Michigan LambdaRail Network Ushers in New Networking Era
02/19/2006
A new high-speed railroad began service in August 2005, with terminals in East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Chicago. But you can’t buy tickets for this train: it’s a very high speed fiber optic network called Michigan LambdaRail. The new network will enable MSU to connect with other universities in Michigan, across the United States, and internationally at astonishingly fast data rates.
MiLR will provide high reliability and very-high-speed Internet connections, enabling applications such as virtual surgery and sharing of very large datasets among physicists and other researchers. MiLR will also serve as a test bed for research into networking itself.
Tom Davis, director of Academic Computing and Network Services (ACNS) says “MiLR is an excellent example of a collaborative project among three of Michigan’s public universities that will benefit each institution – and the state of Michigan as a whole.”
Michigan Lambda Rail is also known as MiLR (pronounced “mylar”). MiLR comprises over 750 miles of fiber optic cables. Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University own the network, which connects the universities’ campuses while also connecting to metropolitan fiber optic rings in Detroit and Chicago. Merit, Inc. operates MiLR on behalf of its owners and other universities in Michigan.
MiLR is part of a national – indeed international – fabric of new very-high-speed research and education networks that will define the next generation of data networking. For instance, MiLR connects to national high-speed networks such as the National LambdaRail and Internet2 /Abilene. Through Merit Network initiatives, MiLR will connect to Ontario’s provincial higher education and research network known as ORION, as well as the New York state research network known as NYSERNET.
Ultimately, MiLR will connect MSU and partner institutions over very-high-speed Internet links to universities and laboratories throughout the north central Midwest, as well as to facilities in Chicago, New York City, and internationally.
MSU and its partners acquired the fiber capacity for MiLR on a long-term lease. Merit operates MiLR as a “facilities-based” service – that is, rather than paying monthly bills to a telecommunications provider, Merit operates the network directly. Thus the new network yields immediate improvements of Internet connection speeds while providing significant cost savings.
Fiber has the potential to move vast quantities of data at astonishing speeds, but in the real world, achievable data rates depend on the capacity of routers to keep up with the traffic. Initially, MiLR operates at 10 gigabits / second – quadruple the previous capacity, but still a tiny fraction of the potential.
Doug Nelson, Network Manager for Academic Computing & Network Services (ACNS), says MSU plans improvements to the campus network backbone. MSU will install an initial loop connecting the Computer Center, the Law Building, and Communications Arts at 10 gigabits/second — up from the current campus backbone speed of 1 gigabit / second. Nelson says “As demand grows and budgets permit, we will expand the 10 gigabit service to other parts of campus.”
Routers aren’t alone in the new speed challenge. Only specially-tuned computers can process data at multi-gigabit speeds. In fact, as we move data ever faster, we even strain the capacity of the Internet Protocol (IP) that we rely on in our everyday communications. The Internet engineering community is tackling this challenge, for instance extending IP to use larger “window sizes” in transmission.
Nelson notes that MSU campus also operates a 1 gigabit/second Lansing-area metropolitan network using fiber facilities leased from Waypoint, Inc. The Lansing area network serves the Michigan Biotech Institute (MBI), WKAR’s transmitters, and various area hospitals.
As technology evolves to handle higher and higher speeds, MSU’s connection to MiLR and other high speed networks will provide exciting opportunities for high-resolution video, telemedicine, high-resolution visualization, and transmitting extremely large datasets to and from research institutes around the world. For instance, scientists at a remote institution might operate an experiment at MSU’s Cyclotron and download massive amounts of results data in very little time.
Why is the new network called “LambdaRail?” A “lambda” is a specific wavelength of light used to carry information over a fiber optic cable. One lambda might move data at 10 gigabits per second – that’s about 10,000 megabits per second – and a fiber optic cable could potentially carry hundreds of lambdas. Railroads offer a powerful metaphor for connecting cities and the nation – not to mention the fact that many long-haul fiber optic networks share right of way with railroads.
To see a map of the MiLR network, please visit: http://merit.edu/mn/resources/network/backbone.pdf
– Rich Wiggins, Academic Computing & Network Services
Libraries, Computing and Technology Training Program Honors Certificate Recipients
02/02/2006
Several Michigan State University staff members were honored for completing certificate requirements of the Libraries, Computing and Technology Training Program (LCTTP).
On January 17, 2006, Karen Brown and Debra Hengesbach of the Registrar’s Office received recognition for completing LCTTP’s Computer Foundations program; Gary Wilkes and Christi Post of MSU Printing Services with Patti Toivonen from the Kellogg Center were recognized for Workplace Computing Essentials program; and Anita Musser, Lois “Jane” Nickels, and Donna Sweet from Admissions and Scholarships with Laurel Switzenberg of the College of Nursing recognized for completing the Data Management I program.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for the work we’ve done. But the real recognition has come from my increased proficiency and technical abilities. I have truly benefited from the education,” stated Christi Post, MSU Printing Services Digital Services Technician.
Certificates available
Certificates are given to individuals who have completed a series of classes from a particular area. The classes assigned to each certificate program have been selected to offer each participant a comprehensive understanding of the skills required to stay competitive in today’s technical environment. Each of the non-credit courses and workshops cover a wide range of topics on computing for the purpose of job training, career development, and/or personal improvement. For a complete list of courses and certificate opportunities visit http://train.msu.edu/classinfo/certificate-detail.htm
More information
LCTTP combines the resources of several MSU departments to provide comprehensive training and support in the area of computers & technology. Participating departments within Libraries, Computing & Technology include:
• Academic Computing & Network Services
• Administrative Information Services
• Broadcasting Services
• Client Advocacy Office
• Instructional Media Center
• MSU Libraries
For more information go to train.msu.edu or send an e-mail to LCTTP@msu.edu.
Libraries, Computing & Technology Training Program is committed
to fostering professional development opportunities offering current technology education
and quality support and service to MSU and the surrounding communities.
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