Core Router Installation Schedule

The final pieces of our new core router have arrived as scheduled. That is something to be thankful for in these times.  

Let me outline our plan for configuring and installing the new core router.

 

After all the equipment has been delivered, it will be unpacked and serial numbers verified to ensure the equipment shipped is the same equipment that is on our maintenance agreement. This is important.

 

We have engaged a highly qualified Cisco Certified Engineer to assist the configuration and implementation.

Our Network Services team, along with the Cisco engineer will:

• Complete a design workshop - November 10

• Develop a detailed action plan - November 11-16

• Install and test

• The installation process is estimated to take 24 hours. We plan to start the installation at 5.00pm on Friday, December 11.

• The installation begins in the server room in the Admin Building. The old core router is physically removed from the rack, the new core router is mounted in the racks and the  power and  fiber cables are connected to the new core router.

• From there, the team will work on a list of buildings moving each building’s equipment and settings to the new core router

• During this installation period there will be internet interruptions.

• Once the work in the Admin Building data center commences, there will be no internet connection on campus. This commences at 5.00pm on December 11.

• After the Admin Building is back up and running, we will work building by building, starting with the Burks American Heritage Building. 

• Internet service will be restored to each building as it is moved to the new core router.

• After this is all complete the whole campus network and internet will be active on the new core router.

 

FAQs

1. How do I contact Public Safety when the Admin and Heritage buildings are offline?

1. Public Safety will send a message to the campus prior to December 11 and explain how to contact them.

2. What If it takes longer? How can we log into Canvas?

1. We will be setting up cloud based authentication so that the service to Canvas will not be interrupted from off campus. You can get to Canvas from: http://harding.instructure.com

3. Why are we doing at this time, right before finals?

1. There is no longer any ideal or good time to make these types of changes. Leaving it later will take us to grades being submitted and rolled, degrees to the conferred Christmas break (when there is no load on the system), and then we are at the first of the Spring semester.

4. Can I access Pipeline during this time?

1. No, Pipeline will not be available while the data center in the Admin Bldg is offline. After the Admin Bldg is back online, Pipeline will be available off campus and will come back online on-campus as each building is brought back up online.

5. Will I still get email?

1. Yes and no. Email will still be available on mobile devices that stay logged into email. To access email via your browser on a computer will be similar to how it works with Pipeline. After the Admin Bldg is back online, email will be available off campus and will come back online on-campus as each building is brought back up online.

The New Core Router is on the way...

The Router is on the way

If we go by the number of packages, 80% of the router has arrived. 

  

 

But functionally, John Exum considers it as 60% because these are the minor components, not the major ones.  

 

 

The expected arrival of the final pieces is November 4th.

We will keep you posted!

Harding Partners with Ritter Communication

During the week of Thanksgiving, IS&T will be moving our primary Internet connection to Ritter Communications. Ritter is headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

With its roots in northeast Arkansas, Ritter started as a telephone company providing the first dial tone to many rural communities.  Today Ritter serves 59 communities and more than 45,000 customers in northeast and north central Arkansas and west Tennessee with a full suite of communications services including high speed internet, voice, video, and broadband connectivity.

For the past several months, you may have seen Ritter trucks around Searcy installing fiber optic cable to extend their services into our community.  “We’re very excited to name Searcy among the elite ‘gig cities’ in the nation, and we’re excited to be the internet backbone for Harding University.” said Steve Smith, Vice President of Sales at Ritter.“

Ritter has had great success in offering local businesses in our service areas the kind of advanced broadband services typically found only in large metro areas.” 

Ritter has built their fiber optic network directly into Harding’s Data Center.  This will enable Harding to have a lower cost position, increase their user experience, and take advantage of the broadband connection for future growth applications.