“IF I COULD START FROM SCRATCH” A Case Study of Infrastructure Design at Olin College Joanne Kossuth, Director Information Technology

“IF I COULD START FROM SCRATCH”

A Case Study of Infrastructure Design at Olin College

Joanne Kossuth, Director Information Technology

Mission Impossible????Mission Impossible????

Start Date?October 1999

End Date?ASAP

TaskDesign a network infrastructure for Phase I buildings

and outside plant, anticipating future phasesRationale: “It will be Different”

The BeginningThe Beginning

Location, LocationLocation, Location

The ModelThe Model

Design GoalsDesign Goals

An infrastructure with a minimum expected lifespan of 25 years A technology experience consistent with the expectations for the

“Engineering College of the 21st Century”An infrastructure capable of :

supporting faculty research requirements such as the Sloan Center for Online Education (www.scole.org)

supporting collaborative endeavors that cut across educational, corporate, and international boundaries

supporting student expectations and requirements for academic, community, and social activities

Possible ServicesPossible Services

Network based file sharing, storage, printing, and backupUNIX, LINUX, and NT operating systems supportDesktop applications and support such as MS Office, CADDisaster Recovery of laptops, desktops, servers, etc.A pyramid of web pages from faculty to student home pages Wireless connectivity to work anywhere with anyoneHigh speed access to the InternetConstant e-mail access The ability to download or send applicable information from home

computers to work computers to cell phones or other personal digital assistants

Possible Services, Cont.Possible Services, Cont.

Course materials available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for anytime, anywhere learning

Access to help (student, faculty, on-line, e-mail) whenever neededA variety of multi media materials (music, artwork, movie clips,

television clips, sound bites, PowerPoint presentations, talking heads, chat rooms, discussion boards) used in content to keep the interest of the student

Online self assessment, instant feedbackThe ability to personalize the educational experience down to

coordinating and editing materials to study in the manner that works best for the student

Possible Services, Cont.Possible Services, Cont.

The ability to produce the aforementioned multimedia materials through taping, digitizing, editing and online collaboration

The ability to stream and broadcast selected audio and visual materials throughout the campus or the world

TeleconferencingVoice over ip (utilizing network equipment as opposed to a traditional

PBX which would cost between $1 and $1.3 million dollars) to make and receive telephone calls

The ability to access all student services online, anytime, from anywhere and to have the services provide knowledgeable support during the process

Things we cannot even imagine ……..

Our First Educated Guesses at Required

Resources

Our First Educated Guesses at Required

ResourcesFiber connectivity to the worldFiber connectivity between buildingsFiber connectivity between floorsCategory 6 copper cable for up to 1GB throughput to the desktopFiber to the desktop for advanced multi media applications such as

CADSatellite DishesPartnerships with a select 8-10 technology companiesAn ongoing commitment to upgrading and replacing technology on

an annual basisStaffing

Staffing?Staffing?

Currently, IT Director, Associate Director for Networking and Technical Services, Associate Director for Application Development, Technical Services Assistant, Network Admin and Technician openings

Supporting approximately 50 users, 16 servers, Great Plain Avenue campus

IT includes voip, A/V, electronic securityDesigning and overseeing IT work on the main campusDesigning and overseeing IT work on the Modular Academic

Center and Residence Hall (temporary 9/01-2/02)Estimated final staff count of 20-25 +/-

Design FactorsDesign Factors

Design FactorsThe design is based on the following factors:

The impact of the technology currently in place, and the impact of the technology planned in the following environments:

High SchoolsComparable CollegesCorporations

Emerging technologies and challenges, the rate of change, and customer relationship management

Design Factors, Cont.Design Factors, Cont.

The exceptional level of students being recruited by Olin CollegeThe increasing expectations of the student community, in general

Students are already used to:24x7 access to course materials on the webATM machinesHome bankingE-commerce (groceries to cool techie toys)Using the Internet voice over ip to make “free” telephone callsUsing cell phones to download material from the web to stay

constantly in-touch

Design Factors, Cont.Design Factors, Cont.Napster and MP3s (“making their own music in their own

portable format)Sending postcards via e-mailReceiving photos from a CD, not negatives Using a digital camera and skipping the photo development

process entirelyWatching TV or videos over the InternetCollaborating in “group” games such as SimCity and Doom

The role of emerging network technologies The formation of “high-tech” communities I.e. the Nortel community

in CaliforniaThe rapid rate of technological innovation and changeFocus on customer relationships over a lifetime

