OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu THIRD FRONTIER OVERVIEW OPLIN MEETING April 8, 2004 Al Stutz, OARnet Director Chief Technology Officer Ohio Supercomputer Center

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu The Third Frontier Network will allow educational institutions and businesses to work together using cutting- edge technologies to support research and education. The Third Frontier Network is the most advanced statewide research and economic development network in the nation. Existing fiber optic cable will be purchased from current telecommunications companies, and the Third Frontier Network will be implemented in three phases: Phase 1- Build a new higher education backbone All schools will be on net this fall Phase 2- Connect 4-year public universities and private research universities Phase 3- Connect remaining public and private universities and colleges What is the Third Frontier Network?

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu The Third Frontier Network: Enhance collaboration Allows dramatic increases in available bandwidth at minimal cost Promotes the technological innovations necessary to solve critical scientific and industrial problems Separates different types of data for faster data transfer Why does Ohio need the Third Frontier Network?

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu The Third Frontier Network investment in dark fiber for all of these locations in Ohio will encourage private investment in broadband, making Ohio a national leader in broadband deployment. The network will encourage businesses to purchase additional fiber from commercial carriers to enhance their ability to collaborate in developing new network technology applications and using these technologies to improve their competitiveness. Economic Development

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu Medical Discovery and Success

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu Ohio has a national reputation for its expertise in grid computing. Today, with the low cost and advanced speed of individual processors, researchers can create their own “supercomputers” by building multiprocessor “clusters.” As these clusters continue to appear at every level of industry and research, the Third Frontier Network will be necessary for these machines to communicate with one another, creating a “computational network grid” for effective research collaborations. Advanced Grid Computing

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu Problems to be Solved Growing costs –Aggregate growth in higher education traffic of 30%/yr –Loop costs drop approximately 4%/yr –Net cost increase of 25%/yr. –Harder to buy faster circuits. Telecommunications companies are limiting investment in equipment needed to use their fiber so higher speed circuits may not be available. In several areas this is already true. –Security –Quality of service

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu Main Objectives A gigabit to the research campuses at start. Increased reliability and redundancy Scalable network on our terms The network would be less expensive than current network. Rates would be the same or less for everyone. State funding & current member commodity internet costs would fund TFN.

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu TFN Partners OSC:OARnet –91 member universities/colleges SchoolNet –30 Data Acquisition sites not individual school districts or buildings Ohio Department of Education

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu TFN Status April 2004 Fiber Characterization –31 of 42 Spans completed and passed Fiber Construction Projects –Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown Completion Scheduled for 4/15/2004

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu TFN Status April 2004 Optical Switches Installed Columbus, Delaware, Marysville, Lima Columbus, Chillicothe, Portsmouth Athens, Lancaster, Columbus –Pending Installations Core Ring Ring 3 Ring 2 Ring 1 –Installation completion target date 5/31/2004

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu TFN Status April 2004 Conversion schedule for all schools Scheduled for turn-up June/July 2004 –17 GigE connections –All other school’s access to TFN based on Local Loop decisions

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu TFN Status April 2004 Last Mile Update –RFP Completed 124 college and university sites 30 Schoolnet DA sites –Reviewed by Committee –Selection of lowest cost options –Vendor Notification by OSU Purchasing - soon

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu How does TFN relate to OH*1 DAS is planning a study – Agency needs –Alternative network solutions TFN may be a viable option for a segment of OH*1

OSC (Ohio Supercomputer Center) 1224 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH (614) www.osc.edu Questions