As of January 12, 2000, the UC Davis CalREN 2 traffic no longer transits the vBNS. The Abilene network has replaced vBNS or UC connectivity and preliminary indications are that it is functioning well. In order to be positioned to respond to a major service outage, IT-Communications Resources (CR) is continuing to explore an alternate backup strategy that involves a route through Cal State University Sacramento and 4Cnet. This has the advantage of providing backup connectivity for UC Davis Health Services in Sacramento.
CR is preparing to conduct a Network Threat, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (TVRA). This is essential for development and implementation of a robust disaster prevention, recovery and security plan and for assessment of the costs and benefits of implementing strategies and solutions that mitigate the risk to our data network.The TVRA will identify existing and potential threats to the university data network and critical administrative applications. It will also detail potential and existing vulnerabilities to those threats and identify methodologies (policies, procedures, hardware, firmware or software) to mitigate, minimize or eliminate the risk of those vulnerabilities. This information will be used to develop plans for integration into the campus Disaster Recovery Plan, Emergency Preparedness Plan and Network Security Plan. The release of an RFQ to perform this work is expected by the end of the month.
CR completed communications infrastructure installations on Equine Analytical Lab, Fleet Services Trailer, a new Law Library Lab, Cruess Hall, the Pacific Standard Life and Regency Square buildings, and the Repro Graphics complex. Construction commenced on the Plant and Environmental Sciences Facility and work continues on another 39 major capital projects.A campus manhole survey was completed, which identified and recorded conduit capacity available for new cables to serve future growth. Digital photographs of manholes were added to our CAD records. This background material will be of use in developing the campus long-range master telecommunications plan, an activity that is scheduled to begin in six months. Associated with this effort is the integration of several sub district plans that are already in various stages of completion: Health Sciences/Vet Med, Athletic Facilities, and Performing Arts Center.
The first campus-managed DSL connection was successfully installed. DSL technology is likely to be used as an alternative to higher speed connections where it is cost prohibitive to extend the campus network infrastructure.
The Davis Campus Telecommunications Cabling Standards have been made available online for use by our Office of Architects & Engineers and Facilities Offices as well as by external consultants. These can be referenced at http://cr.ucdavis.edu/policies/cabling/index.htm.
UC Davis received $770,000 (excluding additional funds for modem pools) in Instructional Technology Funds (ITF) for various campus networking projects. These include:
- Implementation of DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) campus wide: The overall purpose of DHCP is to provide a flexible environment for the increasing mobile computing population on campus, especially faculty, while reducing the work necessary to administer a large IP network. In addition, DHCP provides one aspect of network security, managing access to the physical network. DHCP is accepted as one of the standard connection protocols and is available on all platforms without the installation of special software.
The DHCP rollout is currently in the first phase, which consists of converting DHCP pilot clients to the accepted DHCP product, Nortel Networks "NetID." The conversion process from the legacy "join" services involves several Information Technology units and test departments. The major test department is Student Housing and the test involves the conversion of 2500 student connections to NetID DHCP in mid February. The project is expected to conclude with a full campus rollout in September 2000.
- Network Ports in General Access Facilities: Installation is in process to provide approximately 250 network ports in public and general access areas such as in the libraries, classroom buildings and the Memorial Union lobby space. This is intended to relieve some of the pressure on overcrowded general access computing labs and to provide greater convenience for students who need to connect to the network.
- Wireless Access in Public Places: This project is a pilot to determine the viability of wireless network access and to compare public wireless network access to hardwired public ports. The locations selected for the pilot are the Extended Hours Reading Room in Shields Library, the common area in the King Law School Library, and the Memorial Union Griffin Lounge. Two models will be explored. Semi-permanent student assignment of wireless NIC cards will be tried to assess usability in ownership mode, and use on a check-out basis will be tried to compare the attendant support issues. Security concerns have been brought to light since the Library offers its services to the public in general, who may not have committed to the campus Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy. Discussions are underway to address this issue.
CR is continuing research in Voice Over IP technologies. Public and non-disclosure meetings have been held with a representative sample of the early entry vendors to understand their current and planned product lines as well as their longer-range visions. The Davis campus has procured equipment for the execution of a LAN-based voice over IP pilot that will model a small departmental deployment, explore issues surrounding portability and 911 tracing, and eventually explore integration issues with the CENIC pilot. Certain limitations in functionality of the product being tested have delayed proceeding with the pilot until the next revision of the VoIP Call Manager software is available. Those limitations involve the ability to provide a robust gateway into the existing campus voice switch.
The campus continues to provide free remote access to faculty, staff and students via three separate modem pools. The allocation of Instructional Technology Funds allowed for an increase to be completed by the end of January in the Student Modem Pool to 756 - 56Kbps modems, in the Faculty Modem pool (to 186 modems), and in the Staff Pool (to 188 modems). Contention ratios after the expansion will be: Student 14:1, Staff 10:1, Faculty 7:1. Service levels are 2 hours per connection, unlimited connections daily for staff and students and 4 hours per connection, unlimited connections daily for faculty.The campus decision about remote access is still in debate. A student referendum for fee support will take place in March. The outcome of the vote as well as the results of campus investigation of external remote access solutions will direct the future of campus provided remote access services. The recent availability of free ISP's has resulted in an effort to examine their viability as possible replacement services. In addition, the campus is preparing an RFI to investigate the viability of external providers replacing the campus service. A final decision is anticipated by June of this year.
Western Telecommunications Consulting (WTC) has been engaged to examine the strategic directions the campus should take in the provisioning of telecommunications services in the most cost effective manner. The study is approximately 60% complete with a final report anticipated by the end of February.
We have successfully cut over the telemanagement system's student billing portion to Pinnacle's AXIS product and have started planning for implementing the switch interface and data facilities modules.
The UCDNet2 project, the expansion of the Network 21 infrastructure into the outlying areas of campus, is continuing as planned. Both the environmental review and design are underway. The completion date has been revised to March 2002.It appears likely that Gigabit Ethernet will be the technology of choice for the backbone portion of the network expansion, setting the stage for a transition to Gigabit Ethernet for the remainder of the campus backbone at the end of life for the current ATM network. Economics and performance are the primary drivers in this choice, along with the expectation of enhanced reliability through simplicity in network management. The standard level of service under this project will be 100Mbs to the desktop.
All planned upgrades to communication system hardware, servers, operating systems, PCs and applications were completed in time for an uneventful January 1, 2000 rollover.
The 800 MHz Policy Committee has reopened the discussion on the requirements associated with the installation of bi-amplification equipment in nine buildings where signal strength may be considered inadequate. The Campus Police Department has expressed concern relative to the safety and security of its officers during possible emergencies within these isolated areas, prompting the need to study the issue.The City of Davis commissioned an Engineering Feasibility study to determine if it is possible to establish a joint use agreement between UC Davis and the City of Davis on the operational use of the UCD 800 MHz Trunked Radio System. Motorola will conduct an audit of the system starting January 11, 2000 with a target of March 1, 2000 to submit its findings and recommendations. Formal discussions between the two parties will commence thereafter.