High School ExamplesHigh School Examples

North Carolina School of Science and MathMaine School of Science and MathMassachusetts Academy of Mathematics and

ScienceRockport Maine High School

Today’s High SchoolsToday’s High Schools

North Carolina School of Science and Mathwww.ncssm.edu/IT/computing_resourcesT1 Internet access10 servers300 workstationsStudent Learning Lab containing 21 PCs with video capture

cards and conferencing cameras, reserved by on-line reservation

E-lab containing 20 PCs and 15 development machines with video editing, desktop publishing, electronic music, and high-end graphics

NCSCMNCSCM

North Carolina School of Science and Math (cont.)HP Unix/Linux lab containing sever and workstationsDistance Learning Department with non-linear video editing,

server, and high end workstationsNetworked HP color and black and white printersTerminal server clients in dormitory common roomsStudent run web serverStudent organization web sitesUpgrading to all 100mbs (megabits per second) connections

Today’s College Technology

Today’s College Technology

Harvey MuddRose HulmanFlorida TechMITWake Forest UniversityNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Massachusetts, AmherstWPI

WPIWPI

www.wpi.eduDual campus backbone, OC-48 ATM/10GB EthernetAll multimedia/video runs on the ATM networkUse Siecor fiberAll data runs on the 10GB EthernetOne ATM 3/12 to each building with a 2 GB Ethernet uplink to

the data chassisAll ports being upgraded to switched 10/100 Ethernet

Today’s CorporationsToday’s Corporations

Biogen (Medical technology)Household Finance (Financial/Insurance)Crossroads (Internet)UPS (Transportation Service)

CrossroadsCrossroads

Crossroads, Austin Texas Supplier of data storage solutionsFull FTTD (Fiber to the desktop) solution using MTRJ

connectors3 pairs of fiber to each desk, copper for the telephone

connection4000 desktop connections

Emerging Technology Considerations

Emerging Technology Considerations

Internet 2 applications require end-to-end connectivityIn an environment where voice, video, and data are converging

into a common digital infrastructure how do we connect wired and wireless networking in a seamless manner?

What quality of service is required?How can bandwidth be dynamically allocated to insure that certain

network traffic goes through regardless of any other application (prioritization)?

Emerging Technology Considerations, Cont.Emerging Technology Considerations, Cont.

Should we segregate academic/administrative from residential networks to apply different quality of service algorithms?

Do researchers with external support receive priority network services?

Should research indirect cost formulas be altered to include quality of service costs?

Should quality of service be fee-based?Can we plan the current and future replacement for network

hardware?

Market ConsiderationsMarket Considerations

According to Cabling Business Magazine, new construction projects are installing single mode and multimode fiber at the backbone and riser level

Approximately 40% of the new construction projects are installing fiber to the desktop e.g. George Washington University, Umass Amherst

In general, new installs of copper for data purposes are Cat6 with the exception of strictly voice applications

There is a world wide shortage of fiber and the raw materials that make fiber

Market Considerations, Cont.

Market Considerations, Cont.

Vendors are currently producing 10GB backbone throughput on fiber

New technologies such as wave division multiplexing (WDM) and dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) are being utilized in the carrier market

Predications call for LANs to be 10GB by 2003-2005 at the time when MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks) are 30GB and WANs (wide area networks) are 100GB

Technological ChangeTechnological Change LOS ALAMITOS, CA September 26, 2000: Creating the best possible

digital learning environment is critical to sustaining California’s technology miracle. With $32 million in State funding, the Digital California Project: K-12 Statewide Network is underway to create a digital infrastructure to help prepare the next generation with the skills to excel in the network-driven economy. The Digital California Project, or DCP, provides the framework for a cohesive and seamless statewide advanced service network that reaches into each of the State’s 58 counties. Once the network has been implemented, K-12 schools, districts and county offices of education will be able to connect their networks to the DCP and gain access to rich content resources for teaching and learning, to prepare students with the basic knowledge and specific skills to inspire them to enter and be successful in higher education and in the 21st century workforce.

Customer Relationship Management, StudentsCustomer Relationship Management, Students

Services received from web-based companies lead students, faculty, and staff to increasingly expect real-time personalized services available around the clock

Students will expect to receive choices in registration based on past preferences, meeting time, learning style, academic area, prerequisites, co-requisites, impact on degree completion, previous student ratings, cost of textbooks and materials, etc.

