Network News: UETN upgrades network backbone to 400GB

The Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN) recently increased the bandwidth on its fiber optic and internet protocol (IP) network backbones from 100GB to 400GB circuits. Think of IP as the “language” used to send data and fiber optics as the “cable” used to carry data at very high speeds.

“We upgraded all the equipment that lights our backbone network. This will give us higher density and upgrade capability into the future,” said Kevin Quire, UETN’s network architecture director. “Because the new equipment is forecasted to run for eight years, we can scale up and add a lot more capacity with the equipment we’re installing.”

A network backbone is the core infrastructure in a large network that connects local subnetworks, similar to a central highway feeding traffic to local roads.

“The way to think of our backbone is the interstate system for the internet within the state of Utah,” Quire said. “We have to have really large capacity on this interstate system to accommodate all the traffic.”

The University of Utah’s network backbone, which is hosted by UETN, links the U’s buildings and structures, including University of Utah Health, Downtown Data Center, and the internet.

UETN’s $5.7 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)-funded network backbone upgrade spans about 400 miles from Utah State University in Logan to Tonaquint Data Center in St. George. Quire explained that achieving 400GB capacity, or 400 gigabits per second (Gbps), varies depending on the segment of the network backbone. Some have single 400GB connections, Quire said, while Internet2 manages a connection capable of speeds up to 800 Gbps. Segments that intersect the U consist of four 100GB connections, with only one in use at any given time.

A 400GB network backbone enables data transmission at a rate of 400 Gbps on a single optical wavelength, which Quire said, “significantly increases bandwidth and capacity.”

In an interview with Internet2, Jim Stewart, chief technology officer for UETN, noted that research needs also “drive our need for high-performance capacity.”

“UETN helps the University of Utah Center for High Performance Computing process and analyze large-scale data faster than ever before. This support helps researchers advance toward potentially transformative or life-saving breakthroughs,” Stewart said.

Quire said the upgrade included the addition of “dark fiber,” which is fiber-optic cable that has been installed but isn’t transmitting data, hence the term “dark.” Network engineers often install more fibers in a cable than needed to allow for future growth without additional installation costs.

Quire noted that, historically, UETN’s network backbone was largely built on fiber and network owned by Lumen Technologies, but starting in 2012, UETN started to purchase its own fiber and equipment. Following the 400GB upgrade, UETN owns all fiber and equipment north of Richfield Data Center, the State of Utah’s emergency data backup center, along with all equipment south to St. George, excluding school district-owned equipment. Where UETN previously waited 18 months to turn on a leased circuit, now Quire said it can turn on a circuit “in a matter of days.”

Abraham Kololli, director for UIT Core Infrastructure Services, touted the partnership between UIT and UETN.

“UETN has a good, collaborative approach with UIT and other state entities,” Kololli said. “UETN is a success story in the Intermountain West and nationwide in terms of what it’s able to accomplish. Frankly, its network is the pride of the entire state, certainly on the education side.”

Not only are UIT and UETN supported by the same Finance Team, they provide redundancy along the network backbone at the U — each organization manages its own fiber-optic cables and the services that run on them but share the same pathway. To deepen collaboration and project communication, UETN’s network team will soon move to the fifth floor of 102 Tower downtown and work side by side with the UIT team.

“The more we can integrate and work together, the better it is for each of us,” Quire said. “We look forward to more opportunities to share knowledge and resources.”

 

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