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OSCnet Technical DesignWhat is the fundamental difference between the previous network and OSCnet? The previous network transmited data over copper wire, while OSCnet transmits data over optical fiber (glass) strands. Optical fiber provides the most cost-effective and scalable solution to higher education’s long-term needs, and can be customized to meet unique research requirements. “To give you an idea of how much larger this network is compared to what we previously had, imagine a two-lane highway expanding to 32 lanes over night,” said OSCnet Project Manager Denis Walsh. “We have the ability to add ‘lanes’ quickly and inexpensively in the future just by adding more equipment instead of laying new fiber. This network is built with the capacity to add 64 ‘highways’ each with 64 lanes when we need to.” The lanes in this case are actually wavelengths of light controlled by optical cards installed in equipment on the network. Walsh said OSCnet also has a dedicated experimental research link between Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton that will start out at 64 lanes to be used for specific research collaborations. In addition to the seemingly endless optical fiber capacity is a host of equipment that makes the new network run. Distributed throughout Ohio’s new statewide “information superhighway” are 17 network access locations called Points of Presence, or POPs. The POPs act as OSCnet’s on-and off-ramps. They let traffic on and off the “highway” at specific locations. Traffic is then carried by local loops that serve as “last mile” connections to the final destination, such as a campus. Institutions can build, buy, or lease their local loop from Telcos. Also installed on OSCnet are highly intelligent devices called routers, which serve as the network’s “post offices.” Routers sort Internet data the same way the post office sorts mail. All data, or “mail,” has a destination address called an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Routers sort this mail based on variables such as privilege, priority, and application being used, and look at traffic on the entire network before deciding the best route. For example, a critical remote medical procedure or supercomputer application would not be competing with lower priority email or Web browsing. Routers get Internet mail to its destination by either the shortest or fastest path, and can re-route mail to avoid congestion points or network outages. OSCnet has routers at six major POPs in Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo. Smaller routers are located at each campus to provide local routing service. Campus routers sort Internet mail much the same way as the 5-digit ZIP code. The six main network routers then speed up mail distribution by adding the ZIP+4 suffix. The previous state network had one main routing location, or “post office,” located in Columbus that sorted and routed all Internet mail. Thus, mail from Cleveland to Youngstown was diverted hundreds of miles out of the way. OSCnet reduces this “hop count” by routing mail more directly to its destination, saving time and reducing network traffic.
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