CRM, ResearchersCRM, Researchers

Researchers will expect to have only those grant opportunities applicable to their areas of interest flagged for them.

They will also expect to be contacted only by those individuals interested in working with them on specific projects.

They will expect to collaborate in virtual time and space.Many grant proposals such as NSF can only be submitted on line

e.g. www.bu.edu/osp/nsf.html

Lifetime CRMLifetime CRM

Alumni will expect to retain access to College resources as they pursue their careers.

They will also want to utilize electronic resources to maintain personal relationships with faculty, staff, and students.

The College will need to maintain “in-touch” with alumni and know their preferences for college events, outside events, sports, books, etc. in order to better develop donor prospects.

CRM and ConvergenceCRM and Convergence

As the world of electronics, information technology, telecommunications, and e-business converges, the boundaries of the current market will be blurred as web-based expectations become the norm.

Colleges will be competing with other web presences such as entertainment providers, publisher, software vendors, training providers, etc.

The Customer InfluenceThe Customer Influence

Olin College is not using a print applicationThe on-line application went live on Friday, September 15, 2000 at

11:21amThe response from students was immediateIn the first hour, 11 accounts were createdBy the end of the first day 114 accounts were created and

students were entering data until midnightBy the end of the second day 64 additional accounts were createdBy the end of the third day 56 additional accounts were createdA total of 1857 accounts were created, 664 applications fully

submitted, and 126 candidates invited

The Planning CategoriesThe Planning Categories

Cabling and ConnectivityNetwork HardwareServers and LabsAudio/ VisualSecurityRelationship with Babson

Cabling and Connectivity, Cont.


Extensive research on performance of end-to-end solutions and/or alternatives

The Cabling Tour (Manufacturers and Contractors)Reference site visitsCorporate Headquarter visits Plant visits

Business Plans and Financial StatementsIn-house testing of Olin specified solutions



Specified four possible solutions in the RFP, down to part number listings

Contractors had to submit responses for 2 solutionsThe finalists were AMP NetConnect, NORDX/CDT IBDN,

Panduit/Belden, Avaya (formerly Lucent)2081The majority of the bid responses were returned with

NORDX/CDT and Panduit/BeldenThe College selected MTS of Bedford, NH as the cabling

contractor and NORDX/CDT IBDN (Cat6) solution and Fiber Express solution

Cabling and Connectivity Decisions

Cabling and Connectivity Decisions

Utilizing 50 micron fiber as opposed to 62.5 micron fiber will allow for a fiber solution that costs approximately 5% less than the 62.5 micron fiber yet provides greater bandwidth potential for use with WDM and DWDM, allows greater distances over MM fiber

TIA( Telecommunications Industry Alliance)/EIA (Electronics Industry Alliance) standards formulas for 40-50% spare capacity planning

6/6 (single/multimode) for fire/building control12/12 (single/multimode) for security24/24 (single/multimode) for A/V144 hybrid (65% single/35% multimode) for voice/data

Cabling and Connectivity Decisions, Cont.


Maintenance of performance:Specifying indoor/outdoor loose tube fiber with dry blocking tape

so that cable can be run outdoors and to 1st floor Telecommunications Room without having to perform any cutting and splicing since every splice/connection results in some degree of performance degradation.

Leaving loops of fiber long enough to reach the Phase II Buildings and run up the proposed risers in order to maintain the same degree of performance.



Main Telecommunications Room on the first level of each building in a fairly centralized location, secondary Telecommunications Rooms on each of the other 3 floors (stacked with the Main Telecommunications Room), fiber risers are fed in conduit (included in GC specification) to each telecommunications room.

Within each telecommunications room, the switching equipment will be connected to each other and to the network via fiber with extra fiber pairs run as backup/fail over/redundancy.



From the telecommunications room, fiber and Cat6 copper will be fed to the individual port locations using doublewide snake tray. Double wide “snake tray” was specified in the GC scope of work allowing for services to be kept separate as they are delivered to the various room locations and cables will be bundled (wrapped) to T-off down the applicable corridors.



From 6 inches off the cable tray, the cable will be run in conduit to the applicable back box. Each standard back box (specified in the GC scope) will contain either 4 Cat6 copper connections or a CATV connector.

Each standard 2-gang spacer will contain 2 strands of single mode fiber (two strands= one port due to transmit/receive) and 2 strands of multi mode fiber, fiber terminations will be MTRJ.

