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Network and Information Systems Study INTRODUCTION Kent, like most universities, currently is being challenged to work smarter, to do more work with fewer resources. At the same time it must improve the quality of service and support to a variety of stake holders, i.e. students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends of the University. Computing and information technology are expected to play an important and strategic role as Kent State University responds to this challenge by developing and implementing new and creative approaches to meeting its service and support responsibilities. Also, Kent's Managing For The Future Task Force, (which was commissioned by the Ohio Board of Regents to study ways to improve productivity), emphasized the strategic role of technology in this effort with a recommendation that the University "upgrade systems wherever possible to realize all efficiencies." Over the years, Kent State University has made a significant investment in computing and information technology to sustain its academic programs and support operations. As a result, Kent students, faculty, and staff have become increasingly active in the use of technology to fulfill their scholarship, research, support, and administrative needs. However, like most universities, Kent has been challenged in its effort to maintain a sufficient level of resources to meet demands. Studies and plans have been undertaken and completed periodically to respond to specific computing and information technology needs; e.g., recent studies include the campus wide network plan and the Academic Support Systems Task Force (ASSTF) report. The campus wide network plan primarily addressed inter-building communication network issues, while the ASSTF report identified key communication connectivity concerns, as well as student information system issues, and recommendations for improvement. President Cartwright along with Provost Henry and Vice President Kelley asked that the University build on these reports by organizing a committee to conduct a University wide analysis of communication networking and information systems with the:
IBM offered Kent the use of its Application Transfer Study (ATS) planning methodology as well as a consultant to assist with this analysis and planning effort. IBM advised that the study committee be limited to no more than nine individuals and cautioned against making the scope of the study too broad. The IBM consultant served as a facilitator for the study. The ATS methodology has been used extensively by Universities (with IBM assistance) to establish computing and information plans. Since 1978, IBM indicates that they have successfully facilitated over 400 ATS studies in higher education. The Network and Information Systems Study (NISS) Committee was appointed in September 1992 and charged to complete the work by March 1993. The Committee members are:
The Application Transfer Methodology (ATS), which was used to conduct this study, consisted of the following five major steps:
The team met for the first time on October 7, 1992, to begin the study process and develop a project schedule and work plan. The following schedule and work plan was developed and followed: November 03-05 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) November 12-13 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) November 17-19 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) November 20 (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon) November 24 (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon) December 01-03 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) December 08-10 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) December 15-17 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) January 15 (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon) January 22 (8:30 a.m. - 12.00 noon) January 26 (8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.) Planning Session - October 7
Week #1 - November 03 - 05
Final Document Preparation - December 21- February 26 During this time, all sections of the document were finalized, and all appendices put in place. Before the document was printed, final approval was obtained from all members of the team. January 15. 1993 - Subcommittee presentation of implementation plan to team. January 22. 1993 - Team document review meeting. January 29. 1993 - Team document review meeting. February 5. 1993 - Team document review meeting. February 12. 1993 - Team document review meeting. February 19. 1993 - Team document review meeting. Presentation - Week of March 29, 1993 The study concluded with a formal presentation on March 30, 1993 to the President, provost, vice presidents, as well as IBM management. The team met with the IBM consultant the day before the presentation to review the timing, visuals, and flow of presentation. The computing environment at Kent State University spans eight campuses and consists of a wide variety of data processing, video, voice, and communications resources that serve a community of over 33,000 students and 6,000 full-time and part-time faculty and staff. In order to portray the depth and breadth of this environment, it is best to describe the facilities and functions on the Kent Campus and within the Regional Campuses separately. Kent Campus Environment At the center of the Kent Campus computing and data processing environment is the Office of Computer Services which supports the large-scale computing resources (mainframes, central databases) for academic and administrative data processing as well as provide. a hub for data communications. Computer Services also provides many of the technical and consultative resources for both academic and administrative computing. The Computer Center is located on the first floor of the Library and consists of the central equipment room, office suites for academic and administrative services, and a major user laboratory. In 1992, Computer Services had over 1,400 authorized student and faculty accounts on its VAX instructional systems, over 2,000 authorized accounts on its IBM academic (VM) system, over 3,000 enrollments in its academic seminar, and more than 10,000 users of its central lab in the Library. On the administrative side, the IBM MVS/ESA system supports more than 8,000,000 transactions per month including those for the Library's NOTIS system as well as those for on-line applications in the financial, human resource, and student records areas. Access to the secured administrative systems is confined to 1,140 authorized accounts while general system access for unsecured application. (such as the NOTIS Library system) reaches almost the entire University community. In the equipment room, Computer Services maintains two large-scale computer systems: the IBM 3090/200S which runs MVS/ESA with 128 megabytes of central memory and 64 megabytes of extended memory, and 32 data channels; and the IBM 4381-R24 which runs VM with 32 megabytes of memory. These systems share 134 gigabytes of disk storage with both IBM 3880 and 