Network Group Priorities (1998) Les Cottrell Presented at SCS Tech. Coord. Mtg 11/5/97

Network Group Priorities (1998) Improve LAN backbone & infrastructure Upgrade core switches Rationalize subnets & scrub configurations Evaluate multihoming Evaluate Gbps Ethernet Lan backbone: driven by need for higher speeds (in turn driven by faster computers, more bandwidth intensive applications such as the Web, graphics, video), easier maintenance, higher availability, extended coverage. Need baseline measurements to decide where to apply effort, upgrade core switches, rationalization of subnets to reduce routing, keeping things local, scrubbing to clean things up following rapid deployment, evaluate multihoming (requires systems involvement), evaluate Gbps Ethernet. Also have to address IP address depletion. Improve knowledge of configurations, topology, assets. .

Improve trouble shooting Network trouble shooting center Reduce dependencies of critical components Improve UPS Improve failover (HSRP) & bridge spanning Improve trouble management: set up network trouble shooting center, provide workstations which are robust to network outages, but kept current (requires systems involvement). Improved UPS, redundancy & failover with HSRP (may need changes in gateway addresses) & bridge spanning trees (TCP stacks need to be tolerant to 30s outages)

Network Services Deploy centrally supported DHCP Evaluate IMAP and roll out when ready Provides universal access to mail & notebooks Have server, need clients DHCP: driven by need to improve desktop management (too many typos or confusion and problems of moving workstations from subnet to subnet), to support meetings with multiple attendees needing Internet connection, especially with increased collaborations. Needs to be integrated with DNS & registration IMAP Netscape looks good, bit tricky to set up for novice, also how to carry over note & address books. Eudoira coming up with client, may simplif migration

WAN Stuff Roll out ISDN in production Address RAS issues Look at follow on Address RAS issues Upgrade WAN links Provide high speed (<=2.5Gbps) experimental Look at improved WAN security Roll out ISDN in production, look for cheaper supportable terminal adapters, evaluate residential ISDN. Start looking at faster alternatives such as cable modems. Upgrade WAN links: campus link to be made reliable. Experiment with high speed (<=2.5Gbps) WDM fiber links as part of DOE/MICs multi Lab proposal. Get Esnet link upgraded. Needs baseline measurements to validate needs for upgrading Esnet link. WAN security: understand VPN/secure tunnels, compare with ssh etc. This is a cross group activity