A New Communications
Infrastructure
for
The University of Tennessee
Overview............................................................................................................................. 4
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 VolNet’s History: The Planning Process...................................................................... 5
1.2 The NetEffect Report.................................................................................................. 6
1.3 The National Laboratory for Applied Network Research
(NLANR) Report................ 7
1.4 Digital Connections, Inc.............................................................................................. 8
1.5 Internal Workshop to Review Plans and Analyze Proposed
Networking Designs.......... 9
1.6 IBM International Networking Design Center Workshop............................................. 9
1.7 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 10
2. UT’s Current Network................................................................................................. 11
2.1 Current UT Network Map........................................................................................ 11
2.2 Current Network Description.................................................................................... 12
2.3 Current Network Issues............................................................................................ 13
2.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 14
3. VolNet: Justification.................................................................................................... 15
3.1 Why a Network Upgrade is Crucial.......................................................................... 15
3.2 Some Critical Examples............................................................................................ 16
3.3 VolNet: Designing A Campus Network for the Future............................................... 17
3.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 18
4. VolNet: Technical Overview....................................................................................... 19
4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 19
4.2 Network Convergence.............................................................................................. 19
4.3 Network Design Criteria........................................................................................... 20
4.4 Evaluation of Proposed Network Designs.................................................................. 21
4.5 VolNet Network Design and Architecture................................................................. 22
4.5.1 VolNet Proposed Logical Layout........................................................................... 23
4.5.2 Characteristics of Design........................................................................................ 23
4.5.3 From the Core to the Periphery.............................................................................. 24
4.5.4 Key Elements of the Design.................................................................................... 25
4.6 Transition from Legacy Network to New Network.................................................... 26
4.7 Wireless Technologies............................................................................................... 27
4.8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 28
5. VolNet: Implementation Overview............................................................................. 29
5.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 29
5.2 VolNet Project Phases.............................................................................................. 29
5.3 Projected Schedule................................................................................................... 30
6. VolNet: Budget............................................................................................................ 32
6.1 Phase 1 – Initial Rollout of Core Backbone............................................................... 32
6.2 Phase 2 - Final
Stages of Building Cut-Over............................................................. 32
6.3 Phase 3 – Intra-building Design................................................................................. 32
6.4 Budget Total Phase 1 - 3.......................................................................................... 32
6.5 Phase 4 - Intra-building Construction......................................................................... 33
6.6 Ongoing Funding Model............................................................................................ 33
6.6.1 Network Costs Are Operating Costs, Not Capital Costs........................................ 33
7. VolNet: Ongoing Operations..................................................................................... 34
7.1 Institutional Commitment........................................................................................... 34
7.2 Standards .......................................................................................................... 34
7.3 Best Practices 34
7.4 Administrative Responsibility..................................................................................... 34
7.5 Staffing .......................................................................................................... 35
7.6 Space .......................................................................................................... 35
7.7 Cost Recovery.......................................................................................................... 35
7.8 Continuous Improvement.......................................................................................... 35
Index of Appendices....................................................................................................... 36
Appendix I An
Assessment of Information Technology
Appendix II Presentation at the Dean’s
Retreat, August 1999
Appendix III Current Network Logical Layout
Appendix IV NetEffect Report
Appendix V NetEffect Proposed Design
Appendix VI DCI Proposed Design
Appendix VII NLANR Proposed Design
Appendix VIII CNS Proposed Design
Appendix IX NLANR/ES Report
Appendix X DCI Report
Appendix XI NS Networking Workshop Agenda
Appendix XII Proposed Network Design
Appendix XIII IBM International Networking Center
– Workshop Agenda
Appendix XIV IBM Networking Report
Appendix XV Article
from EduCause Quarterly: “Guiding
Principles for Designing and Growing a Campus Network for the Future”
This document provides an overview of the VolNet project. All phases of the project are covered: past, present and future.
In the Introduction, background information is supplied on the process by which the new UT network design was determined. The various reports supplied by the industry experts UT has consulted are briefly discussed. Workshops held to refine the final design are also detailed.
In the section dealing with UT’s Current Network, the overall design of the existing network is presented, and the serious shortcomings of the network are discussed. Critical pieces of UT’s operations highly reliant on the new backbone, instructional, research, and administrative, are presented. Testimonials from key UT network users across campus are included.
In VolNet: Technical Overview, the proposed design for the new UT Network is presented and discussed. The decision criteria used to derive the selected design and the design itself is explained.
The actual implementation of the VolNet project is covered in VolNet Implementation Overview. Details on specific workgroups, tasks, and timeframes for the VolNet project are presented.
VolNet: Cost covers the capital and operating costs required for the new network.
The importance of operational support for VolNet, critical to the long-term viability of the new network, is discussed in the final chapter.
"Information
technology is the force that leads many of the changes we encounter in the
world around us. It is changing the way we work, the way we play, and it will
change the way we learn.“
“Universities on the
cutting edge in education, research and service must be leaders in information
technology.”
J.
Wade Gilley, Inaugural Address
The University Of Tennessee aspires to join the ranks of the top twenty-five public research universities. To achieve this goal, the Office of Research and Information Technology (ORIT) must build and support the underlying infrastructure that is fundamentally necessary to establish leadership in Information Technology. An essential element to achieving leadership is having a well-designed communications infrastructure, a first-rate cable plant (fiber optic, coaxial, and twisted copper pairs), conduits, raceways, and connecting electronics that provide connectivity between end users and systems. A well-designed core network infrastructure can provide an essential foundation for mediated teaching, research, library and administrative services. A well-designed network easily integrates advances in technology and ensures a painless path for network growth and renewal.
VolNet is a critical step in helping UT achieve its vision. Well-implemented, VolNet will provide UT with the infrastructure to support the University’s mission. However, we must ensure we do not stop with merely implementing a new network design. We must examine and understand the systemic processes involved with running an excellent communications infrastructure and implement “best practices” that ensure VolNet will remain viable for many years to come.
[AP1]Efforts have been made since 1994 to implement a comprehensive upgrade to the campus network. The original impetus to creating a Student Technology Fee in 1996 was to support the cost of this network upgrade. However, it was recognized that there were a myriad of needs for information technology on the Knoxville campus, and thus funds from the Technology Fee were allocated to upgrading computing labs, providing support services, improving student access to software, and supporting the faculty use of technology in the instructional program, as well as improvements to the network.
In August 1999, Chancellor William T. Snyder challenged the campus community to transform UTK through Information Technology (See Appendix II for the presentation made at the Dean’s Retreat, August 19, 1999). Also, in October 1999, incoming President Gilley commissioned a study by then Vice President of the UT Space Institute Dwayne McCay to assess the state of information Technology in the UT System (See Appendix I).
In response to this challenge and report, the VolNet project was initiated, and the planning process has included the following steps.
· A formal assessment of the current network by NetEffect Corp. provided a complete inventory of the backbone equipment and satellite equipment rooms. In addition, NetEffect conducted a series of thirty-one focus group meetings with campus constituents to document current problems and future needs.
· A formal external review of the NetEffect document was conducted by two nationally recognized networking organizations: The National Laboratory for Applied Network Research (NLANR) and Digital Connections, Inc. (DCI).
· Internal workshops were conducted to review plans and analyze proposed networking designs