3Com Systems Deployed for Georgia State University Multimedia Network

Georgia State University (GSU) is deploying a massive network based on 3Com high-speed ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) Fast Ethernet switches, wide-area routers, remote access concentrators, and network management software. The 3Com network is driving GSU's participation in the Internet2 Project, a consortium of 112 universities working with government and industry to develop Internet technologies for research and education.

Anchored by a 622 megabits per second (Mbps) OC-12 ATM backbone, GSU's network provides connectivity for 23,000 students, faculty members, and researchers along a 20 mile radius spanning six Atlanta campuses. The network delivers voice, video and data traffic, IP multicast video streams and, soon, an enterprise-wide PBX for voice-over-data networking.

GSU's new network is replacing a Token-Ring/FDDI architecture that lacked the scalability and performance to satisfy the university's growing student body and expanding research facilities. The network's backbone is comprised of four 3Com CoreBuilder 7000HD (High Density) ATM switches that link via 622 Mbps OC-12 connections. These systems connect to an additional eight CoreBuilder 7000HD switches in campus buildings via dual 155 Mbps OC-3 links.

The CoreBuilder 7000HD switches distribute OC-3 or 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet links to 400 of 3Com's new SuperStack II Switch 1100 switches and SuperStack II Switch 3300 switches. These devices distribute OC-3 and Fast Ethernet to the university's desktops. The network eventually will support 10,000 desktops. To ensure users with fast access to large data files and applications, GSU links many of its high-performance servers at OC-3 speeds.

GSU will further bolster its network by installing three of 3Com's new high-end ATM-based CoreBuilder 9000 enterprise switches. Ultimately, GSU will have 30 CoreBuilder 7000HD ATM switches deployed throughout its campus—all with redundant OC-3 links to the CoreBuilder 9000 platforms.

To connect its six campuses, GSU created an OC-3 ATM metropolitan area network (MAN) using 3Com NETBuilder II routers. The MAN enables users to access resources quickly and easily from any desktop. It additionally will provide the infrastructure for the university's PBX. A 3Com Total Control platform linked to a CoreBuilder 7000 switch provides ISDN connectivity for dial-in remote users.