The first step in this process is the determination of core design. This is critical because, as stated, the core must be capable of carrying and switching the full campus load, must provide for the high availability requirement and must be scalable to meet future needs. While network switching equipment with fully redundant internal components, automatic fail over capability and hot swappable components are available and are certainly suggested here, the placement of a single switching complex will still leave significant exposure in the event of fire or other disaster. Further, a single large switching unit would, by definition, be less scalable than multiple smaller units. Based on estimated loading requirements computed from raw user counts in the campus buildings and increased for anticipated growth, the use of three general purpose core ATM switches is a design that will accommodate current needs well and will scale extensively over time in a very flexible way.
Suitable facilities exist in several buildings on the campus.
Existing network concentrations in the West Football Stadium and Forrest County Hall make those areas ideal locations for core switch placement. Based on conduit routing and availability, the Chain Technology building has been selected as the third core switch location. Overlaying this core network design on the existing in-ground infrastructure, we see the physical routing paths for the core network in the campus map. The ATM solution alternative was presented to major industry network equipment and services vendors in a competitive bid in mid 1999 designed to provide the University with an effective leading edge solution that would address all of the design determinants previously discussed. Both the generation of the RFP and the selection of winning proposal were difficult and involved processes.