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Systems
and Networks
Index
Systems
and Networks: Introduction
As
implied by its name, Systems and Networks has two general areas of
responsibility -- central systems and campus networking.
"Systems" includes systems management, programming,
operations, and hardware maintenance for the central servers -- an
OpenVMS system cluster, a Tru-64 Unix student email server, multiple
DNS/DHCP servers running Linux and two Sun Solaris based web portal
hosts. "Networking" involves implementation, maintenance,
support and enhancement of the campus network. This includes the
physical network infrastructure, network electronics, network
management tools, bandwidth management, security and firewall
management. A combination fiber optic and CAT5e copper backbone
provides switched Ethernet connectivity to all campus offices,
classrooms, and residence hall rooms in addition to a high speed
link to the external Internet.
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Systems
Programming/Management
Systems
and Networks performs systems programming/management for several
different central servers platforms -- an OpenVMS cluster consisting
of three HP/Compaq Alphaservers supporting Administrative functions;
an HP/Compaq Alphaserver running Tru-64 Unix for student email
services/academic computing support; two Linux based Intel servers
for campus Domain Name Service and DHCP services; and two SUN
Solaris systems supporting the new UNCA OnePort web portal
products.
Systems
and Networks installs new systems software releases on the central
systems, implements security procedures for system files and
application programs, monitors and enhances system performance, and
installs and maintains a number of third-party systems software
packages, including several networking software packages.
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Network
Implementation and Support
Systems
and Networks manages the campus network, a fiber optic backbone that
connects all campus buildings and provides high-speed connectivity
to all spaces on campus where people live, learn, and work --
residence hall rooms, classrooms, and offices.
Systems
and Networks initially planned and implemented a true campus network
in the summer of 1998. The entire campus was wired with multi-mode
and single mode fiber optic cabling between buildings and CAT5 UTP
copper cabling within each building. This supported a 3Com
Corporation OC3 ATM based campus network providing 155mb fiber based
connectivity between buildings and 10mb switched Ethernet to all
desktops, computer labs, classrooms and residence halls.
During
the spring and summer of May, 2002 a significant network upgrade was
designed and implemented as part of the 2001 state bond referendum
for higher education. Two remaining buildings were brought up to the
campus CAT5e wiring standard and a new Cisco Systems Gigabit
Ethernet backbone was installed. This new design provides Gigabit Ethernet
bandwidth between campus buildings and upgrades all desktop, lab and
residence hall connections from 10mb to 100mb links. In addition,
new monitoring software, bandwidth management and a security
firewall were put in place.
The
UNCA backbone is connected to the Internet through networking
services provided by the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC).
The MCNC network, NCREN (North Carolina Research and Education
Network) utilizes telco based fiber optic cable to provide UNCA with
a DS3 (45mb) external connection to other UNC campuses and to the
larger Internet. Upgrade of our external connection to OC12
(622mb) is expected in the spring of 2004.
Systems
and Networks designed the campus backbone with significant excess
capacity to support future applications such as campus video
distribution, voice applications and building controls systems.
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Account
Management
Systems
and Networks staff create and maintain central system accounts that
have been authorized by Administrative Computing Services and
Academic Computing Services. They monitor account usage patterns and
control account disk storage usage. All students are assigned email
accounts when they register for classes.
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Operations
Systems
and Networks staff perform daily and weekly backup of the central
systems. They archive and restore data for users, perform queue
management, and carry out administrative batch processing update
runs each evening.
Operations
staff work from 4 p.m. to midnight each weekday.
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Hardware
Maintenance
Systems
and Networks is responsible for hardware maintenance of the central
systems and associated peripherals, and of the centralized
networking hardware. The group keeps track of maintenance contracts
on the larger pieces of equipment. Maintenance contracts for all the
central HP/Compaq equipment are administered through a central,
UNC-system-wide contract, at great cost savings to the university.
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