UAS Regional Optical Network June 15, 2006

Opportunities for Collaboration Ultrahigh-speed Networks 100’s Gigabytes/second End-to-end performance guarantees Quality-of-service Advanced network monitoring and reporting 10’s of teraflops of computing 10’s of terabytes of memory 100’s of petabytes of storage 1,000’s of ft 2 of floor space Megawatts of power Large-scale Computing Systems ESNet Backbone

Internet Member Universities September 1997

Why RON When We Have I2? Greater bandwidthGreater bandwidth Dedicated bandwidthDedicated bandwidth Collaboration & competitive edgeCollaboration & competitive edge Freedom from acceptable use policiesFreedom from acceptable use policies Catalyst for economic developmentCatalyst for economic development Need both a production & experimental networkNeed both a production & experimental network Achieve Cost Savings with multiple networks using same infrastructureAchieve Cost Savings with multiple networks using same infrastructure

National LambdaRail Infrastructure

National LambdaRail (NLR) Consortium of research universities and leading edge technology companiesConsortium of research universities and leading edge technology companies Deploying national infrastructure forDeploying national infrastructure for –advanced network research –next-generation, computationally intensive network-based applications Supporting multiple, independent high speed links to research universities and centersSupporting multiple, independent high speed links to research universities and centers

NLR Members CENIC: Stanford, UC, CSU, CIT, USCCENIC: Stanford, UC, CSU, CIT, USC PNWGP: Pacific Rim, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, British ColumbiaPNWGP: Pacific Rim, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia Duke University & NC universitiesDuke University & NC universities MATP: Virginia Tech, UVA, Old Dominion, VCU, George Mason, William & MaryMATP: Virginia Tech, UVA, Old Dominion, VCU, George Mason, William & Mary Cornell UniversityCornell University

NLR Members FLR: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Institute Technology, FSU, University of Florida, University of Miami, etc.FLR: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Institute Technology, FSU, University of Florida, University of Miami, etc. Georgia Tech & SLR: GT, GSU, UGA, & Medical College of GeorgiaGeorgia Tech & SLR: GT, GSU, UGA, & Medical College of Georgia Louisiana Board of RegentsLouisiana Board of Regents Oklahoma State Board of RegentsOklahoma State Board of Regents

NLR Members Lonestar Education and Research Network – UT system, Texas A&M system, Texas Tech system, BaylorLonestar Education and Research Network – UT system, Texas A&M system, Texas Tech system, Baylor University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico UCAR – Colorado, Wyoming, & UtahUCAR – Colorado, Wyoming, & Utah Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge National Laboratory

NLR/RON Network Model Supports multiple, distinct experimental and production networks Supports multiple, distinct experimental and production networks Supports Point-to-point switched Ethernet as well as routed IP networks Supports Point-to-point switched Ethernet as well as routed IP networks We purchase long term leases of dark fiber We purchase long term leases of dark fiber We light the dark fiber We light the dark fiber We own and manage the infrastructure We own and manage the infrastructure RONs connect to NLR backbone RONs connect to NLR backbone RONs connect to Internet - commodity & I2 RONs connect to Internet - commodity & I2

NLR and the RONs

UAS Motivation Attract and retain the best and brightestAttract and retain the best and brightest Leverage our individual strengths to reach out to collaborateLeverage our individual strengths to reach out to collaborate Provide infrastructure to widen research opportunitiesProvide infrastructure to widen research opportunities Control our wide area networking destinyControl our wide area networking destiny Take advantage of current market opportunitiesTake advantage of current market opportunities Solve real world problemsSolve real world problems

Progress to Date Feb 2005 – campus Presidents approve pursuing dark fiber acquisitionsFeb 2005 – campus Presidents approve pursuing dark fiber acquisitions Mar 2005 – IT committee briefedMar 2005 – IT committee briefed Summer 2005 – bids for dark fiber routesSummer 2005 – bids for dark fiber routes Awarded Nashville to Atlanta (Level3) & Tuscaloosa to Birmingham (Deltacom)Awarded Nashville to Atlanta (Level3) & Tuscaloosa to Birmingham (Deltacom) Negotiate with NASA/NLR/SLR to connect MSFC in HuntsvilleNegotiate with NASA/NLR/SLR to connect MSFC in Huntsville

SLR Agreement SLR uses UAS fiber in exchange for optronics to light the fiber to connect MSFC to NLR SLR uses UAS fiber in exchange for optronics to light the fiber to connect MSFC to NLR UAS campuses would only have to pay incremental costs to connect each campus UAS campuses would only have to pay incremental costs to connect each campus

Next Steps Establish local fiber loops in Huntsville & BirminghamEstablish local fiber loops in Huntsville & Birmingham Finalize SLR agreementFinalize SLR agreement Purchase optronicsPurchase optronics Negotiate partnerships with AREN and Tennessee for additional servicesNegotiate partnerships with AREN and Tennessee for additional services

Estimated Costs for UAS RON Category Estimated Cost Fiber$1,168,214 Optronics$330,604 Total$1,498,818

Costs & Funding by University UniversityCostFunding UA $ 824,604 Plant UAB $ 374,000 Plant UAH $ 300,214 Plant

UA Timeline InitiationCompletion Project Approval by BOT 06/16/06 Contract & Install Fiber 06/19/069/15/06 Order & Install Equipment 09/15/061/15/07 Order Internet Service 11/15/061/15/07 Test Network 1/16/07 Live to NLR 2/16/07 Load Test ISP Connection 2/16/075/31/07

UAB Timeline InitiationCompletion Project Approval by BOT 06/16/06 Contract Approval Fiberlink 06/19/0607/28/06 Order Incremental Equipment 06/19/0608/18/06 Test Network 08/21/0611/10/06 Order Internet Service 08/21/0608/21/06 Live to NLR 11/13/0611/13/06 Test New ISP Connection 11/14/0612/25/06

UAH Timeline InitiationCompletion Project Approval by BOT 06/16/06 Contract and Hang Fiber 06/19/0609/15/06 Order Incremental Equipment 06/19/0608/18/06 Order Internet Service 08/21/0608/21/06 Test Network 09/18/0611/10/06 Live to NLR 11/13/0611/13/06 Test New ISP Connection 11/14/0612/25/06

Collaboration Success Story 2004 – Estimated cost was $ 15M 2004 – Estimated cost was $ 15M 2006 – Estimated cost is $ 1.5M 2006 – Estimated cost is $ 1.5M

Questions?

Request Approval Resolution approving establishment of a Regional Optical Network for the Three Campuses of The University of Alabama System found on page 2 in your committee packet. Resolution approving establishment of a Regional Optical Network for the Three Campuses of The University of Alabama System found on page 2 in your committee packet.