Networks/Telecoms
Standardised Solution
Currently the College has
standardised on providing full duplex
100Mb/s Ethernet to every desktop,
with the capability to provide 1Gb/s
where required for more demanding
scientific applications. The College
backbone uses Cisco routers and
3Com and Cisco switches with
diverse-routed multiple 10Gb/s links
between them for added resilience.
Two 2.5 Gb/sec links into the
education and research JANET
London Metropolitan Area Network
provide resilient access and these are
soon to be upgraded to 10Gb/s.
“Communication is the lifeblood of the
university so it’s important that our
links are resilient and have sufficient
also make The College a significant Part of the challenge within Imperial bandwidth for the traffic we generate,”
customer for that manufacturer and College is the sheer size of the says Barbosa. “For example Imperial’s
enable it to influence future establishment. There are two data professor Tejinder Virdee is leading
developments such as the date- centres, numerous smaller comms the biggest experiment on earth with
stamped cable he wished to be able rooms still exist from the time when the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS)
to install. each department ran its own network. particle detector, which has already
“We have approximately 400 locations created a very impressive and
Since then Barbosa and his team scattered throughout the College continuous daily flow of data. [see box
have developed a complete set of which contain networking equipment out]
standards for infrastructure at Imperial of some sort in them — switches,
which has helped to improve routers, even servers,” says Barbosa. Within the next year or two Imperial
communication and consistency “One of our main tasks is to College plans to further upgrade the
between all parties. “The significantly reduce the number to a network active infrastructure to
comprehensive standards document more manageable level by bringing support 1Gb/s at the desktop with
specifies that only Brand-Rex copper the equipment together into a smaller 2Gb/s and 4Gb/s aggregated links at
and fibre cabling products are to be number of larger areas.” This strategy the core. “This configuration will give
used and tells internal and external will not only increase overall reliability, us high availability in the network, and
people everything they need to know it will decrease the cost of in planning it we are being proactive
about Imperial infrastructure maintenance and also improve rather than reactive while introducing
requirements. Now it is also a manageability and security of the an element of future proofing,” says
requirement on new-build projects network. Barbosa. “Although PCs are unable to
that the builder must use one of realistically take advantage of these
Imperial’s roster of approved Not only do Barbosa and his team network speeds at this time, we can
cabling installation contractors and have an extensive 60,000 outlet fixed see a steady increase in their power,
only the specified cabling infrastructure to support, Imperial and in the near future they will get to
manufacturer’s products.” says College also boasts one of the largest the point of being able to use this
Barbosa. “So now there can never wireless infrastructures in the country bandwidth.”
again be the excuse that they couldn’t with some 500 wireless access points
get hold of someone from this that allow students with laptops to In order to consolidate and co-
department to give them advice or work and study in any of the public ordinate the infrastructure further,
guidance because the College places within the College buildings. Imperial College has standardised on
network standards policy is clearly That’s excluding the halls of residence the use of Brand-Rex structured
documented. And it’s available to which are due to have wireless cabling using four Brand-Rex trained
them online.” installed next year. installers to assure the quality of
40 | DATA CENTRE SOLUTIONS | www.datacentresols.com September 2008
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