New network increases computing speed on campus

The campus computer network was recently upgraded to improve speed and capacity and now features the latest Asynchronous Transfer Mode technology.

The new network operates up to six times faster than the old network. Data flows back and forth through a network exchange point in Chicago (using the very high speed Backbone Network Service, or vBNS) between UW–Madison and other higher-education institutions that make up Internet II.

The vBNS allows high-bandwidth communication between member institutions (research universities and federal labs nationwide) for collaborative projects. Internet II is a broadband network created to facilitate research and communication among the member institutions, currently more than 100 universities. Internet II traffic will likely be carried on the vBNS. At least 12 connection points are in place, linking researchers at UW–Madison with about 45 other universities.

More than $1 million was spent on the backbone upgrade, using a combination of UW–Madison and federal funds. Work on the upgrade is supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant allows UW- Madison to participate in the vBNS and Internet II programs.