3990 storage controllers. Other key peripherals include 2 IBM 7171 protocol converters, an IBM 3725 communications controller, 21 IBM 3174 and 3274 controllers, 6 fiber optic channel extenders, an automatic tape library (ATL) robotics system with 18-track 38k BPI cartridge transports, and 2 IBM 3827 "laser" system printers (page printers), 2 IBM 4245 "impact" line printers, and 5 remote Xerox laser printers. Complementing the Computer Center are numerous resources in various other offices and departments. In virtually every departmental office, networked and free-standing PC work stations support day-to-day office functions related to word processing, in-house record keeping, and in many cases, in-house tracking and monitoring systems for specialized departmental needs. There are currently over 40 Local Area Networks (LAN) installed in various locations on the Kent campus and Regional Campuses. Some of these networks, such as those in the College of Business Administration and College of Education, serve over 100 separate user/nodes and have central connections (gateways) to the campus network and other extramural resources. Campus resources in support of academic programs consist of a wide variety of equipment ranging from a LAN-based network of four parallel processors, 80 Sun and Hewlett Packard work stations, and several HP RISC systems in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, to the networked UNIX/RISC complex in the Scientific Computing Laboratory in the Liquid Crystals Institute, to other powerful mini/RISC systems in Physics, Geology, Technology, Architecture, and numerous other departments. Academic departments support student and faculty computing resources in shared "public" and restricted-access facilities in over 23 separate buildings and 50 different sites. The Office of Information Services The Office of Information Services consists of three different departments--Computer Services, Computer Equipment Services, and Resource Analysis and Planning. Computer Services is organized in three major areas--Academic Services, Systems Applications, and Systems Support. Systems Applications provides application development and support for a large number of administrative offices focusing on financial records systems, human resource systems, and student record systems. Almost all systems are online, transaction processing applications supporting a direct-link (SNA) network to users of the IBM 3090/200S. Since the 3090/200S is channel-attached to the IBM 4381-R24, the SNA network also accommodates academic users who have access through several laboratory locations. There currently are over 600 direct connections--over both fiber and coax trunk lines with unshielded twisted pair and coax connections--to individual work stations and terminals. The Systems Support area provides technical assistance for several major operating environments--MVS/ESA, VM, VMS, and UNIX. Since the key administrative applications run under MVS/ESA, a vast majority of effort from this group is in aid of the large IBM system, but considerable time is dedicated to supporting VM on the 4381-R24 and VMS running on DEC VAX machines located on each of the eight campuses. UNIX support is limited to the IBM/RISC/6000 systems in the School of Architecture and the Liquid Crystals Institute. Other software under the purview of Systems Support includes the IDMS/R database system as well as more than 40 other separate packages for a wide variety of academic and administrative functions. Controlling access and providing security for the University systems is also the responsibility of the systems support group. Computer Equipment Services (CES) is the end-user support and maintenance branch of Information Services. Most of the activities of CES are associated with the installation, repair, and maintenance of user work stations, both terminals and personal computers. Complementing this service is a field engineering program that maintains the DEC/VAX systems on all eight campuses as well as a wide variety of specialized equipment such as Sun work stations and other RISC systems, parallel processors, and Novelle LANS currently installed in over 40 different University offices. The Office of Resources Analysis and Planning (RAP) is the institutional studies arm of Information Services. In addition to developing specialized management information applications for student tracking and productivity studies, RAP is responsible for coordinating federal and state reporting, decision support systems, and numerous ad hoc projects for such activities as accreditation studies. The Office of Academic Services is the principal link between the Computer Center and the faculty and student body of the University. Staffed by seven full-time professionals, Academic Services provides extensive consultation on the use of the aforementioned computing resource. (IBM, DEC, PCs, etc.) particularly as it relates to the use of specialized software packages (SAS, BMDP, SPSS, etc.) and the use of computing resources for instructional and research activities. Each academic period, Academic Services offers a series of seminars ranging from courses in beginner-level use of the personal computer through personal computer applications for word processing, spreadsheets, database programming, graphics, and desk top publishing; from introductions to mainframe use through advanced application of statistical packages for research projects; and from beginning to advanced use of the University's E-Mail system including Internet and BITNET facilities. The Department of Computer Resources The Department of Computer Resources supports an ancillary Computer Center for the Business Services and Auxiliaries operations including such operating units as the University Bookstore, Campus Bus Service, Food Services, Telephone Communications, Mail Services, Purchasing, and the Supply Center. Networked users at the Supply Center, the Kent Student Center, Eastway Center, and other buildings are supported by a Motorola RISC system, while a Zilog system serves the Campus Bus Service at its central facility. Both systems run UNIX software and support over 200 terminals and personal computers and 350 users. Some of the major applications that have been developed include inventory control and client billing for Food Services, Ground Transportation, Telephone Communications, Mail Room, and Purchasing. The system for the University Bookstore supports point-of-sale capabilities for 15 cash registers. The point-of-sale system for Food Services and the Book Store also support the use of debit cards. The comprehensive transit management system for Campus Bus Service includes many features such as charter management and maintenance management. The Regional Campuses Each Regional Campus has at least one DEC VAX/7xx machine with a connection to the Kent VAX system and, using the Ethernet link, to all Kent Campus network facilities. On several Regional Campuses, the VAX systems support local administrative and instructional applications; but the bulk of computing power in the regional system is based