Alias Prince Spaghetti Factory

Alias Prince Spaghetti Factory

Campus Backbone Requirements

Campus Backbone Requirements

The campus backbone will originally consist of switched 100 Mbps to each device and 1GB of available bandwidth on the backbone with the expectation that by the end of the 2002 year (at the latest) there will be a requirement to move to multi-trunked Gigabit Ethernet in order to provide a campus backbone of 2GB or better. The estimate is that the campus backbone will need to support 10GB Ethernet by the end of 2004 (at the latest).

Major ManholesMajor Manholes

Network Hardware Requirements

Network Hardware Requirements

The selected network hardware vendor will be required to provide a switch platform that is redundant (backplane, power supplies, fans, fail over), reliable, and expandable. The vendor will also be required to provide a voice over ip solution. Due to the high volume of services expected to be run over the network, the selected network vendor will need to provide the ability to set network policies and quality of service parameters to insure the priority of certain services such as voice.

Network Hardware Requirements, Cont.Network Hardware

Requirements, Cont.Additional network needs will be firewall software and appliances

as well as equipment necessary to deploy virtual private networks (VPNs) or secure connections to resources on the Olin network from off-campus.

Olin is in the market for an end-to-end solution which will include the ability to handle voice over ip, ip-based audio visual systems, ip-TV, and provide a web-based, real time switched network management system

Network Hardware Selection

Network Hardware Selection

IT is in the process of working with the four major enterprise networking companies to specify network hardware for the above referenced cabling infrastructure

The four major vendors are: Cisco, Nortel, Enterasys (formerly Cabletron), and HP.

Meetings have been held and preliminary network hardware designs detailed by each of the vendors

Each of the vendors created a simulated lab on their site with the equipment Olin will be using (including management tools) and IT committed time to working in the lab and testing scenarios.

Network Hardware Selection, Cont.

Network Hardware Selection, Cont.

The second round of preliminary network hardware designs detailed by each of the vendors is in progress.

Corporate visits are completed with the exception of Cisco and HP, both of which are scheduled for April.

The RFP is expected to be sent out in the August/September time frame depending upon construction progress.

Lab DecisionsLab Decisions

24 hour card access lab in the Administrative Building (by the IT Center);

2 (approximately 25-30 computers) tiered computer labs in the Classroom Building;

a third computer lab/collaborative learning area in the Classroom C (outfitted this with a ceiling mounted light bar in case we need to be able to turn the room into a studio type layout as well as a raised floor to meet networking and other lab needs);

Lab Decisions, Cont.Lab Decisions, Cont.

A number of public stand-up and sit-down stations in the library area;

Working with the faculty to provide the appropriate software and hardware resources to support the curriculum.

This is applicable to the computer lab areas as well as to the engineering lab areas which will use technology in conjunction with instrumentation, etc.

Wireless as a complementary technology to “wired”

Current Server DecisionsCurrent Server Decisions

Standardized on Compaq servers, NT and 2000Rack-mounted servers, shared UPS backupRedundant fans, power supplies, RAID 5, hot swappable disk

drivesMinimize services per servers thus increasing performance and

monitoring capabilities

Future Server DecisionsFuture Server Decisions

Caching, load balancing, clustering of Compaq serversIntroduction of UNIX and possible LINUX servers to the

environmentEmulation considerations re Windows access to the UNIX boxes

Administrative SystemAdministrative System

• Administrative system investigation begun December of 2000• Once other key employees are in place we will escalate the

process (in conjunction with Babson team members) to include demonstrations and site visits

• Since a system will need to be in place and functioning by September 2002 we will need to send out the RFP in July of 2001 with responses expected in August 2001 and implementation starting September 1, 2001 (at the latest)

A/V DecisionsA/V Decisions

Working with CDA (Communications Design Associates) in Norwood, MA

All classrooms and labs will be provisioned with overhead projection, faculty podium controls for computer and A/V appliances (TCP/IP based), and smart whiteboards on one wall;

The classroom building will also house a Media Control center for centralized distribution of A/V resources when necessary;

All buildings are scheduled to have 4 or 5 wireless access points per floor;

A/V Decisions, Cont.A/V Decisions, Cont.

Administrative building will have 2 rooms outfitted for distance learning applications (complete with infrared cameras and built-in microphones as well as videoconferencing capabilities).

