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Friday August 2nd, 2013

OIT > Networking > Plans > Basic Network Services (BNS)

UCI Basic Network Services (BNS)

Summary: This document describes Basic Network Services (BNS) at UCI as well as additional network services and their costs.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Network as a Campus Utility
UCI's campus network (UCInet) has evolved to the point of becoming a campus "utility" -- a critical campus asset akin to electricity and water. Like other utilities, the network must provide basic, well-understood, uniform services to all parts of the campus. These services are supported by a campus-wide assessment of fees, currently based upon the number of faculty and staff ("FTE") in each unit. This current network utility funding model is based on the recommendations of the 1997 campus Electronic Communication Services Recharge Committee.

Basic Network Services (BNS)
This document describes UCI's Basic Network Services (BNS) - the utility-like network services to be provided to all campus spaces, without further cost above the campus-wide network assessment. Additional Network Services, services above the BNS services, are also summarized.

UCInet BNS services will be uniformly available to all campus desktops. The goal is to provide reliable, adequate network services in support of campus research, instruction and administrative activities.

The main components of BNS are:

  1. Desktop and Server Connectivity:
    1. Provide adequate connectivity between the desktop, the campus, and the world.
    2. Provide complete network service from wall plate to wall plate:
      1. cabling as needed to support required networking technologies;
      2. data equipment as needed to provide required BNS services, with the caveat that this does not include end-user/desktop computing hardware and software.
    3. Provide one active BNS connection to each office desktop and each lab, classroom or special-purpose room.
    4. Provide higher performance network connections required for high-traffic servers.
  2. Maintenance and Support:
    1. Provide network consulting services for maintenance, repair and upgrades.
    2. Deploy new technology as required by evolving user needs, based on applicable network analysis, as campus priorities and available resources allow.
    3. Enhance congested networks where user applications are being
  3. Infrastructure:
    1. Ensure adequate capacity in the campus network "backbone", in step with demand from departmental networks.
    2. Provide essential network services such as Domain Name Service, e-mail delivery, authentication, listservers and the like.

I. Basic Network Services (BNS)

Cost
Basic Network Services (BNS) are provided to campus organizations at no additional cost above the campus-wide network surcharge. The goal of BNS is to provide support for the campus mission through reliable, adequate network services. "Adequate" services are those that support and facilitate campus research, instruction and administrative activities at a reasonable level. The network should help these activities, not hinder them in any significant way.

Focus
The focus is on applications, functionality and overall service, rather than on technology. There will always be an argument that one technology is faster than another, or that one vendor's products are less expensive than another's. Over a period of years the campus may change technologies, based maintenance, market acceptance, emerging campus requirements, integration with existing infrastructures, and other issues.

Definition of Basic Network Services
Basic Network Services are delivered to the end-user via data equipment and campus wiring infrastructure using currently available and cost-effective technologies. BNS represents the minimum level of network services that is supplied to everyone on campus, as a goal, at any point in time. Major departmental network retrofits may allow a cost-effective opportunity to provide infrastructure slightly above BNS to some areas of the campus. Similarly, new building projects include equipment budgets that can provide cabling and infrastructure above current minimum BNS requirements, to meet future as well as current needs.

As the network evolves, the campus will employ a variety of well accepted technologies, some faster than others. If an existing network meets the needs of its users and is functioning appropriately, there is no need to change it. However, faulty operation of an existing design is a repair or maintenance issue, which typically requires immediate redress.

Network Upgrades
When end-user requirements call for a major upgrade to a new technology, or a redesign of the network, new budgetary and priority factors come in to play. A major upgrade is an intensive process in terms of staff time and resources. OIT's budget allows for only one or two such upgrades each year -- the OIT director prioritizes major network projects according to the level of need, factoring in input from departments and campus priorities.

The following points define Basic Network Service:

  1. Basic "Desktop" Connection.
    1. Each office desktop and each lab, classroom or general purpose room is provided one network connection. As with a campus water connection to a lab, the individual organization is responsible for ordering and underwriting additional connections. Additional connections are available as an Additional Network Service.
    2. The current technologies used to deliver Basic Network Services in campus LANs are:
      1. 10Base5, 10Base2, 10BaseT shared Ethernet and 10BaseT switched Ethernet equipment, half-duplex.
      2. Thicknet (AUI), thinnet (coax) non-Category 5 twisted pair and Category 5 twisted pair cable plant.
    3. Currently, new desktop connections in retrofit projects are supplied using switched, 10 megabits/second 10BaseT.
  2. Server Connections.
    1. Special, higher speed, connections for servers may be provided in certain cases under Basic Network Services. Servers which seriously degrade the performance of shared networks may be moved to a special connection if analysis by OIT shows the server to be the cause.
    2. Currently, server connections in retrofit projects are supplied at switched, Fast Ethernet (100 megabits/second) speeds, when feasible.
  3. No Speed Guarantees.
    1. No provisions are made or specified under Basic Network Services that guarantee a certain bit rate or latency. Basic Network Services deliver a "best effort" which attempts to delivery an acceptable quality of service, sometimes referred to as QoS, [see glossary] but no QoS guarantees are made.
  4. IP-based Protocols.
    1. Basic Network Service provides support for IP-based protocols, and existing intra-router routing of other protocols is considered an Additional Network Service under this policy. The campus backbone supports only the TCP/IP protocol suite.
  5. Network Malfunctions.
    1. Malfunctioning networks, which are not working as designed, and require repair, and all types of network maintenance are provided as a Basic Network Service. Troubleshooting, network analysis and problem resolution by OIT are a part of Basic Network Service.
    2. Basic Network Service is not responsible for correcting problems with desktop computers and other end-user network devices. This is the responsibility of the end-user and the appropriate support organization.
    3. Assistance to local support organizations in correcting end-user computer networking problems will be provided on a "time available" basis. Time and materials charges may be levied in some cases.
    4. Devices connected to the network that cause disruption of network services to others will be disconnected until the end-user can arrange repair of the malfunctioning device.
  6. Performance Issues.
    1. Performance enhancements to congested networks are provided when OIT analysis shows the network is the cause of poor application performance. If analysis indicates that the network is working as designed, but is simply overloaded and is in need of redesign or major upgrade, then this moves from a maintenance issue to a network design and development issue.
    2. Areas of UCInet which suffer from congestion but are not scheduled for major upgrade will be adjusted through minor upgrades as resources and circumstances allow.
    3. Major network upgrades will be prioritized and implemented within
  7. Essential Network Services.
    1. BNS includes the provision of essential network services such as Domain Name Service (DNS), electronic Mail Transport Agent (MTA) services, network authentication (UCInetIDs), Internet Services, Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity (such as to UCI Medical Center), transport of subscribed services such as DCSLib, campus-level firewall and security services, and special connections to other campuses, such as CalREN-2.
  8. Campus Backbone.
    1. The campus backbone, or backbone network systems, will provide speeds and bandwidth which support services deployed in campus LANs as part of Basic Network Services. Typically, this will require connection to a backbone operating an order of magnitude faster than the typical desktop LAN connection. The backbone will evolve as indicated by trending analysis of LAN requirements.

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II. ADDITIONAL NETWORK SERVICES

Certain services not covered as a Basic Network Service are available as an Additional Network Service with an added fee. Charges for Additional Network Services will be levied on a one-time, recurring, or time and materials basis. Requests for Additional Network Services may require an individual estimate or quote, as each case is different and equipment prices vary.

Additional Network Services include:

  1. Additional network connections
    1. Additional network connections not covered in in the Basic Network Service definition may be ordered.
    2. All such connections have BNS data equipment behind them, in that they provide BNS class of service, while still being regarded as an Additional Network Service because of location or number. Upgrade to connection speeds outside of BNS is treated as another
  2. Higher Speed Connectivity above Basic Network Service
    1. Some users may have a requirement for higher desktop or server speeds than are supported by BNS. At this time, BNS provides up to switched 10 megabits/second Ethernet as the high-end Basic Network Service for the desktop, and up to switched 100 megabits/second Ethernet as the high-end Basic Network Service for servers. Higher LAN speeds will be available as follows:
      1. Workgroup Fast Ethernet : 100 megabits/second Fast Ethernet connection to a workgroup switch, connecting to other machines in the same subnet at whatever speed they are already running. If the workgroup and building have been upgraded appropriately, this would include Fast Ethernet to the backbone.
      2. Workgroup Gigabit Ethernet : 1,000 megabits/second Gigabit Ethernet is not currently deployed in the campus backbone but may be provided to the workgroup, in the future. Gigabit Ethernet requires fiber cabling.
    2. Shared Fast and shared Gigabit Ethernet are not available. The campus is moving away from shared Ethernet because of the better
  3. Improved Backbone Connectivity
    1. At any given time, UCInet will consist of multiple backbones, some faster than others. An organization requesting better placement outside of the campus priorities for Basic Network Services improvement may pay to have special backbone relocation or backbone connectivity improvement conducted.
  4. Custom Inter-building Backbone
    1. This is a backbone segmented from the main UCInet backbone, or a local backbone. It is used for special applications such as fast inter-building communications, research applications, labs and special protocol routing. Such a backbone would be required only when the required speeds are greater than the fastest segment of the UCInet backbone, or when it is desired to use experimental protocols and other protocols not supported on UCInet.
    2. The UCInet backbone and networks offer IP protocol routing as a Basic Network Service.
  5. Custom router configuration for Access Lists
    1. This practice is generally discouraged, because routers running access lists tend to bog down and operate less efficiently. The management of Access Lists may become difficult enough to make them prohibitive. A true firewall is the preferable solution.
  6. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Private WAN links
    1. Organizations interested in having either a private WAN link or of using a VPN to encrypt data sent over the campus backbone for privacy reasons may request a quote for setting up one of these services.
  7. Other Services
    1. Other network services as required by the UCI campus community may be available as Additional Network Services for a cost, and depending upon resource availability.

Additional Network Services must not interfere with or preclude Basic Network Services used by others on the campus.

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