on personal computer work stations in networked and stand alone environments. Instructional facilities in the regional system are available to its student BODY through numerous general and special-purpose labs. Administrative computing support is coordinated through the Office of Student Information and Records located on the Kent Campus in the Regional Campus administrative offices for registration and various other central mainframe record keeping systems; but several campuses supplement this support with advanced personal computer LAN environments with electronic mail and shared software facilities. All official records and systems for the Regional Campuses related to the University's financial, human resource, and student records systems are supported by the Computer Center on the Kent Campus. Local records and those records maintained in the Regional Campus central office for day-to-day management of the seven campuses are supported by well-integrated LANs that were installed in the mid-1980s. These records are submitted to the Kent system after they have been created on local systems. Libraries During the mid-1980s, Kent State University significantly increased support for library automation through the selection of an on-line integrated system. This process began at Kent in 1986 with the purchase of the Northwestern On-line Total Integrated System (NOTIS) originally developed at Northwestern University. The NOTIS system was installed on the University's mainframe system which it shares with various administrative computing systems. As the Library put different parts of the system into operation over a period of two years, the new system made new efficiencies possible. It streamlined cataloging by eliminating the card catalog and several other paper files; it transformed ordering and management of the materials budget from an entirely manual process to an automated one; it replaced an antiquated and inefficient circulation system; and it provided a better environment for serials control than the previous remote system. Further, it had a major impact on library users, for the on-line catalog provided more complete information than the card catalog by tracking materials from the pre-order process through cataloging to current circulation status. The catalog is now available in its entirety via 150 terminals located in the main, branch, and Regional Campus libraries, in labs and offices, and in the homes of faculty and students via modem. During a typical day over 45,000 transactions are recorded on the system. Today the public also enjoys easy electronic access to the journal literature and other large bodies of information. This major revolution has come about because of the introduction of PC-based CD ROM technology. The main library at Kent introduced CD ROMs in 1987 and has witnessed a steady growth in their popularity and importance. Currently there are 15 CD ROM titles included on a local area network with several others available on request. Numerous other CD ROMs are available in other departments and in branch and Regional Campus libraries. Through the support of the Ohio Board of Regents, library automation is entering its next phase through a system called OhioLINK. When fully implemented the OhioLINK system will permit its member universities to access over 18 million volumes. Currently OhioLINK is developing a statewide central electronic catalog and creating a distribution system for timely sharing of library materials across the state. While the statewide catalog will serve as the centerpiece, users will also be able to access citation and full text databases through the OhioLINK central system. Implementing OhioLINK at Kent State University in 1994 will be a major undertaking. Issues to be managed include networking, installation and support of hardware and software, and data migration. The local OhioLINK system will consist of two DEC 5900 processors, 8 disk drives, and 3 tape units. OhioLINK is using the INNOPAC software, which is a product of Innovative Interfaces, Inc. of Berkeley, California, as a system on which the statewide catalog and other cooperative functions are based. To date the first six OhioLINK libraries have installed new hardware and software on their campuses and their records are being merged into the statewide central system located at Wright State University. One of the major issues that Kent State University must deal with is the installation of a suitable network infrastructure in order to make OhioLINK accessible outside of the walls of the main library, at sites such as the branch libraries on the Kent Campus, the Regional Campus libraries, and remote on-campus and off-campus dial-in users. In summary, OhioLINK offers promise for information users through the 1990s and into the next century. The Campus Network The current campus network has been pieced together over the past ten years starting with the IBM SNA network that grew up around administrative applications and early attempts to link select academic areas to the Computer Center and to regional and national networks such as Internet and BITNET. Other pieces of the network include IBM and DEC systems connections through JNET software which includes a Xyplex broadband link between the IBM 7171 protocol converter and the Xyplex network for about 96 DEC devices; the Ohio Bell Datakit network supported by data-over voice multiplexers; the Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) link running through a Proteon router from the Computer Center to OSC in Columbus over T-1 leased lines, and the campus Ethernet connections running from the Computer Center to several buildings in the science complex. A great deal of effort has been expended in the past year to design a true fiber "backbone" which could serve the entire Kent Campus. Emanating from this proposed backbone would be seven distinct nodes which would, in turn, serve local building complexes. The backbone would consist of a 72 fiber trunk and 24 fiber building links. Within buildings, unshielded twisted pair wiring would reach from wiring closets to rooms and work stations. Further, current links to the Regional Campuses would be upgraded to 56Kbs digital-based leased phone lines. Finally, a management and monitoring system would be implemented to operate and maintain this network. Thus far, 12 strand, 62.5 micron fiber has been pulled for the campus Ethernet and SNA network from the Computer Center to the Student Services Center, Business Administration, the Old Administration complex, Merrill Hall, and, finally, to White Hall. In addition, 12 strand fiber has been installed between the Kent Student Center and Tri-Tower residence hall complex with 6 strand fiber continuing on to the University Supply Center and Eastway complex. A final 12 strand fiber link currently is being installed between the Computer Center in the Library and the Kent Student Center. Completion of this final link will integrate all of Business Service and Auxiliary Office computers and terminals with the University network. [ Table of Contents | Next page | Previous page ] |