“Backbone” network upgrade has been completed”

May 26, 2000
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  • umichnews@umich.edu

ANN ARBOR—The first steps of the University of Michigan’s plan to upgrade its campus “backbone” network has been completed. The upgrade increases the capacity (bandwidth) that is available for carrying electronic information to and from computers. It connects all data networks on campus and enables the University community to access networking services such as electronic mail and the World Wide Web.

The upgrade means a faster data transfer and improved network performance for most who use computing resources on campus. Prior to the upgrade, the campus’ backbone utilization rate was running close to 100 percent during peak traffic hours, causing delays in the transfer of electronic information. With the new backbone in place, campus traffic is using less than 25 percent of its capacity during peak hours.

“The demand for bandwidth at the University has increased exponentially over the past few years,” said José-Marie Griffiths, University chief information officer. “The additional use was straining our network’s capacity and slowing response time. It is essential that we continuously improve our technology environment to provide reliable and available access to members of the University community.”

The completion of the upgrade to the three Ann Arbor campus backbone networks also enabled a high-speed connection to the Internet. The link between three University networks to the Internet (through Merit Network, Inc.) was completed when an OC12 pipe that carries 622 megabits of data was installed. The OC12 pipe is much faster than the previous connection and allows for improved, high-speed data flow. The upgrades assist in preparing the campus for Internet2 applications that will require greater bandwidth.

“Our final test period went so well that we brought the new backbone online five days ahead of schedule,” said Dan Kjos, director of engineering and operations, IT Communications Services (ITCom). “Feedback from our users on the network’s performance has been very positive. I am very impressed by how well the upgrade team worked together to complete this project prior to its planned completion date.”

The upgrades provide dramatic improvement to the network backbone that supplies connections to local networks at the University. The most prevalent increase will be noticed when U-M users communicate with other sites attached to Internet2/Abilene. Upgrades to local area networks will be completed in the next phases of the upgrade plan. Further upgrades to backbone capacity are also in the planning stage.

Network traffic on the Internet external to the University may contribute to occasional slower response time due to bottlenecks outside the University’s control.

For more information on the network upgrades, visit the Web at: http://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/i2/

José-Marie GriffithsMerit Network, Inc.IT Communications Serviceshttp://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/i2/