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.
This content was written before the IT Consolidation and refers to NACS instead of OIT.
November 8, 2005
Network/Telecommunications
VOIP Update
- The Cisco IP phones installed in Calit2 have been well received by the users. There are some feature interoperability issues with the Ericsson PBX and the voice mail system, but the users do not seem to be too concerned. NACS is experimenting with a protocol called QSIG to address some of the feature interoperability issues.
- NACS has installed Cisco IP phones in a second new building (see Natural Science 2 Building below) and is leaning toward installing IP phones in all new buildings.
- NACS is evaluating various Cisco low-end IP phone models to find a suitable IP phone replacement for analog phones. More than half of the PBX phones are currently inexpensive analog sets.
- NACS must soon decide which vendor’s IP Telephony solution we will use to replace our Ericsson PBX over the next 5-10 years.
- NACS is developing budgetary cost estimates for converting to IP phones campus-wide based on a variety of probable planning assumptions.
- NACS continues to use a SIP gateway on our PBX provided by SIPPhone (www.sipphone.com) to route calls to UCSD and UCSC over CalREN with no usage costs.
- NACS is looking into participation in SIP.edu
Natural Sciences 2 Building
NACS has completed the installation of the communications infrastructure in the Natural Science Unit 2 building that was completed in August 2005. With positive support from the tenants of the building, NACS decided to install Cisco IP phones in this building. NACS is supporting the IP phones with a dedicated 48 port QOS and POE capable Cisco switch on each floor with backup power from a centralized UPS and generator.
Wireless Networking
NACS continues to incrementally add wireless capacity this year using Cisco 802.11b/g APs. We have multiple requests for wireless installations in the project queue. For more information, visit the wireless networking web page at: http://www.nacs.uci.edu/ucinet/mobile/.
NACS is investigating new wireless technologies such as WiFi LAN systems with centrally managed “thin client” APs, WiMax, switched mesh WiFi, and wireless security and management solutions. NACS is also looking at how to design our future wireless installations to support QOS for voice and video.
NACS is evaluating Cisco WiFi IP phones (AKA “VoFi”), and keeping an eye on industry trends in the area of dual-mode WiFi/cellular phones.
UCInet Backbone Upgrade
NACS continues to make progress on the backbone upgrade. The core has been upgraded to 10 gigabit Ethernet on Cisco 6500s.
Most of the layer 2 building distribution switches are currently being upgraded to Cisco 3750 layer 3 switches that are being dual homed to the core. The upgrade does not include the edge or access layer equipment or cabling.
Installation of a new collapsed distribution layer (CDL) at each of our four core sites is 75% complete. The CDL is a layer three Cisco 3750 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 distribution switches out in the network.
Other Network Upgrade Projects
This fiscal year, NACS plans to replace all of the remaining hubs (<70) with switches. NACS will replace the 10Mb Cisco 1900 switches in the Engineering Tower building with new Cisco 100Mb 2950 switches, and will use the 1900s to replace the hubs.
NACS also plans to replace a subset of our aging layer 3 Cisco 5500 distribution switches.
Network and VOIP Planning
NACS is in the process of developing a "network infrastructure upgrade plan" that will present a summary of the current state of the UCI network, discuss where the issues and opportunities are, and propose a plan to implement the appropriate upgrades over time.
Voice Mail Replacement
NACS is evaluating alternatives for replacing our legacy Unisys/Pulse Point voice mail system with a UM capable system. We are monitoring developments at UCSD and UCB.
Cisco Cost Comparison
NACS is informally comparing the cost of Cisco equipment with the cost of equipment from a couple of Cisco’s primary competitors. NACS wants to be sure that Cisco equipment remains competitively priced and continues to provide good value relative to the competition.
