The largest design obstacle FutureNet had to overcome was that the network would span 156 buildings, each housing a combination of academic, administrative, research departments, and residences - each utilizing the network and systems in different ways. The team also installed 3Com stackable Ethernet intelligent hubs in the buildings' data closets. With the switch and Ethernet hubs, the network can provide the bandwidth required for multiple department traffic in one building. Administrators can use the switch to partition the network giving each department or workgroup its own subnetwork. Subnetworking aids in troubleshooting and builds flexibility so the network can more easily accommodate departments or groups moving to different locations.
Personnel can add new network and backbone modules to accommodate growth.
And, administrators can monitor network traffic from a central console in the computing center. As new buildings are added, they will be wired with the new cabling and wiring technologies. FutureNet has brought an unprecedented change in network manageability and efficiency. Hutchins and his team, including Ami Feinstein and Herbert Baines from the Advanced Development Group, focused on purchasing a video server. The University's server had to be open, provide an IP-based distribution protocol, be digital computer network ready, offer proven quality, be scalable, and connect to the cable TV head end.