1. Infrastructure and eServices Support at ITC
Dr. Sadiq M. Sait, Director
Information Technology Center
Workshop on E-Learning in Higher Education
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

2. Infrastructure: Definition (and what does it comprise?)
Underlying base or foundation (hidden) systems of an organization essential for enabling productivity, by providing services and facilities that support day to day activity, and require large initial investment.
Infrastructure may also involve a set of interconnected structural elements that provide the framework for supporting the entire structure, employing physical equipment (computers, cases, racks, cabling, etc.) and local components of a network (typically includes wiring, connections, attachment devices, network nodes and stations, interconnectivity devices such as hubs, routers, gateways, and switches, operating environment software, and software applications.
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

3. ITC Services & Projects
So what does it include?
Resources (Including People)
Hardware (Servers, WorkStations, etc)
Software (Programs, Applications, Configuration, Deployment, and Support)
Services
Connectivity (Networking, Switches, Cables, Routers, etc)
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

4. Making IT Happen – Some Interesting Numbers
Academic courses currently managed mainly on WebCT
609
Network nodes added to the university network this year (Total)
665 (5600)
Total Number of /Internet accounts
14,000+  (8,500 in 2000)
Number of Simultaneous Internet users at peak time
700
messages processed every day this year
39,612 (4,500 in 2000)
 data processed per day this year
3.4GB (400MB in 2000)
Storage for Backup, SAN (AIX, Linux, W2K, and z/OS), NAS (filer)
3.4 TeraBs, 9 TeraBs
Capacity of backbone
1000 Mbps
PC Labs, Computers for Students in labs & student dorms (S/C ratio)
52, 2600 (3.43)
Hardware and cabling service jobs handled every month
200
Software troubleshooting & installation requests processed monthly
350
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

5. Making IT Happen – Some More Interesting Numbers
WLAN, Number of Buildings, Access Points, Outdoor zones, Data Rate
38, 300+, 3, 54MBps
WLAN, Number of Users Now, Concurrent at one time
300, 30-50
WLAN Scalability: Number of possible simultaneous users on WLAN
6000
WLAN, Number of Users Expected, Concurrent at one time
4000, 500
Switching fabric that supports next generation of Video and Voice applications (Video on demand, audio/video streaming, voice chatting)
256 Gbps
Number of simultaneous RAS users (callback)
240
ADSL: Lines, upstream datarate, downstream datarate, BW
1000, 512K, 1.5M, 4M
Number of Network Nodes in Student Dorms, in Academic Buildings
2250, 5600
Training man days conducted for the university community this year
1200
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

6. Notes about our infrastructure
WiFi for indoors, student activity areas, and some outdoor areas (largest in the region)
WiMax for outdoors
ADSL for homes (can also be made wireless)
Rapid increase in utilization expected in current semester due laptop distribution and awareness campaigns
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

7. WiFi – Technology & Specs
WiFi Specifications
IEEE a/g standard
Uses available/unlicensed 2.4/5 GHz ISM Band
Provides higher data rate (up to 54 Mbps)
Backward compatible to IEEE b
Technology Features
Scalable Enterprise Solution
Highly Secure
Enterprise Network Management
State-of-the-Art Equipment from Cisco
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

9. ITC Services & Projects
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

10. ITC Services & Projects
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

11. Future with Wireless -- WiMAX
Planned extension with WiMAX
Objective is to cover the entire campus, and add life to our quadrangle (in addition to mobility, flexibility)
Will be integrated with current WiFi infrastructure
Laptops and the wireless network (WiFi and WiMAX) will help improve academic programs
Faculty has enhanced support for eLearning technologies inside classrooms and everywhere
Effective teaching methods and learning experiences
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

12. ITC Services & Projects
Laptop Selection
Selection criteria included
Desktop replacement category with native wireless support
Standard benchmark and number crunching tests (pi to 2 million decimal places)
3-year full onsite hardware replacement warranty
Advanced model as desktop replacement
Docking station interface to desktop
Connection to desktop LCD monitor, local printers & other devices such as scanners etc.
Student Laptop Program
ICDL qualification ensures notebook usage and competency of students
Delivered directly at KFUPM and “ready to go”
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

13. Laptop & Docking Stations - Base Configurations
HP Notebook
HP Docking Station
PA 287A
NC 8230
Pentium M 1.86GHZ, 2 MB Cache
15.4” SXGA+ display
ATI Radeon X600 (64MB)
512 MB RAM (1 DIMM)
80 GB Hard drive
Wireless, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, Bluetooth, 56k Modem
DVD/CD-RW
3 year warranty and premier level service
Advanced docking station
Multi Bay II bay supports 80GB HDD, DVD+/-RW, DVD/CD-RW & DVD-ROM
Express Card slot
Ethernet & modem pass-through
6 USB 2.0 ports,2 PS/2 ports for mouse & keyboard
Serial & parallel connectors
S-Video, VGA, DVI & audio ports

14. Notebook Deployment Schedule
October
November
December January
February
March April
May
June
July
August
Frame Agreement Signed
ICDL Students (1) Notebooks Deployed
All Faculty Covered
Faculty (PhD)
Laptops Deployed
Faculty (incl. Insts & Lecs.)
Laptops Deployed
ICDL Students (2) Notebooks Deployed
Ongoing University Laptop Program

15. KFUPM On The Web Faculty Information System (FIS)
One of the major strengths of the new website ( is the introduction of a new FIS (faculty information system)
faculty profiles
details the biography
research interests
publications
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

16. What can you do with all this support?
Plan your teaching/learning and content delivery as if you are already in the campus of the future:
Request for training and learning (monitor the projects at ITC)
Try remote desktop from home, laptop (it is addictive)
Keep the LapTop in its place (on the lap, not on the table)
Use the Wireless Network intensively (try it in the KFUPM Library)
Read/Send with PDAs
Try VOIP using Smart Phones
Use it for Intranet Services and Internet Access
Library (just updated)
Registration System
etc.,
Update your profile on the web (at least start with your pic)
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

17. Snapshot of KFUPM eServices
IP-TV
WWW,
Video conferencing
Online journals access
Student Information System, Registration
Web Courses
Smart Classrooms
Active Directory, LDAP
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

18. ITC Projects – And Other Activities
Enterprise Database Implementation (ERP)
Document Management System (DMS) Implementation
Community College Support
Server Consolidation
Online Help Desk, Change Management & IT Assets Management
Network & Systems Management
KFUPM Portal
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Awareness for Faculty/Administration
Curriculum Delivery Systems Enhancements (Centra)
The Raed Project
Enterprise Storage & Backup
IT Security
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

19. ITC Services & Projects
RAS Utilization
Max: 174 connections (72.5%)
Avg: 84 connections (35.0%)
Current: 68 connections (28.3.5%)
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

20. Internet Bandwidth usage statistics (Campus)
Internet Bandwidth Usage Statistics (KFUPM-KACST)
Internet Bandwidth usage statistics (Campus)
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

21. Internet Bandwidth Usage Statistics (ADSL)
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects

22. ITC Services & Projects
Thank you
9/20/2018
ITC Services & Projects