network simultaneously. The amount of interactive control of the multi-touch interface is illustrated by the ability to create and manipulate paths, which are either end-to-end, multicast or paths that contain loops. First experiences with the multi-touch table show its potential for collaborative management of large-scale infrastructures.