Network Engineering and Technology keeps NCAR/UCAR wired

Improves connectivity for all UCAR computer users . . .

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by Nancy Dawson "I mproving the end-to-end connectivity for all UCAR computer users is an ongoing project for the Network Engineering and Technology Section," says section manager Marla Meehl. On the wide area network level, NETS supports universities connecting to the very high-speed Backbone Network Service (vBNS) by providing technical assistance and acting as a liaison between the service provider and the universities. The National Science Foundation (NSF) created the vBNS to promote use of high-performance networking for advancing scientific research. The vBNS makes terabyte data transfers possible and provides a testbed for research on high-performance networking. By September 1998, 43 of the 63 UCAR university members had been approved by the NSF for vBNS connection. Currently, 28 of the 73 institutions connected to the vBNS are UCAR members. On the local area network level, NETS recently completed wiring projects at the Mesa and Foothills Labs and UCAR's Jeffco airport facility. This involved installing or retrofitting hundreds of standard telecommunication outlets, replacing cabling, and installing new trunk wiring between buildings. All offices at these locations now have 10 Mbps dedicated-port Ethernet access, which provides substantial networking performance improvement over the previous shared-media Ethernet access. For staff who work from home, NETS is replacing the dial-up modems with remote access servers at speeds of 56 Kbps. If you're connecting to UCAR via 1-800 phone service, those connections have also been upgraded to the faster remote access servers. NETS completed the UCAR computer security perimeter in September. "While access may be a bit more complex for some users, connections to UCAR are now better monitored and more secure," said Marla. "Our security system is being used as a model by other institutions." Network connectivity is continually being enhanced. "We expect more UCAR member universities to get connected to the vBNS. And we're providing support for universities connecting to the Abilene network." Abilene is the network managed and operated by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development, a consortium of 130 members. Forty-eight UCAR universities are members. NETS has also recently drafted a strategic plan for UCAR networking in the future.

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