NetworkNH is the Wide Area Network (WAN) for the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) and its partners and is managed by Enterprise Technology & Services (ET&S). With cloud migrations and increased reliance on internet services, WAN performance and uptime are essential.
ET&S is in a constant mode of increasing bandwidth and strengthening reliability, and works steadily to drive down monthly internet provider and equipment costs Internet for its constituents. It also continues its trend of increasing network capacity at a zero net-cost increase to USNH by growing its purchasing power through external partnerships.
Geo-diversity is a term used to describe a combination of both local and regional diversity. Local diversity refers to running fiber into a building from two or more non-intersecting directions and splitting service and equipment across multiple buildings. Regional diversity describes sourcing the internet from widely dispersed locations to account for significant weather and other regional events. This strategy can add an up-front cost. However, ET&S designs geo-diversity service such that all links contribute actively to increased network capacity.
ET&S recently completed a five-year set of projects to create full fiber and equipment geo-diversity and resiliency at Keene State College (KSC), Plymouth State University (PSU) and UNH, and routing diversity for all mid- and small-sized institutions on NetworkNH. This project also introduced a 100-gigabyte optical backbone, enabling future inter-campus and internet back-haul growth at very low additional incremental recurring costs.
In December 2019, ET&S completed work to bring Saint Anselm online with fiber and equipment diversity — mirroring the architectures at PSU, KSC and UNH. Saint Anselm and USNH have expressed their satisfaction and excitement with this successful collaboration.
ET&S completed a Request for Proposal (RFP) that resulted in an additional 20% increase of total internet capacity at a reduced total annual cost. This RFP includes an upgrade to our Cambridge, Massachusetts, internet connection; a new internet carrier at Albany, New York, sourced from Montreal; and the addition of a third internet provider at New York City. ET&S is currently completing a settlement-free collaboration with the University of Massachusetts (UMass) that provides fiber connectivity (via KSC) to the third internet connection in New York City. It also connects USNH to the Mass Green High-Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC) in Holyoke, Massachusetts. This collaboration provides, in exchange, high-capacity connectivity for UMass to Cambridge via KSC, using the USNH WAN backbone.
ET&S also brought two new partners to the NetworkNH fiber system — Grafton County Registry of Deeds and Service Credit Union — and is in the implementation phase to connect the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's 80-foot dish antenna in Hancock to Internet2. This massive project includes the National Science Foundation-funded investment in equipment and the construction of seven miles of fiber into rural Hancock. There are many logistical challenges, but ET&S expects it to go live this summer (2020).
In other NetworkNH-related work, ET&S completed a redesign/reconfiguration of the Granite State College (GSC) network to enable consolidation of firewalls and services, saving recurring expenses. ET&S also delivered fiber infrastructure to enable GSC Manchester to move to a new location and remain on-net so they can benefit from NetworkNH's high-performance fiber network.
ET&S continues its advocacy for broadband improvements in New Hampshire. We participate in the NH School Connectivity Initiative; provide good-will consulting to NH municipalities, school districts, and other nonprofit "community anchor institutions"; and continually seek out new potential partners in the state.
