ResNet: Student Residence Networking at the University of Pennsylvania

QUESTnet '96
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
July 4, 1996

Noam H. Arzt, Ph.D.

ResNet: Setting the Stage

Penn: Large, urban, private research university; decision making largely decentralized
- 22,000 students total, 10,000 undergraduate
- Undergraduate schools: Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, Wharton
- Grad/Prof: Annenberg School for Communication, Dental, Education, Fine Arts, Law, Medicine, Social Work, Veterinary Medicine (Vet School has second campus 35 miles west)
- Major teaching hospital with 7,500 beds
- Annual budget of $1.9 billion
Network becoming infused into all aspects of university life: near-universal e-mail, research computing, telecommuting
Admissions officers concerned with "competition"
Occupancy down, could CATV help?
Supreme Court approved Bell Atlantic's "video dial tone"
Modem pool & labs at capacity
Old telephone wiring needed replacement
Provost had sponsored Academic Video Network (AVN)
President, Provost, Budget Director all supportive
Initial project announcement on campus

ResNet: The Original Plan

One wall plate per pillow
Extra wall plates in living rooms & lounges
No charge/option for Ethernet & CATV
10-base-T Ethernet only data service
CATV to include AVN, commercial, & movie channel
Two phone line options: common (shared cost to all occupants) & private (per occupant as desired)
Expansion of modem pool
Upgrade of all 14 residential labs
No work in residences while students are living in rooms
Article explaining ResNet to the campus community

ResNet: Phase 1 (1993)

Five buildings housing 1,500 undergraduates
Over 1,900 wall plates in all
Separate contracts for construction, wiring, & video
10 weeks to complete implementation, 3 week "buffer"
But...
- Serious construction issues, including cost
- EIA/TIA 568 wiring spec & local contractors
- Neither Bell nor local CATV operator were low bidder
- SMATV required "separate" wiring plant
- Inadequate funding to activate all Ethernet ports
Student Services
Outcomes

ResNet: Phase 1 Student Services

All 5 wired dorms filled as of June
Overview brochure & survey mailed to homes
Fall Truckload sale promised free software
Second mailing offered advanced Ethernet activation
Guide to services (& TV cables) provided at move-in
Staff of 20 student installers trained
Two part process: activation + on-site installation
Customized bootp server for IP address assignment
Help desk trained and staffed (student installers)

ResNet: Phase 1 Outcomes

Occupancy not 100% after all
Fewer than 20 service calls on wiring
Vendor late on new hubs; complete replacement late fall
Mac software installation easy; DOS/Windows not
Fewer than 100 orders for private phone lines
Cable TV signal unreliable!
Microwave (vs. laser) not a magic bullet
End of year survey
Phase One "Report Card"

ResNet: Phase 2 (1994)

Two buildings housing 2,000 undergraduates
Over 2,400 wall plates in all
Based on thorough planning during Summer '93
Selection of buildings based on unit costs
Economized on wall plate
New contractor stories:
- General contractor, same as phase 1
- New wiring contractor, did not perform
- CATV converted to local franchisee
10 weeks to complete implementation, 3 week "buffer"
Construction scenes
100% Ethernet activation
Hubs equipped to "scribble"
Automated software installation
New Acceptable Use Policy
Mid-year Survey

ResNet: Phase 3 (1995)

Five buildings housing 1150 undergraduates and 100 graduate students
Following same model as Phase 2
Severely shortened planning cycle due to change in University leadership
Economized on conduit use, paying the price on wiring (clean-up persists into 1996)
Two general contractors (1 old, 1 new); old wiring contractor who had some resource problems
10 weeks to complete implementation, 3 week "buffer"
4,500 students total wired by September '95

ResNet: Phase 4 (1996)

Two buildings housing 1050 graduate students
Following same model as Phases 2 & 3
Full planning cycle, shortened implementation period (7 weeks, no buffer)
Some early work begun in March
One general contractors (from before); new wiring contractor under general contractors control (10% premium for this)
Per port switched ethernet!

ResNet: Phase 5 (Planned for 1997)

One remaining building complex housing 1500 undergraduates
Following same model as Phases 2, 3 & 4
Toughest building, most expensive per port
Full planning cycle
One general contractors; wiring contractor under general contractor's control
Work begun in summer 1996 on pathway
Per port switched ethernet

ResNet: Lessons Learned

Senior management support essential to launch
Faculty support essential to sustain
Thorough planning
Teamwork
Experienced project management
Willingness to take risks
Adaptable support team
Student workers
Automated software distribution
Hard work
Customers are ready
ResNets are a major change
It's not over until it's over

ResNet: Wrap-up

Penn's 21st Century Project for the Undergraduate Experience
This presentation available via WWW. URL http://nextb.dccs.upenn.edu/noam/questnet96/resnet/

Feel free to contact me later:

	Dr. Noam H. Arzt
	University of Pennsylvania
	Information Systems and Computing
	Suite 221A
	3401 Walnut Street
	Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228
	215/898-3029 (Voice)
	215/898-9348 (FAX)
	URL: http://nextb.dccs.upenn.edu/noam.html
	arzt@isc.upenn.edu (MIME is OK)

Please address comments or questions to Dr. Noam Arzt, arzt@isc.upenn.edu [6/20/96]
URL: http://nextb.dccs.upenn.edu/noam/questnet96/resnet/resnet-full.html