Networking

Recent NYU-NET Developments

Gary Chapman

Router Upgrades

Our Network Operations Center staff performed hardware upgrades this summer on the core NYU-NET router equipment. Chassis and memory improvements now provide greater router horsepower and greater traffic monitoring capabilities across the network. The upgraded routers now offer greater support for future technologies, such as IP multicasting and RSVP, that are integral to Mbone and Internet2 applications.

Preparations for Internet2

ACF is now assembling the equipment that will link NYU-NET to the vBNS, the national high-speed network sponsored by the federal government that is serving, to a certain extent, as an Internet2 testbed. NYU's link, supported by an NSF award, is part of the NYSERNet 2000 project. NYSERNet 2000, the next-generation New York State data communications network, is our region's effort in the Internet2 initiative.

Network News Service Upgrade

The NYU-NET network news service, managed by ACF staffer Gary Rosenblum, will be enhanced this fall thanks to the acquisition of a new Sun Microsystems news server and updated news software. With the server's increased storage capacity and better news management tools, the retention period for news articles, now typically two to three days, will be raised to seven days on average.

External Proxy Access to NYU-NET

It is now possible to configure your Internet browser, specifically Netscape or Internet Explorer, to access NYU-NET from locations outside NYU via the NYU-NET proxy server. This is desirable in cases where you wish to access certain information sources, such as the RLIN catalog database through Bob-catPlus, which are only available to NYU computers. The proxy server performs this service on your behalf if you configure your browser for automatic proxy configuration using the URL proxy.nyu.edu/proxy.pac. Upon accessing the Internet with your browser, you will be prompted for your NetID and associated password, since only members of the NYU-NET community are entitled to this privilege. See www.nyu.edu/its/howto/connect/proxy/ for more information.

Old Modem Pool and Number Will Be Retired

Over the course of the Fall 1998 semester, the old NYU-NET modem pool accessed using the phone number 995-4343 will be decommissioned. It will be replaced by a secure modem pool, available at 995-4757, that will require end-user authentication. Users will have to enter their NetID and password, so as to confirm their NYU affiliation, but no formal ACF account is needed. Banner messages will be posted on the old service announcing its gradual phase-out and the introduction of the new service.

The new service will continue to support only basic terminal emulation (telnet, rlogin, and tn3270) access to systems on the network. PPP access will continue to be made through 995-4NYU.

Network Extensions

Over the past year, networking facilities have been enhanced substantially through upgrades and new installations at many on-campus locations: for TSOA on various floors at 719-725 Broadway and at 111 2nd Avenue; for the Wagner School and Gallatin's Creative Arts Team at 411 Lafayette Street; for SCE at 42nd Street; for the Controller's Division at 726 Broadway; for the FAS departments of Philosophy and Music in Main/Waverly; for the Office of Sponsored Programs at 15 Washington Place; and for Physical Therapy in the School of Education at 380 2nd Avenue.

Four student residences -- Alumni Hall, 38 East 7th Street, Carlyle and the new University Hall residence -- have been added to ResNet, providing high-speed dorm room connections to students this fall. [ C ]

Gary Chapman is ACF's Associate Director for Technical Services.
gary.chapman@nyu.edu

Posted October 5,1998