UAS Regional Optical UAS Regional Optical NetworkNetwork

June 15, 2006June 15, 2006

Opportunities for CollaborationOpportunities for Collaboration

Ultrahigh-speed Networks

• 100’s Gigabytes/second• End-to-end performance guarantees• Quality-of-service• Advanced network monitoring and

reporting

• 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

Large-scale Computing Systems

ESNet Backbone

Internet Member UniversitiesInternet Member Universities

September 1997September 1997

Why RON When We Have I2?Why RON When We Have I2?• Greater bandwidthGreater bandwidth• Dedicated bandwidthDedicated bandwidth• Collaboration & competitive edgeCollaboration & competitive edge• Freedom from acceptable use policiesFreedom from acceptable use policies• Catalyst for economic developmentCatalyst for economic development• Need both a production & experimental Need both a production & experimental

networknetwork• Achieve Cost Savings with multiple Achieve Cost Savings with multiple

networks using same infrastructurenetworks using same infrastructure

National LambdaRailNational LambdaRailInfrastructureInfrastructure

National LambdaRail (NLR)National LambdaRail (NLR)• Consortium of research universities and Consortium of research universities and

leading edge technology companiesleading edge technology companies• Deploying national infrastructure forDeploying national infrastructure for

– advanced network researchadvanced network research– next-generation, computationally intensive next-generation, computationally intensive

network-based applicationsnetwork-based applications

• Supporting multiple, independent high Supporting multiple, independent high speed links to research universities and speed links to research universities and centerscenters

NLR MembersNLR Members

• CENIC: Stanford, UC, CSU, CIT, USCCENIC: Stanford, UC, CSU, CIT, USC

• PNWGP: Pacific Rim, Alaska, Idaho, PNWGP: Pacific Rim, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, British Montana, Oregon, Washington, British ColumbiaColumbia

• Duke University & NC universitiesDuke University & NC universities

• MATP: Virginia Tech, UVA, Old Dominion, MATP: Virginia Tech, UVA, Old Dominion, VCU, George Mason, William & MaryVCU, George Mason, William & Mary

• Cornell UniversityCornell University

NLR MembersNLR Members

• FLR: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, FLR: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Institute Technology, FSU, Florida Institute Technology, FSU, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Florida, University of Miami, etc.etc.

• Georgia Tech & SLR: GT, GSU, UGA, & Georgia Tech & SLR: GT, GSU, UGA, & Medical College of GeorgiaMedical College of Georgia

• Louisiana Board of RegentsLouisiana Board of Regents

• Oklahoma State Board of Regents Oklahoma State Board of Regents

NLR MembersNLR Members

• Lonestar Education and Research Lonestar Education and Research Network – UT system, Texas A&M Network – UT system, Texas A&M system, Texas Tech system, Baylorsystem, Texas Tech system, Baylor

• University of New MexicoUniversity of New Mexico

• UCAR – Colorado, Wyoming, & UtahUCAR – Colorado, Wyoming, & Utah

• Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak Ridge National Laboratory

NLR/RON Network ModelNLR/RON Network Model• Supports multiple, distinct experimental Supports multiple, distinct experimental

and production networksand production networks• Supports Point-to-point switched Ethernet Supports Point-to-point switched Ethernet

as well as routed IP networksas well as routed IP networks• We purchase long term leases of dark fiberWe purchase long term leases of dark fiber• We light the dark fiberWe light the dark fiber• We own and manage the infrastructureWe own and manage the infrastructure• RONs connect to NLR backboneRONs connect to NLR backbone• RONs connect to Internet - commodity & I2RONs connect to Internet - commodity & I2

NLR and the RONsNLR and the RONs

UAS MotivationUAS Motivation

• Attract and retain the best and brightestAttract and retain the best and brightest

• Leverage our individual strengths to reach Leverage our individual strengths to reach out to collaborateout to collaborate

• Provide infrastructure to widen research Provide infrastructure to widen research opportunitiesopportunities

• Control our wide area networking destinyControl our wide area networking destiny

• Take advantage of current market Take advantage of current market opportunitiesopportunities

