Next Generation Network

1
Next Generation Network

• Network Infrastructure Planning
• September 06

2
Why Now?

• Current network wiring infrastructure in-place
  since late 1980s
• Getting old and fragile
• Technology changed significantly since then
• Demands on the network growing and need to keep
  pace.
• Fully understand the needs and requirements over
  the next 3 to 5 years
• Convergence of voice, data and video
• Nationwide Internet 2 research network
• Quality of Service

3
Objective

• Position the UMass Lowell network infrastructure
  to meet the needs of faculty, staff and students
  by
• Assessing the current network infrastructure
• Conducting critical reviews sessions to gather
  requirements
• Creating a long term plan for the network that is
  state of the art and scalable ensuring enough
  capacity to continue with UMass Lowells
  tradition of using technology for teaching,
  learning and research.

4
Process

• Physical Assessment
• Connectivity and wiring between the campuses
  (manholes, utility poles) Outside Plant (OSP)
• Connectivity and wiring between buildings
  (including conduit)
• Network closets and switch gear capacity
• Internet connectivity and bandwidth
• Internet 2 connectivity and bandwidth
• User needs assessment
• Conduct critical review sessions (6 campus-wide
  sessions)
• Focused group discussions (over 30)
• Non Network Related Input (Parking lot issues)

5
Outside Plant (OSP)
6
Physical Network Overview
7
Findings - Physical

• OSP Fiber
• Current physical infrastructure between campuses
  does not provide enough redundancy to prevent
  potential long term outages.
• Manholes
• Improve support structure and label
• Utility Poles
• Replace guards on poles where necessary to
  protect from weather, vandalism and accidents
• Closets
• Cleanup, wire management, UPS, secured, HVAC,
  fire suppression, direct fiber runs (MDF to IDFs)

8
Findings

• Core backbone bandwidth utilized
• Internet
• Bandwidth mostly utilized
• Single connection, no secondary
• Connection from campus to Internet multifaceted
• Internet 2 combined with commodity Internet
• Quality of Service (QOS) not implemented

9
Application Requirements Input

• Internet connection and UML network mission
  critical.
• Network user self-censorship.
• Email attachments file size limited.
• Network reliability and bandwidth important.
• Internet access from classrooms and labs.
• Increased usage of wireless (laptops, pdas, other
  wireless).
• Remote access (VPN).

10
Additional Input
11
Recommendations - 6 to 12 Months

• Increase backbone core network bandwidth from 1GB
  to 2 GB
• Simplify Internet connection for more bandwidth
  utilization
• Second Internet (100MB) I2 (150MB) connectivity
• Replace OSP fiber from North to South to East
• Start upgrade of wiring to Category 6 and
  increase fiber counts between buildings

12
Recommendations 2-3 years

• Upgrade core backbone to 10 GB
• Support gigabit to the desktop in key research
  areas.
• Build segmented overlay network for video, access
  control and debit card transactions.
• Continue upgrade of wiring to Category 6 and
  increase fiber counts between buildings

13
Cost Schedule
11,412 monthly recurring cost estimate