Campus computer network upgrade speeds connections

Has your network connection been faster and more reliable lately? You’re enjoying the results of a major campus rewiring project by Cornell Information Technologies (CIT).

“The campus is now served by a network capable of fully supporting Cornell’s research and educational missions by delivering information at the higher data speeds used by contemporary devices and providing the bandwidth required for today’s network-intensive applications,” said Ted Dodds, vice president for information technology, in announcing completion of the three-year, multimillion dollar Network Connectivity Program. “Areas of campus that were previously unserved now have network connectivity,” he added.

Some of the work had been done earlier under Project EzraNet, launched 10 years ago. When Dodds took over as CIO in 2010, he set a goal of bringing Cornell in step with peer institutions. “He asked to have the work completed in half the time at half the cost,” recalled Sasja Huijts, director of planning and program management for CIT. “It took a big push,” said Tom Theimer, CIT project manager. “No one had imagined it was even possible.”

Forty-six buildings have been rewired to replace outdated “CAT-3” computer cabling with current standard CAT-5 and CAT-6. Workers installed 12,945 new cables, adding up to 362 miles of cabling – averaging about 13.4 miles per building, Theimer said. “Some of the old cable probably dates from 1985,” he noted.

Some users also were given new cables to connect their computers to the wall jack.

The telecom rooms in each building, where all those cables come together and connect to the outside world, now have new hardware, and emergency backup power systems were upgraded. In some cases the rooms were moved to be closer to the offices, labs and classrooms they served to meet length restrictions of the new cables. New rooms were created in buildings that had none.

All this has allowed CIT to upgrade many buildings to gigabit Ethernet service (1 billion bits per second).

Wi-Fi access has also been expanded with more access points, and many old access points have been upgraded to faster 802.11n service. About 2,200 additional desks now have modern Voice Over IP phones, which offer static-free sound and additional services, and save the university money on switching systems. All upgraded buildings now have emergency phones on every floor, with a direct line to Cornell University Police.

The work was funded from the capital budgets of the endowed and contract colleges – each handled a little differently. Each building was treated as a separate capital project: Designs had to be approved and then contracts put out for bids. Outside contractors were hired to install cables. CIT network technicians then came in to turn it all on. New cables were run in parallel with the old, and the old only removed after the new system was up and running.

You may not have noticed this happening because contractors worked mostly at night to avoid disrupting the workday as they opened up walls and ceilings and later, patched and painted – and in some cases, removed old asbestos insulation.

“I am delighted to inform you that the program came in under budget and was completed on schedule,” Dodds concluded.

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John Carberry