Tennessee Tech U Extends Network to Community

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 06/24/10

Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville has implemented a major campus network upgrade that will support community networking as well. The new setup uses switching components from Extreme Networks. After an extensive request-for-quotation process in 2009 that evaluated proposals based on scalability of technology, integrated management, and convergence features, the institution chose Extreme gear and hired Excalibur Integrated Systems to handle the design, migration, and maintenance work.

The overall goal for the network upgrade was to support distance learning and provide "flawless connectivity and communications," said Jerry Boyd, assistant director of network services for Tennessee Tech. "Support from our new network of external programs in the community, including collaboration and IP communications between surrounding educational facilities and rural healthcare facilities, results in many benefits to the community and the local area, making this an investment for the future."

The network consists of a Summit X450 gigabit switch and Summit X650 10-gigabit switch, BlackDiamond 8800 series modular switches, and the ExtremeXOS operating system.

The wide area network speeds have increased from 45 Mbps to 200 Mbps for the campus' academic and administrative network. In addition, the residential hall network has increased from 34 Mbps to 100 Mbps. "Both of these upgrades were obtained through a bid process that resulted in a substantial decrease in our Internet connectivity costs while providing increased connection speeds," wrote Boyd on the university Web site.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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