UAS Regional Optical Network

1. UAS Regional Optical Network June 15, 2006

2. ESNet Backbone Large-scale Computing Systems • 10’s of teraflops of computing • 10’s of terabytes of memory • 100’s of petabytes of storage • 1,000’s of ft2 of floor space • Megawatts of power Opportunities for Collaboration Ultrahigh-speed Networks • 100’s Gigabytes/second • End-to-end performance guarantees • Quality-of-service • Advanced network monitoring and reporting

3. Internet Member Universities September 1997

5. Why RON When We Have I2? • Greater bandwidth • Dedicated bandwidth • Collaboration & competitive edge • Freedom from acceptable use policies • Catalyst for economic development • Need both a production & experimental network • Achieve Cost Savings with multiple networks using same infrastructure

6. National LambdaRail Infrastructure

7. National LambdaRail (NLR) • Consortium of research universities and leading edge technology companies • Deploying national infrastructure for • advanced network research • next-generation, computationally intensive network-based applications • Supporting multiple, independent high speed links to research universities and centers

8. NLR Members • CENIC: Stanford, UC, CSU, CIT, USC • PNWGP: Pacific Rim, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia • Duke University & NC universities • MATP: Virginia Tech, UVA, Old Dominion, VCU, George Mason, William & Mary • Cornell University

9. NLR Members • FLR: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Institute Technology, FSU, University of Florida, University of Miami, etc. • Georgia Tech & SLR: GT, GSU, UGA, & Medical College of Georgia • Louisiana Board of Regents • Oklahoma State Board of Regents

10. NLR Members • Lonestar Education and Research Network – UT system, Texas A&M system, Texas Tech system, Baylor • University of New Mexico • UCAR – Colorado, Wyoming, & Utah • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

11. NLR/RON Network Model • Supports multiple, distinct experimental and production networks • Supports Point-to-point switched Ethernet as well as routed IP networks • We purchase long term leases of dark fiber • We light the dark fiber • We own and manage the infrastructure • RONs connect to NLR backbone • RONs connect to Internet - commodity & I2

12. NLR and the RONs

13. UAS Motivation • Attract and retain the best and brightest • Leverage our individual strengths to reach out to collaborate • Provide infrastructure to widen research opportunities • Control our wide area networking destiny • Take advantage of current market opportunities • Solve real world problems

14. Progress to Date • Feb 2005 – campus Presidents approve pursuing dark fiber acquisitions • Mar 2005 – IT committee briefed • Summer 2005 – bids for dark fiber routes • Awarded Nashville to Atlanta (Level3) & Tuscaloosa to Birmingham (Deltacom) • Negotiate with NASA/NLR/SLR to connect MSFC in Huntsville

15. SLR Agreement • SLR uses UAS fiber in exchange for optronics to light the fiber to connect MSFC to NLR • UAS campuses would only have to pay incremental costs to connect each campus

16. Next Steps • Establish local fiber loops in Huntsville & Birmingham • Finalize SLR agreement • Purchase optronics • Negotiate partnerships with AREN and Tennessee for additional services

17. Estimated Costs for UAS RON

18. Costs & Funding by University

19. UA Timeline

20. UAB Timeline

21. UAH Timeline

22. Collaboration Success Story • 2004 – Estimated cost was $ 15M • 2006 – Estimated cost is $ 1.5M

23. Questions?

24. Request Approval • Resolution approving establishment of a Regional Optical Network for the Three Campuses of The University of Alabama System found on page 2 in your committee packet.