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Angie Antonopoulos
University Information Technology Services
eantonop@iupui.edu
317-274-5009

Greg Wood
National LambdaRail
ghwood@nlr.net
202-331-5360

Last modified: Wednesday, November 30, 2005

IU, Cisco Systems to support National LambdaRail networking services

Partnership will provide nationwide Internet and Ethernet services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 30, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana University 's Global Research Network Operations Center will provide support for National LambdaRail's FrameNet and PacketNet services. NLR is a major initiative of U.S. research universities and private-sector technology companies to provide a national-scale optical network infrastructure. IU partnered with Cisco Systems Inc. on the nationwide installation of Cisco's next-generation CRS-1 Carrier Routing Systems, which provides the foundation for the NLR PacketNet services.

The NLR PacketNet is a nationwide IP infrastructure that uses eight Cisco CRS-1s; the NLR FrameNet is a nationwide Ethernet infrastructure that uses 18 Cisco Catalyst 6509 Switching platforms. A demonstration of NLR services using the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing Systems took place during SC|05, the major international conference on high performance computing, networking and storage, held Nov. 12-18 in Seattle.

IU's Global NOC is providing installation, operations and project management support across the country for NLR's PacketNet and FrameNet services. The IU Global NOC also is providing the Service Desk, and network operations and engineering services for NLR. NLR has deployed a CRS-1 in the Global NOC for test and development. This unit enables the Global NOC service engineers and staff a platform for configuration testing of features and software of mutual interest to Cisco and to NLR.

"Being a participant with the NLR is extremely valuable for the Global NOC to establish and maintain the highest level of skills that enable us to assist the community in its ongoing evolution in next-generation discoveries and experimentations," said Michael McRobbie, vice president for research and information technology at Indiana University. "We also anticipate good development to come from our staff testing the CRS-1 and look forward to our partnership with NLR and Cisco."

"Network stability and reliability are critical to the success of the NLR," said Joe Pinto, senior vice president, Technical Support, Cisco Systems. "NLR and the Global NOC have the support of a dedicated team of Cisco expert engineers to ensure the highest availability."

The Service Desk operated within the IU Global NOC provides focus for coordination, communications and control between and among network service providers and users on the NLR. The services include problem, change, security and performance management; monitoring; communications; coordination and reporting. These traditionally centralized services have been adapted to a distributed model, and new services are being developed to provide optical resource allocation and management, and to support the experimental component of the NLR.

The NLR FrameNet and PacketNet Service Center at Indiana University will support necessary network operations as well as experimentation requirements. Support and operation services include engineering, configuration, troubleshooting, monitoring and measurement. These services are critical in providing a stable platform for the NLR community.

About NLR

National LambdaRail Inc. (NLR) is a major initiative of U.S. research universities and private-sector technology companies to provide a national-scale infrastructure for research and experimentation in networking technologies and applications. NLR puts the control, the power and the promise of experimental network infrastructure in the hands of our nation's scientists and researchers. Visit https://www.nlr.net/ for more information.

About the IU Global NOC

The Global Research Network Operations Center (Global NOC) at Indiana University provides engineering and operations services for leading high-performance research and education (R&E) networks, and for international connections to U.S. and global R&E networks, and it is undertaking research and development for support of Grid operations. Visit https://globalnoc.iu.edu for more information.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems Inc. is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco hardware, software and service offerings are used to create Internet solutions that allow individuals, companies and countries to increase productivity, improve customer satisfaction and strengthen competitive advantage. Visit https://www.cisco.com/ for more information.