UC Davis has its connection to CalREN2 up and running at OC3 (155 Mbps). Production traffic to vBNS sites and to other CalREN2 member sites is passing over this link. Additionally, the campus is now exchanging multicast traffic with CalREN2. (vBNS multicast traffic is being exchanged through CalREN2 to facilitate Ken Lindahl's multicast development work.) Bringing the connection up to full OC12 (622 Mbps) is pending coordination of PVCs with the NOC and is expected before the end of January. A problem was encountered with the interoperability between the CalREN2 Cisco LightStream 1010 ATM switch and the campus 3Com CB7000HD ATM switch, but we believe this has been successfully resolved.The November 19, 1998, CalREN2 meeting was held at UC Davis.
The campus issued its first edition of the UC Davis Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in December, 1998. This plan addresses how the campus will respond to emergencies, from preparedness through recovery. It is based on the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) model, which evolved from the more widely known Incident Command System (ICS). The major SEMS functions are outlined, and details relevant to Hazard Analysis and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations are also included. The Information Technology Division and its departments will provide direct support to the EOC as a logistics sub-group.The Emergency Planning and Preparedness Group (EPPG) is currently addressing the requirements associated with the activation of the EOC. Areas being examined include the layout of the facility, equipment (voice, data and video), networking, and security requirements.
We have completed communications construction on the following projects: the Campus Data Center move, Visualization Lab move, Memorial Union seismic retrofit, Plant Pathology trailer, Center for Comparative Medicine, Resnet network and cable TV projects, Castillian and Primero Grove residence halls. We completed and presented an infrastructure plan for the Health Sciences District and have started work on the next district plan, which covers the future Performing Arts complex and surrounding area. The intent is to use these two studies as models for a full campus plan to be commissioned later this year.
Communications Resources is researching voice over IP technologies. Public and non-disclosure meetings are being held with a representative sample of vendors to understand current and planned product lines as well as long-range product offerings. A white paper is under development that will discuss these in the context of a campus and, to some degree, inter-campus environment. The CalREN2 network, and integration with the existing campus voice infrastructure, may present cost savings for inter-campus calling. Small scale deployments within individual departments that could effectively circumvent campus telephone infrastructure are of particular interest. Pilot projects are planned for early- to mid-1999 to test operational issues and potential limitations.
Two new 56K modem pools have been added to UC Davis's existing 14.4K modem pool. These three modem pools have been stratified to provide four different services: 1) a 56K Student/Staff Modem Pool that provides 376 user ports, with a two hour limit per connection and unlimited connections allowed per day, 2) a 56K Faculty Modem Pool that consists of 92 ports, with a four hour limit per connection and unlimited daily connections, 3) a 14.4K Legacy Modem Pool with 391 ports (available to all campus computer users) with unlimited connections per day, and 4) a 14.4K Telnet Only Modem Pool consisting of 48 user ports with unlimited connections per day and session length. A 20 minute time limit per connection is to be implemented in February on the 14.4K Legacy Modem Pool. This time limit is hoped support short, frequent logins as needed for email services. The Telnet only service will be provided through February only. (It is in place now to assist Telnet users who have not yet converted to standard and authenticated SLIP/PPP services.) Because the other services have now been stratified by type of user, Kerberos permit authentication has also been put into place to ensure the appropriate populations are using each pool. The new Staff/Student Modem Pool currently receives the most traffic. During the prime hours of 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., this pool is already being used regularly at its maximum capacity.
As of December 18, 1998, the Network 21 project was officially completed, on time and under budget. The infrastructure connected 185 buildings, 217 departments and 10,501 network access modules (NAMs). NAM ports can now be assigned to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). (VLAN connectivity can unify work groups in different locations and accommodate multiple network protocols.) Organization of the VLANs is generally based on campus departments. A total of thirty 100MB lines have been installed, representing a small demand for high speed service at this time.
A feasibility and cost study detailing provisioning Network 21 connectivity to 300 buildings outside the campus core area has been completed. The cost and tentative project schedule has been presented to the Network 21 Budget and Oversight Committee (which has been continued to oversee the buildout). A review process including Deans and Vice Chancellors is currently underway to establish funding and project priorities. Preliminary indications are that very close to full implementation may be funded. The final scope is likely to be approximately $12.6 million and will provide service to more than 3000 desktop systems. As well as meeting current connectivity requirements, the project will provide the base communications infrastructure needed to support the large amount of growth anticipated outside of the core area of campus. Under the current schedule, bids will be accepted in February of 2000, Construction will begin in June of 2000, with final completion in October of 2001.
The cable TV project in the new UC Davis Primero Grove complex has been completed. IT-Communications Resources (CR) purchased the equipment, installed it, and is responsible for working with the manufacturer on repair issues that may arise.
We have successfully completed on-site testing of the Pinnacle Axis software and have accepted the system for full implementation. We are now developing user procedures, campus interfaces, and processing utilities. Staff training is scheduled for February 1999, in time to support a parallel billing run in March. Phase 1 implementation involving customizations, service order and facilities module cutovers is scheduled for completion by April 1999. Switch interface and Web interface implementation is scheduled for completion by August 1999.
Attempts to solidify an 800MHz Policy document are ongoing. Ensuing discussions between the Joint Policy Committee and a number of campus constituents, including the university police and fire departments, has prompted the development of a revised charter draft that would modify the makeup of the Policy Committee. In addition, the charter would broaden the Committee's responsibilities in regard to system funding and support, resource allocation, system expansions and improvements, emergency operations and contingency planning, mutual aid requirements and deployment planning, minimum area radio coverage, and policies governing the operation and maintenance of the system.The Committee is also developing an RFP for the on-going maintenance of the system. We expect to have a contract in place by March of this year. In addition, the campus is maintaining contact with the City of Davis in anticipation of the completion of a consultant's report on the city's need to upgrade its municipal communications capabilities. This report may impact the 800 MHz system as it could be considered one measure of improvement.
We also plan to test of the 800 MHz system in January to confirm its Y2K compliance.
Negotiations are underway for the adoption of AT&T Wireless Office Services (WOS) for campus telephone users. Acceptable service coverage would need to include the core campus area, requiring the addition of cellular antennas on two campus buildings. The UCD Campus Policy Committee has reviewed the technical aspects of the WOS proposal, which addresses the installation of cell site antennaes, and has put the proposal on hold pending the receipt of more detailed engineering drawings from AT&T. Other outstanding issues are the installation of additional on-campus cell towers, responsibility for engineering costs, and the ongoing costs for powering on-campus cell sites. The current draft of the wireless services agreement will incorporate advisory feedback and changes before being presented to AT&T. We expect the contract issues to be resolved by mid 1999.
Work continues on the Year 2000 implementation tasks, with gradual replacement of fully depreciated equipment and software identified as non-compliant during our inventory. We are submitting a report to UCOP on our communications systems' readiness, due this month.