• Solve real world problemsSolve real world problems

Progress to DateProgress to Date• Feb 2005 – campus Presidents approve Feb 2005 – campus Presidents approve

pursuing dark fiber acquisitionspursuing dark fiber acquisitions• Mar 2005 – IT committee briefedMar 2005 – IT committee briefed• Summer 2005 – bids for dark fiber routesSummer 2005 – bids for dark fiber routes• Awarded Nashville to Atlanta (Level3) & Awarded Nashville to Atlanta (Level3) &

Tuscaloosa to Birmingham (Deltacom)Tuscaloosa to Birmingham (Deltacom)• Negotiate with NASA/NLR/SLR to connect Negotiate with NASA/NLR/SLR to connect

MSFC in HuntsvilleMSFC in Huntsville

SLR AgreementSLR Agreement• SLR uses UAS fiber in exchange for SLR uses UAS fiber in exchange for

optronics to light the fiber to connect optronics to light the fiber to connect MSFC to NLRMSFC to NLR

• UAS campuses would only have to pay UAS campuses would only have to pay incremental costs to connect each campusincremental costs to connect each campus

Next StepsNext Steps

• Establish local fiber loops in Huntsville & Establish local fiber loops in Huntsville & BirminghamBirmingham

• Finalize SLR agreementFinalize SLR agreement

• Purchase optronicsPurchase optronics

• Negotiate partnerships with AREN and Negotiate partnerships with AREN and Tennessee for additional servicesTennessee for additional services

Estimated Costs for UAS RONEstimated Costs for UAS RON

CategoryCategory Estimated CostEstimated Cost

FiberFiber $1,168,214$1,168,214

OptronicsOptronics $330,604$330,604

TotalTotal $1,498,818$1,498,818

Costs & Funding by UniversityCosts & Funding by University

UniversityUniversity CostCost FundingFunding

UAUA $ 824,604$ 824,604 PlantPlant

UABUAB $ 374,000$ 374,000 PlantPlant

UAHUAH $ 300,214$ 300,214 PlantPlant

UA TimelineUA Timeline

InitiationInitiation CompletionCompletion

Project Approval by BOTProject Approval by BOT 06/16/0606/16/06

Contract & Install FiberContract & Install Fiber 06/19/0606/19/06 9/15/069/15/06

Order & Install EquipmentOrder & Install Equipment 09/15/0609/15/06 1/15/071/15/07

Order Internet ServiceOrder Internet Service 11/15/0611/15/06 1/15/071/15/07

Test NetworkTest Network 1/16/071/16/07

Live to NLRLive to NLR 2/16/072/16/07

Load Test ISP ConnectionLoad Test ISP Connection 2/16/072/16/07 5/31/075/31/07

UAB TimelineUAB Timeline

InitiationInitiation CompletionCompletion

Project Approval by BOTProject Approval by BOT 06/16/0606/16/06

Contract Approval FiberlinkContract Approval Fiberlink 06/19/0606/19/06 07/28/0607/28/06

Order Incremental EquipmentOrder Incremental Equipment 06/19/0606/19/06 08/18/0608/18/06

Test NetworkTest Network 08/21/0608/21/06 11/10/0611/10/06

Order Internet ServiceOrder Internet Service 08/21/0608/21/06 08/21/0608/21/06

Live to NLRLive to NLR 11/13/0611/13/06 11/13/0611/13/06

Test New ISP ConnectionTest New ISP Connection 11/14/0611/14/06 12/25/0612/25/06

UAH TimelineUAH Timeline

InitiationInitiation CompletionCompletion

Project Approval by BOTProject Approval by BOT 06/16/0606/16/06

Contract and Hang FiberContract and Hang Fiber 06/19/0606/19/06 09/15/0609/15/06

Order Incremental EquipmentOrder Incremental Equipment 06/19/0606/19/06 08/18/0608/18/06

Order Internet ServiceOrder Internet Service 08/21/0608/21/06 08/21/0608/21/06

Test NetworkTest Network 09/18/0609/18/06 11/10/0611/10/06

Live to NLRLive to NLR 11/13/0611/13/06 11/13/0611/13/06

Test New ISP ConnectionTest New ISP Connection 11/14/0611/14/06 12/25/0612/25/06

Collaboration Success StoryCollaboration Success Story• 2004 – Estimated cost was $ 15M2004 – Estimated cost was $ 15M• 2006 – Estimated cost is $ 1.5M2006 – Estimated cost is $ 1.5M

Questions?Questions?

Request ApprovalRequest Approval

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