MTU's data network is built on an extensive wired infrastructure available throughout all campus buildings, all university's residence halls rooms, and on-campus apartments. MTU also has a small number of remote locations connected to the campus via point-to-point microwave links. MTU supports a wireless LAN network in all of the public gathering places on campus including the University Library, Memorial Union, and all the university residence halls.

Michigan Tech has adopted a converged network strategy supporting packet voice, data, and video services on the data network. The primary technology deployed is Ethernet switching, which supports speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. The campus gateway is comprised of a carrier-grade router and bandwidth shapers to manage the off-campus traffic.

The MTU Data Network is supported through user fees for services. These fees currently provide 64% of the total funding required to maintain the university network. Services used by our campus constituents include:

• 10 Base-T, 100 Base-T client computer connections
• 1000 Base-TX/SX/LX Server Connections
• Roaming wireless LAN access

In addition, the University maintains off campus connectivity to both the Internet and Internet 2 as well as remote dial-in connectivity through arrangements with various external ISP vendors.

Michigan Tech charges a monthly fee for all network connections. The rate varies based on the speed of the connection, the number of hosts that will be connected, and whether or not the connection has a routable address or belongs to a private bridge group.

The fee covers the cost of all the hardware, the software, hardware and software maintenance, cable infrastructure maintenance, and the support service (DNS, DHCP, LDAP) costs of providing the connection. The charge does not cover the cost of the engineering staff that builds, designs, and troubleshoots the network. These costs are covered by the University General Fund.

For a general breakdown of the cost components in the current charges for some of the most popular services see our schedule of Telcom Networking Rates for Common End-user Services..

Networking technology is still a new and developing technology, and as such, it is very important to follow advancements in this field closely. The Telecommunications Engineering Department does not participate in 'pure' research initiatives. Rather, our focus is on investigating new technologies with a goal of finding cost-effective, well engineered, and highly functional features or services that would benefit the MTU community or improve the performance, security, or reliability of the existing network.

Areas of current interest include:

• investigating improved wireless network and management systems with a goal of building a cost-effective and functional wireless network on campus,
• pilot 802.1x authentication service to improve classroom and conference room networking, and
• continuing the use of SNMP- and RMON-based tools to build a highly automated, web-based network configuration and monitoring system to enable departments to effectively and quickly manage their network usage, while keeping staff costs needed to configure and maintain network equipment at a minimum.