A number of buildings in the core area of campus will soon be outfitted for faster internet connectivity. Communications Resources has begun upgrading the electronics equipment in various buildings’ communications closets. The new equipment will make possible enhanced network connectivity speeds for desktop users (up to 100Mbs speeds in some facilities). “This project is part of the continuing maintenance program to replace the campus network’s electronics when they reach the end of their life cycle,” according to Sandra Duncan, project manager.

Previous Issues IT Times Index: Campus Network Vice Provosts Directive Communication Resources Schedule of Cutover Dates

Since the upgrade will require replacing some of the current hardware with new equipment, technicians and engineers will be accessing the communications closets in the buildings scheduled for maintenance. Technicians will not need to access individual workstations, but campus folks in these buildings will experience a disruption of Internet service during the change-over. Disruptions could last up to four hours. Duncan says she has been visiting departments and meeting with their technical liaisons to personally answer questions about the new equipment, the upgrade project, and the scheduled downtimes. She clarifies that “the project team has taken measures to minimize the impact on users. There will be some network service interruption, but individuals will not have to reconfigure their machines or take any other action once the new equipment has been installed.”

Vice Provost John Bruno recently issued a campus directive on the matter, which can be found at http://directives.ucdavis.edu/2003/03-055.cfm. To view the schedule with the cutover dates, visit http://cr.ucdavis.edu/projects.cfm#net21rep. The schedule allows you to search for outage times by date, VLAN, or building. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Bloomfield at 754-5840 or babloomfiled@ucdavis.edu.