Brent J. Stacey September 25, 2008 Presented to: The Quilt

2 Idaho’s High Speed Networking History Misc: Low-speed (1.5 megabits) T1’s across state Historically each institution independently worked to effectively satisfy bandwidth needs.

3 Independent Studies Recommendations  Increase cooperation between State institutions  Create an IRON operating entity  Meet requirements using a phased approach  Create an Idaho GigaPoP  Cooperate with surrounding regional networks

4 Common Themes From the Studies  Each institution is working independently to solve the high-speed access –This “every human for themselves” approach does not enable an investment strategy to improve the infrastructure in Idaho  Significant gaps limit options for institutions to cost- effectively reach-out to secondary institutions  Currently, there is no effort to improve communications collaboration among the principal institutions –This limits the ability of research and educational institutions to spread and leverage their grants and activities A new approach is needed that leverages each institution’s resources to create a cost-effective foundation for efficient collaboration in Idaho

5 IRON’s Background  Cooperative effort between state universities, Idaho Hospital Association, state government, and Idaho National Laboratory  IRON incorporated in 2007 as a 501(c) 3 – public charity  Charter Associates –BSU, BYUI, IHA, INL, ISU, State of Idaho, UofI, WSU  Three board meetings of Charter Associates conducted January 31, 2008, May 1, 2008, July 23, 2008,  Significant interest from surrounding states as Boise is a centrally-located InterMountain/Pacific Northwest interface route

6  Become a common voice that fosters advanced networking in Idaho and the Northern Tier States IRON’s Charter The Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) will facilitate advanced networking among institutions in Idaho and the Northern Tier States. Participants include institutions of research, education, health care, state government, and partner organizations that support research, education, and economic development in Idaho and the Northern Tier States.  Share intellectual capital and material resources to further the development and delivery of advanced network services and applications to our communities  Aggregate services to benefit from economies of scale  Consolidate regional representation of our interests to the larger national and international community  Encourage collaboration among participating institutions and our respective academic communities  Collaborate with other organizations pursuing advanced networking The goals of IRON are to:

7 IRON’s Goals  A virtual, high-performance computer network within the State of Idaho  Idaho’s voice to other regional optical networks  Enable research, education, health and other institutions to collaborate effectively with other counterparts in Idaho, regional states, the U.S., and the world  Advantages  Invigorate Idaho’s economy  Improve technological access  Support large scale research Unify the State (and the region) through a network jointly funded with federal, state, and private dollars

8 IRON’s Acceptable Uses  K-20 Education  State Government  Commodity Internet Services  Research and Collaboration  Technical Demonstrations  Distance Learning  Training and Accreditation  Continuing Education  Inter-facility File Transfer  Remote Imaging

9 Associate Benefits  Highly-reliable, optical fiber-based, very high-speed Internet connectivity  No commercial Internet costs when communicating with other IRON Associates via IRON’s Boise GigaPoP  An estimated savings of approximately 50% or more on commodity/commercial ISP charges  A diverse, fiber optic backbone architecture, which allows network traffic to travel on one of two, or more, Tier 1 carrier-based diverse fiber paths to achieve the highest levels of reliability

10 IRON’s Potential Strategic Resources & Partners  Institutions –University of Washington –University of Oregon –University of Utah –University of Montana –Montana State University –University of Wyoming –University of Colorado  Organizations –NLR –Abilene/Internet 2 –PNWGP  Seattle  Spokane  Portland –Oregon GigaPoP/NEROnet –FRGP/NCAR –Cheyenne SCC –INL SCC –CAES, and PNNL

11 IRON’s Potential Infrastructure Partners  Backbone Fiber –SYRINGA Networks –360 Networks –Level 3 Communications  Metro Fiber –AFS –Syringa –Integra  NOC Services –Syringa -360 Networks -PNWGP  Collocation Facilities –Syringa Networks –360 Networks

12 IRON’s Backbone Implementation Status Boise GigaPop w/ Internet TransitOperational9/18/2008 East/West Corridor, Boise/Idaho FallsOperational9/19/2008 Boise MetroOperational9/24/2008 North/South Corridor, Boise/SpokaneScheduled9/26/2008 Southern Idaho Fiber RingScheduled1 st Qtr 2009 North/South Corridor, Boise /Salt LakeScheduled1 st Qtr 2009 East/West Corridor, Boise to PortlandScheduled1 st Qtr 2009 Backbone Expansion Across IdahoPlanned

13 IRON Network October 2009  Core Nodes in Boise and Pocatello  Aggregation in Pullman and Idaho Falls  POP’s in Moscow and Coeur d’Alene  10GE backbone connections  1GE/10GE access connections  Connectivity to neighboring RON’s in SLC, Spokane & Portland

14 Northwest Region Tomorrow

15 IRON Backbone w/Strategic Partners

16 IRON Details Example

17 Questions