Network Engineering

Network Engineering Plan

The Network Engineering Plan to connect UAH and other Alabama researcher institutions to the vBNS has changed radically from that which was proposed. By cooperating with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama, we have been able to negotiate highly favorable rates for the transport from Huntsville, Birmingham and Tuscalossa through the SoX at Georgia Tech and onto the vBNS-MCI connection in Austell, Georgia. This effort is called the Gulf Central GigaPoP. Additionally, we have negotiated in cooperation with the City of Huntsville to provide high performance connections to the main UAH campus, the Global Hydrology and Climate Center, AREN, the City of Huntsville, and the local connection to the GCG. The original plan focused on DS3 connections to each of the vital points in the effort. Through our negotiations we have been able to upgrade the connections to the OC3 level without a great increase in cost. This is important since the connection distances are long and there would have been very expensive local-loop charges.

Project Management

The central management task for this year has been the procurement of the necessary services and equipment to make the connection a reality. As indicated above we have been successful in these efforts and appear to be well positioned for an early Spring launching of services. Additionally we have requested and received additional EPSCoR funding for this project. Owing to careful negotiations this money will provide the funds needed for the OC3 connection rather than a DS3 connection.

Dr. Sara Graves has served as the leader of this project in concert with Dr. Daniel Rochowiak, Dr. Tim Newman, Ms. Sandi Redman, and Mr. Frank Gosssett. Additional services have been provided by Mr. Larry Morphew, Mr. Bill Woodward, Mr. Jerry Quick, and Mr. Don Halverstadt. Many members of the UAH staff have provided further services.