UC Irvine CPG Campus Report
Network and Academic Computing Services (NACS)
Summary: The Communications Planning Group (CPG) is a group of network and telecom managers from each of the UC campuses. We meet quarterly to discuss relevant issues and to share what we are doing in network and telecommunications at each campus.
January 2005
Cal(IT)2 building
NACS completed the implementation of the communications infrastructure for the Cal(IT)2 building. At the opening ceremony on November 19, 2004, NACS provided communications infrastructure and technical support for a number of impressive network intensive research demonstrations. This building will be a model for leading-edge telecommunications infrastructure and research. NACS has deployed Cisco IP Telephony running on a high-speed Cisco network with 10/100/1000Mb to every desktop.
Natural Sciences 2
NACS has begun planning for the Natural Science Unit 2 building scheduled for completion August 2005. This building will house programs from Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering. NACS is planning the network infrastructure to support IP phones.
Wireless Networking
NACS continues to incrementally add wireless capacity this year. We have multiple requests for wireless installations in the project queue. The largest projects will involve full indoor coverage throughout the buildings in the schools of Physical Sciences, and Social Ecology. For more information, go to http://www.nacs.uci.edu/ucinet/mobile/. We have also implemented a new guest registration system that allows for the temporary registration of guests into our authentication system.
Core Upgrade
NACS continues to make progress on the core upgrade. The border router and two of the four core sites have been upgraded. NACS recently received funding to upgrade the core and most of the distribution layer of the UCInet backbone to support new applications and protocols such as IP Telephony, QOS and multicast. The core will be upgraded from 1GE on Cisco 5509/8510s to 10GE on Cisco 6500s. Most of the layer 2 building distribution switches will be upgraded to Cisco 3750 layer 3 switches. The upgrade does not include the edge or access layer.
Other Backbone Network Upgrade Requirements
NACS is nearly out of fiber between our core sites and we plan to install more this summer.
We need to install a new collapsed distribution layer (CDL) at each of our core sites. The CDL is a layer three switch at each core site connected directly to the core. The CDL provides connectivity for servers located at the core sites, and for layer 2 switches out in the network.
Edge Upgrade
NACS is planning to upgrade the edges of the network with smarter switches that will support the new applications and protocols, and enhance network security and manageability. Our priority is to replace the shared network "hubs" still in use on campus. There are still small numbers of hubs scattered across the campus.
Network and VOIP Planning
NACS is in the process of developing a long-range strategic plan that will identify all the major reasons that the distribution and edges of the network need to be upgraded, will identify what needs to be upgraded, will estimate the costs, and will suggest a phased implementation. This plan will be used to secure funding.
Voice Mail Replacement
NACS is evaluating alternatives for replacing our legacy Unysis/Pulse Point voice mail system. We are monitoring developments at UCSD and UCB.
Online Service Request Form
Later in January 2005, NACS will go live with an online web-based service request form for requesting all of the network and telecommunications services we offer. Up until now, it has been a form that our clients had to fax or mail to us.
