1. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Merit Dial-in Futures MJTS April 26, 2005

2. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Quick History Merit has offered dial-in access since 1970s Began new era with “shared” service featuring Merit-built RADIUS extensions and distributed authentication, summer 1995 A collaborative effort of Member and Affiliate organizations to accomplish a groundbreaking networking goal Dial-in industry is now commoditized, but Merit’s service maintains unique aspects that suit usage by educational organizations

3. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Recent History Reached peak usage and size in approximately spring 2002 Significant drop in number of lines and usage from that time to now Extensive consolidation accomplished over past 3-4 years to greatly reduce physical dial-in sites, lower costs Usage pattern and consolidation path match industry trends

4. Peak line count: 14,333 in August 2002 As of April 2005: 7262 lines Number of dial-in lines, 12/95-3/05

5. Peak session count: 7,470,987 in Oct. 1999 December 2004: 2,615,633 sessions Sessions/month, 12/95-3/05

6. Peak hour count: 4,265,733 in March 2001 March 2005: 2,011,428 hours Hours/month, 12/95-3/05

7. Average session length has consistently grown Those who use it, use it (about 55,000/month) Minutes per session, 12/95-3/05

8. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Factors Underlying Declines Availability of broadband options for users (affects both in-state dial-in and roaming services) Tightening of higher education budgets Loss of commercial ISP customers due to their consolidation of service provision (WebTV, CoreComm, others) End of three-year Teacher Technology Initiative project

9. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Actions in Response to Declines Instituted annual commitment to bring predictability to budget Pursuing every opportunity to consolidate sites and lower variable costs Greatly reduced staffing tied to remote access projects (from ~17 in 2001 to ~6 today)

10. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 But what about the future? In January, Merit Board discussed various factors: –Financial: Revenues are declining but still significant part of budget –Staffing: “Dial-in” staff also part of many other projects –Customers: Dial-in still important to many Members and Affiliates –Mission: Does dial-in fit with Merit’s mission in high-performance networking?

11. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Feedback from Board Most Member institutions intend to continue supporting dial-in for the near future But: all see usage declining and all intend to reduce services as quickly as possible Most see dial-in as competing with other resources, and as a service that could be dropped in favor of others Some feel a responsibility to lower-income constituents for whom dial-in is beneficial

12. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Conclusions Board’s general advice was to anticipate a finite lifetime for dial-in service –End date not specified; Merit staff will recommend and implement –Many different ways to approach end-of- life; some factors still developing –No end of service is planned or imminent

13. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 For FY 2006 Standard approach: –No changes in dial-in structure –Customers will be asked for standard commitment for period through June 2006 Preparation for changes in following year

14. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 For Beyond June 2006 Key: explore simplifying authentication –Move from customized solution to a more industry standard approach –Reduces a major cost/complexity of the product Implications: –End of customized sharing system with priority lines and tokens –Likely change to current charging model (Lines and Tokens) Forming working group –Discuss needs, features, timing

15. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 Changing authentication Keys? –Continue to support distributed authentication –Allow suitable charging models Advantages: –Customer can select RADIUS server best suited to organization (OS, authentication type) –Greater flexibility for future changes Disadvantages –Merit doesn’t supply/support RADIUS server –May need to develop means to limit use to provide cost stability for customers

16. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 A new option: AccessMerit Full-service dial-in plan offered by Merit through “sponsoring” organizations Way for organization to present a dial-in solution without paying for it (or all of it) Fully Web-based service with online payment User proves association with sponsoring organization before making purchase Standard base price of $8.95, including 200 hours of monthly access and helpdesk via toll-free call

17. Merit Network: Connecting People and Organizations Since 1966 AccessMerit transitions Service is available to any organization Current dial-in customer organizations may wish to transition from traditional model to AccessMerit –Preferable plan provides some months of service free for users who transition –Organizations can continue to subsidize access, either fully or partially –More details to come