One RFP for entire CATV system, approximately August/Sept timeframe.

RFP for Buildings D, A, HSeparate RFP for Building C (Classroom)

Electronic Security Decisions

Electronic Security Decisions

Partnered with CGL from Norwood, MACGL Electronic Security has contracted with and provides service

to Babson College. Given the collaboration between the colleges, Babson public safety personnel will understand how the security products operate. In addition, CGL will be able to provide enhanced service due to their level of understanding of the needs and operating procedures of each institution.

Electronic Security Decisions, Cont.

Electronic Security Decisions, Cont.

Utilizing the same card readers will allow for simplified cross-campus use of one-card and/or security cards by the students at both Babson and Olin College.

Better pricing and service contract will be available to the two campuses due to the volume of similar equipment used on each campus.

CGL Electronic Security is a local vendor which results in improved, quick service as compared to national vendors. Provided design work at no cost

Relationship with BabsonRelationship with Babson

Running fiber to the Babson telephone switch location to provide backup services for our voice over ip solution since Babson currently has a telephone switch with spare capability.

Running a Media One or other cable television feed to the Olin Media Control Center and from there to the Babson campus.

Relationship with Babson, Cont.


Inserting Olin originated programming on the Babson campus and Babson originated programming on the Olin campus.

Providing ISP (Internet Service Provider) to a demarcation point at Olin and then feeding Babson from the same connection. This would allow the two colleges to have a larger connection to the Internet and to have redundant service setup so that neither school would ever be totally without some level of Internet service.



Olin creating an Internet 2 connection (in conjunction with corporate partners) and then selling Internet 2 services to other local colleges and/or schools (note that no Internet 2 hardware is specified anywhere in the design).

?????????

The CostThe Cost $$$ Cabling: estimated at $2 million for Phase I

» Additional $1-$1.5 million for Phase II Network Hardware: estimated at $ 4 million list price for total build out of Phases I

and II Servers, data center switch estimated at $850,000 list Computer labs and library labs estimated at $300,000 list A/V: estimated at $3.0 million total build out for Phase I

» Additional estimated $150,000 for Phase II residence halls» Additional estimated $370,000 for Building B, Phase II

Security: estimated at $823,000 for Phase I and perimeter» Additional estimated $450,000 for Phase 2

Most Important FactorsMost Important Factors

Partnership (included in all RFPs)In order to meet these goals, the College is seeking to partner with

technology vendors at minimum over the scheduled build out period for Phases I and II (2000-2005) as well as the as yet unscheduled Phase III.

The College is seeking a ___ systems partner who will exceed these contract parameters and involve Olin College in the company’s other business units, research and development divisions, and its corporate connections.

Most Important Factors, Cont.

Most Important Factors, Cont.

Some possibilities include:Internships for Olin College students;Utilizing talented Olin College students to test new technologies;Having Olin College students participate in developing new

technologies as part of a corporate team;Providing opportunities for interested Olin students to participate

in consulting opportunities;Providing the opportunity for CTOs and others to guest lecture at

the College;

Most Important FactorsMost Important Factors

Providing a reference account or showcase for the vendor(s); and Utilizing College facilities for events/training on a mutually agreed

upon schedule.Olin College values creativity and encourages the vendor to

actively pursue the once in a career opportunities available as a technology partner to the first brand new college in forty years.

Continuing Collaboration with Commercial and Educational partners

The Cost of Not Planning for the Future

The Cost of Not Planning for the Future

An example of inadequate planning for the future and the possible costs associated with the inadequate planning is as follows:

5 years ago, a Southeastern University upgraded its systems and put in conduit containing fiber

However, the number of conduit and amount of fiber requested was cut back in order to “save” on the budget.

The University is now in the process of performing a “forklift” upgrade to its backbone since the conduit is at capacity and there is not enough fiber to deliver the network services

The cost of this additional upgrade is $28 million (which includes some upgrading of network hardware components) which is significantly higher than the original requested budget.

Is It Really Different?Is It Really Different?

Yes !!!But, given the tremendous opportunity there are an equal number

of challenges such as:Education and TrainingBudgetTime ManagementStaffing and Support Issues

QuestionsQuestions

???????????Construction progress can be seen at

www.olin.eduContact [email protected]

Documents

“IF I COULD START FROM SCRATCH” A Case Study of Infrastructure Design at Olin College Joanne Kossuth, Director Information Technology