MSUnet Backbone Upgrade

Overview

Academic Technology Services (ATS) is upgrading the MSUnet campus network backbone since the existing network backbone is reaching capacity. This project will upgrade the core routing from the current 1Gigabit (Gb) building routers to two carrier-class 10Gb routers and will bring 10Gb networking directly to 80 buildings. The project is expected to be fully complete within the next year. The ability to add remaining campus buildings will be available upon completion.

Once completed, the upgraded and more centralized campus network backbone will allow for expected growth in network traffic across campus and to the Internet, as well as making the backbone less vulnerable to power outages. It will also help ATS offer new services to the MSU community, such as campus-wide departmental VLANs and centralized departmental firewall and IPS protection.

The initial design, specification, and testing have been completed with central routing and security installations expected to be completed by January 2010. Individual buildings will start migrating to the new 10Gb network backbone as early as October 2009, with all 80 buildings scheduled to be converted by summer 2010.

As various phases of the project are completed, a number of network service interruptions will need to be scheduled between 5:00am and 7:00am. ATS will always strive to minimize the duration and impact of any service interruption. For a detailed list of services affected and corresponding dates, read Which MSU computing and networking services may be affected and when?

Why is an upgrade to the campus backbone needed?

The MSUnet backbone is currently composed of ninety 1Gb building routers which are nearing maximum capacity. The new equipment will be composed of two 10Gb router systems located in different buildings for increased bandwidth, security, and redundancy. The upgraded system will include more than one hundred 10Gb switching systems in 80 buildings. This upgrade is required to minimize overload conditions and provide for a more robust campus network with the ability to accommodate future growth.

Which MSU computing and networking services will be affected and when?

As various phases of the project are completed, a number of network service interruptions will need to be scheduled between 5:00am and 7:00am. The schedules below are subject to change, but will be updated as information becomes available.

Phase 1 – Connecting SRX5800 as Border Security Device - COMPLETED

Phase 1 of the 10Gb network upgrade project, which involved connecting SRX5800 for network border security, has been completed. All border IPS functions were migrated to the SRX5800 during August 2009.

Phase 2 – Cutover of MX960/SRX5800 in Communication Arts - COMPLETED

MX960/SRX5800 equipment will be installed in the Communications Arts building, and traffic will be redirected through them as they become the primary router and security enforcement for the MSU network. It will also provide redundancy to the system. After the Communications Arts MX960/SRX5800 has been stable for about a week, the 1Gb IPSs will be removed from the Computer Center.

Phase 3 – Cutover of Second MX960/SRX5800 Pair in the Computer Center - COMPLETED

The second pair of MX960/SRX5800 will be installed in the Computer Center providing full redundancy of core routing and security enforcement. The existing 10Gb border firewalls will be removed.

Phase 4a – Moving Wells Hall and Anthony Hall to the 10Gbps Backbone
These two buildings will allow for early evaluation of the cutover process.

Building	Tier-2 Installed in Existing Network as Building VSW	Tier-2 Cutover to 10Gb Backbone
Wells	Completed	Completed
Anthony	Completed	Completed

Phase 4b – Moving 19 Buildings to the 10Gb Backbone during Winter Break 2009

Building	Tier-2 Installed in Existing Network as Building VSW	Tier-2 Cutover to 10G Backbone
Farrall	Completed	Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Biochemistry	Completed	Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Biomedical and Physical Sciences (BPS)	Completed	Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Chemistry	Completed	Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Computer Center	Completed	Monday, December 28, 2009
Computer Center	Completed	Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Administration Building	Completed	Monday, December 28, 2009
Administration Building	Completed	Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Engineering	Completed	Monday, December 28, 2009
Communication Arts	Completed	Monday, December 28, 2009
Plant and Soil Science	Completed	Monday, January 04, 2010
Vet Clinic	Completed	Monday, January 04, 2010
Life Science	Completed	Monday, January 04, 2010
Engineering Research	Tuesday, November 17, 2009	Monday, January 04, 2010
Clinical Center	Thursday, November 19, 2009	Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Radiology	Tuesday, November 24, 2009	Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Fee Hall	Tuesday, December 01, 2009	Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Wharton Center	Thursday, December 03, 2009	Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Snyder Hall	Tuesday, December 08, 2009	Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Business College Complex	Thursday, December 10, 2009	Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Law	Tuesday, December 15, 2009	Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Phase 4c – Moving 21 Buildings to the 10Gb Backbone during First Quarter 2010

