NETS’ Strategic Direction Marla Meehl Section Head of NETS April 29, 2003

NETS Mission To fundamentally support UCAR’s goals for the advancement of science, technology, and education To accommodate future growth and needs by constructing a network that is expandable, flexible, and adaptable To facilitate a robust, reliable, and maintainable network To implement a cost-effective network To support SCD High Performance Networking To lead and participate in high- performance network research and development

Keeping costs down Vendor trade-ins Collaborations provide methods of leveraging economies of scale and aggregation to save large sums of money for better service Collaborations lead to outside funding sources Collaborations lead to group discounts Effective planning and relationships with vendors, funding agencies, and peers result in lower costs

What’s Driving NETS Strategic Plans? Internal & external high speed network access needs –CyberInfrastructure »Grids »Collaboratories –UCAR/NCAR expansion –Business Continuity –Larger data sets –Real-time data feeds –Faster computers –Lower cost/prevalence of 10/100/1000 NICs –Web and accessible data services

Driving Forces - Cont’d Technology –Availability of dark fiber »Wave Division Multiplexing (WDM) –Voice over IP (VoIP) –Security –Wireless in the LAN, MAN, and WAN –Remote working technologies –Videoconferencing »Access Grid »H.323 »Multicast –Storage Areas Networks (SANs) –Cost »Trade-ins help keep network up to date »We also cycle slower hardware to less used areas

Driving Forces - Cont’d Outside Collaborations –Need good access to research partners and users –Front Range GigaPop (FRGP) –Westnet LightRail (WLR) –National LightRail (NLR) –Network research Industry downturn –Dark fiber –Vendor collaboration –Hardware/software loans/donations/beta tests –Vendor research opportunities

How do we derive user needs? Network Coordination and Advisory Board (NCAB) –Liaisons to network users –Help set NETS direction, priorities and strategies User surveys Host related workshops Outside collaborations

A Strategic Plan for UCAR Networking: Welcome to the 21st Century

Strategic Plan Initial plan completed in 10/98 Agreed to update plan at least every three years NETS and NCAB are in the process of updating the plan Will present plan for approval of NCAB, Information Technology Committee (ITC), and President’s Council

Critical Strategies Transition to Gigabit Ethernet (1000BaseX) as Standard Service (SS) as demanded by constituents and budget constraints Renew one third of the networking equipment base each year - 3 year equipment cycle Support ongoing growth in UCAR –Center Green 0,1, 2, 3 –FL0 –FL4 –MLUR –ML remodel Renew cabling on an as needed basis –The plan assumes a 10 year cycle via a 4 year construction cycle - there would be a 6 year break between each cycle »However CG will change this cycle –Cabling renewal funds are available in between cycles to accommodate unexpected projects and technology

Critical Strategies - Cont’d Continue to actively participate in metropolitan, regional, national, and international networking activities including: –FRGP, BRAN, BPOP, NLANR, Web100, Net100, Westnet, WLR, NLR, The Quilt, Colorado State fiber initiatives To lead and participate in high- performance network research and development including: –Web100, Net100, Cisco MTU –Pending: Cisco Network Monitoring, ITR MTU, STI Effective Diagnostic Strategies for Wide Area Networks, EIN SANs, Terascale Extensions

SCD Specific Strategies Provide state-of-the-art LAN and WAN connectivity Provide high-performance networking consultation –Assist with host-based configuration –Assist with host-based network problems –Assist with host-based performance measurement and monitoring Provide high-performance networking testbeds as needed Provide high-performance networking measurement tools Stay abreast of state-of-the-art networking technologies

Areas of Strategic Concentration Larger role in networking research Larger role in metropolitan networking Larger role in national networking Testing and implementing new technologies Supporting ongoing UCAR growth Business continuity

Strategic Collaborations FRGP/BPOP –UCB, UCD, UCHSC, UCCS, CSU, NOAA, UW, DU, CSM, State of Colorado, Fort Lewis, City of Boulder, County of Boulder, UNAVCO Web100 –PSC, NCSA, NSF, DOE, Cisco, HP, others Westnet –CO, WY, NM, UT, AZ, others WLR –FRGP, Utah, Arizona NLR –CENIC, PNWGP, PSC, VA-Tech, GA-Tech, Florida, Texas, UCAID, Duke, CIC (big 12 schools) The Quilt –22 major GigaPops Earth System Grid –DOE, others NLANR –PSC, NCSA, SDSC

Summary of NETS Changes

Conclusion Networking is an essential enabling technology for infrastructure vital to support UCAR’s mission Continued support of UCAR’s mission will require continued investment in state-of-the-art networking infrastructure This optimal plan meets the objectives of the strategies in a cost-effective manner