News
Communications comes out in front
In a recent article published in The Western Australian (September
2003), it was indicated that ECU was the most proactive university
in Western Australia for managing use of its Internet services and
systems.
The “West” article focused on the amount of download
traffic normally associated with programs such as Fastrack / Kazaa
and Edonkey. This sort of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) program can be used
for procuring copyright music and movie material and ECU ranked
as the most proactive by having the lowest downloads out of the
four major Western Australian Universities based on the amount of
traffic downloaded via these programs. Further to this article ECU
communications staff have now implemented further measures to virtually
eliminate this type of traffic from the network.
Since 2001, Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI) has been
implementing systems and strategies primarily targeted to reduce
the overall cost of backbone Internet connectivity and improve service
quality, these solutions have allowed the university to reduce it’s
exposure to problematic applications such as Peer to Peer file sharing
and email attached Virus’s.
Chris Blanksby, (Snr. Data Communications Officer) remarks, “We
have progressed in leaps and bounds in the area of Internet cost
management” and “these kinds of reports show that the
hard work of my dedicated team really has paid off and will continue
to generate tangible results”.
While the systems and strategies implemented thus far have saved
the university in excess of $600,000 in 1 year alone, there is still
more work planned to reduce costs whilst increasing services and
reliability.
Currently in planning is the installation of Web Filtering systems
that will allow for further optimisation of the Internet service.
Additionally, streaming media proxies have also been put in place
to allow staff to be able to access broadband streaming media such
as news feeds and online lectures in a cost effective way. Security
is also being “beefed up” and more and more crucial
services will now be accessible from anywhere on the Internet only
via VPN (Virtual Private Network) services.
By the turn of the year a fully redundant dual Internet feed should
be in place making the Internet an “always on” service
as the Universities strategic alignments relies more and more on
the Internet service to deliver online teaching and services.
ITI Network “Roadshow” planned for November 2003
In order to assist staff with their understanding of what new IT
network services are now available or are being planned over the
coming months an “ITI Roadshow” is planned for November
2003. Chris Blanksby of IT Infrastructure Communications Department
will be conducting a series of presentations highlighting the recent
improvements to the Universities Data communications network. Titled
“We’ve come a long way in two years”. Chris hopes
to demystify the sometimes-confusing side of IT Infrastructure at
ECU.
The informal presentations will discuss the work that Chris and
his team have completed over the last two years to create the new
network structure that is now independently seen as “ one
of the best higher education data networks in the country”.
Demonstration (and discussion) of the following services will be
presented: -
VPN (Virtual Private Network) - how can you use it to get to your
data from anywhere – securely?
Firewalls how can you protect your servers and services from the
“bad guys”.
Active Directory Integration – how are we making it easier
to “logon” to ECU.
Wireless networking – “cutting the wires” whilst
keeping your data safe.
Portable computing – Tablet PC’s - Pocket PC’s
and Palm based computing - “carry the world in your Pocket”
SNAP2ECU network initiative – providing you with an ECU connection
virtually anywhere on Campus.
Web switches – making your Internet service “always
on”. Plus Dual Internet feeds helping the “Always on”
cause.
Media streaming and Video Conferencing – live lectures and
meetings “anywhere, anytime”.
Details of dates and venues will be posted on the Intranet and
via email over the next week or two.
New VPN (Nortel Extranet Client) Software now available.
Download the 128bit VPN client from here.
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