Building	Tier-2 Installed in Existing Network as Building VSW	Tier-2 Cutover to 10G Backbone
Manly Miles	Tuesday, January 12, 2010	Friday, January 29, 2010
University Housing	Thursday, January 14, 2010	Friday, January 29, 2010
University Services	Tuesday, January 19, 2010	Friday, January 29, 2010
Food Stores	Thursday, January 21, 2010	Friday, January 29, 2010
Power Plant	Tuesday, January 26, 2010	Friday, January 29, 2010
Kedzie Hall	Thursday, January 28, 2010	Friday, February 12, 2010
Psychology	Tuesday, February 02, 2010	Friday, February 12, 2010
Cyclotron	Yet To Be Determined	Yet To Be Determined
Food Science	Yet To Be Determined	Yet To Be Determined
McDonel Hall	Thursday, February 11, 2010	Friday, February 26, 2010
Holmes Hall	Tuesday, February 16, 2010	Friday, February 26, 2010
Akers Hall	Thursday, February 18, 2010	Friday, February 26, 2010
Hubbard Hall	Tuesday, February 23, 2010	Friday, February 26, 2010
Natural Resources	Thursday, February 25, 2010	Friday, March 05, 2010
Plant Biology	Tuesday, March 02, 2010	Friday, March 05, 2010
Food Safety	Thursday, March 04, 2010	Friday, March 05, 2010
Brody Hall	Tuesday, March 09, 2010	Friday, March 26, 2010
Kellogg Center	Thursday, March 11, 2010	Friday, March 26, 2010
Jenison	Tuesday, March 16, 2010	Friday, March 26, 2010
Spartan Stadium	Thursday, March 18, 2010	Friday, March 26, 2010
Clara Bell Smith Center	Tuesday, March 23, 2010	Friday, March 26, 2010

Phase 4d – Moving 26 Buildings to the 10Gb Backbone during the Second Quarter 2010

Building	Tier-2 Installed in Existing Network as Building VSW	Tier-2 Cutover to 10G Backbone
Campbell Hall	Thursday, March 25, 2010	Friday, April 09, 2010
Union	Tuesday, March 30, 2010	Friday, April 09, 2010
Human Ecology	Thursday, April 01, 2010	Friday, April 09, 2010
Owen Hall	Tuesday, April 06, 2010	Friday, April 09, 2010
Linton	Thursday, April 08, 2010	Friday, April 23, 2010
Ag Hall	Tuesday, April 13, 2010	Friday, April 23, 2010
Natural Science	Thursday, April 15, 2010	Friday, April 23, 2010
Giltner	Tuesday, April 20, 2010	Friday, April 23, 2010
Auditorium	Thursday, April 22, 2010	Friday, April 23, 2010
Bessey	Tuesday, April 27, 2010	Friday, May 07, 2010
Shaw	Thursday, April 29, 2010	Friday, May 07, 2010
Erickson	Tuesday, May 04, 2010	Friday, May 07, 2010
International Center	Thursday, May 06, 2010	Friday, May 07, 2010
Olin	Tuesday, May 11, 2010	Friday, May 28, 2010
Old Horticulture	Thursday, May 13, 2010	Friday, May 28, 2010
Berkey	Tuesday, May 18, 2010	Friday, May 28, 2010
Student Services	Thursday, May 20, 2010	Friday, May 28, 2010
Mason/Abbott	Tuesday, May 25, 2010	Friday, May 28, 2010
Wonders Hall	Thursday, May 27, 2010	Friday, June 11, 2010
Wilson Hall	Tuesday, June 01, 2010	Friday, June 11, 2010
Holden Hall	Thursday, June 03, 2010	Friday, June 11, 2010
University Printing	Tuesday, June 08, 2010	Friday, June 11, 2010
Nisbet	Thursday, June 10, 2010	Friday, June 11, 2010
Breslin	Tuesday, June 15, 2010	Friday, June 25, 2010
Case Hall	Tuesday, June 15, 2010	Friday, June 25, 2010
Physical Plant	Thursday, June 17, 2010	Friday, June 25, 2010
Public Safety	Tuesday, June 22, 2010	Friday, June 25, 2010

Phase 4e – Moving 8 Buildings to the 10Gb Backbone during the Third Quarter 2010

Building	Tier-2 Installed in Existing Network as Building VSW	Tier-2 Cutover to 10G Backbone
MSU Museum	Thursday, June 24, 2010	Friday, July 09, 2010
Olds Hall	Tuesday, June 29, 2010	Friday, July 09, 2010
Main Library	Thursday, July 01, 2010	Friday, July 09, 2010
Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture (UPLA)	Tuesday, July 06, 2010	Friday, July 09, 2010
James B. Henry Center for Executive Development	Tuesday, July 13, 2010	Friday, July 23, 2010
South Campus Communications Storage Building (SCCSB)	Thursday, July 15, 2010	Friday, July 23, 2010
Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH)	Tuesday, July 20, 2010	Friday, July 23, 2010
MSU Surplus and Recycling Center	Completed	Friday, July 23, 2010

Will status information be available during the upgrade?

This article will be kept up-to-date throughout the MSUnet backbone upgrade project. There will be some scheduled maintenance during each phase of the network upgrade project in preparation of building cutovers. Status updates regarding scheduled service interruptions will be posted at http://servicestatus.msu.edu.

If unforeseen problems occur and http://servicestatus.msu.edu is not available, an updated status message will be available when calling (517) 432-6200.

Might scheduled service interruptions take longer than expected?

It is possible more time will be needed. Status updates regarding scheduled service interruptions will be posted at http://servicestatus.msu.edu.

What if I still have questions?

Numerous efforts will be made throughout the duration of the MSUnet backbone upgrade to keep the MSU community informed of the progress. Discussion about the project will take place on the IT Exchange discussion board at http://forums.msu.edu, and updates will be provided in IT Exchange meetings.

If you are interested in finding out more about how the MSUnet Backbone Upgrade will affect your building or would like to schedule a department presentation, please contact the MSU ATS Help Desk at (517) 432-6200 or submit an electronic form at http://help.msu.edu.