Multi-million dollar contract given to IU to provide network-wide support

IU is now closer to developing the "next big thing" in technology. The National LambdaRail networking services, a unique research network, announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement with IU's University Information Technology Services last month. \nIU beat out other universities and research institutions for a contract to provide support for routing and switching components for the entire network. IU will also supply a 24-hour-per-day call center with tech support for the system.\nLambdaRail awarded IU the contract because IU has more experience in providing service for complex networks than any other university in the country, said David Jent, UITS director for telecommunications infrastructure.\n"Indiana University has sort of established itself as a leading center for providing the very highest level of support for the most advanced networks in the U.S.," LambdaRail Spokesman Greg Wood said.\nWith this announcement, IU has its hands in both major research networks. In addition to its role in LambdaRail, IU operates the Abilene Network Operations Center, which is the backbone of Internet2, a high-speed network which connects universities around the country and allows sharing of massive amounts of research. LambdaRail is also a high-speed network, though it is built for researchers to run experiments which might temporarily "break" the system. The network is also unique in that it is owned by the research and education community, not by the government or a private corporation. The fact that IU is heavily involved in both Internet2 and LambdaRail means that if the two systems merge, which system representatives are considering, IU will be even more advanced in the world of information technology, Jent said.\nBut the significance of the LambdaRail deal extends outside of just information technology. As part of the agreement, IU also received one of the most advanced server systems in the world, the Cisco Systems CRS-1. LambdaRail will also give researchers of all types at IU a new platform on which to perform computer simulations and conduct experiments. \nBut more than anything, IU's new position with LambdaRail underscores its standing as a technological leader, Jent said.\n"There was the sense that there weren't any other sites that had the kind of expertise to do this," he said.