Nevada Higher Ed System Gets 100 Gigabit Backbone

The Nevada System of Higher Education has tapped Internet2 for an upgrade to the network connecting its main data centers in Las Vegas and Reno.

According to information on the project released by Internet2, the move was designed to boost research and collaboration capabilities within the system, which has been seeing increasing demands for bandwidth.

"Dual Internet2 connections support both Layer2 and Layer3 functionality, which allows researchers to collaborate directly with colleagues in a Layer2 point-to-point fashion or for specific projects in a standard routed fashion," according to Internet2. "The direct paths to Internet2 and the redundant 100 Gbps connection for the 450-mile core network between Las Vegas and Reno ensures a high-level of reliability."

Internet2 is an organization whose membership comprises nearly 300 universities in the United States, as well as dozens of private companies, government agencies, state and regional education networks and international research and education partners.

NSHE serves several colleges and universities within the state, including University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Nevada, Reno; Western Nevada College; Nevada State College; College of Southern Nevada; Desert Research Institute; Great Basin College; and Truckee Meadows Community College.

"The Internet2 connections establish a high throughput collaborative core environment and puts participating Nevada universities among the best-connected institutions globally," said Steven Zink, NSHE Vice Chancellor, in a prepared statement.

"Nevada Higher Education Institution's investment in increased network capacity has already benefited their advanced computing applications. More broadly, these connections will allow them to exchange the massive data sets associated with advanced education and research more quickly and in more meaningful ways with other universities," said Rob Vietzke, vice president of network services, Internet2, also in a prepared statement.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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