Core and Distribution
To enhance speed, performance, and supportability, ITS is updating the core and distribution layers of the Storrs data network.
ITS has made significant progress on bringing the access layer of our network infrastructure, which is where individual devices physically connect, with the Wired Access Layer Refresh project. Updated network cabling, equipment, and facilities provide substantively better capacity and performance within each of the fully completed buildings. However, overall bandwidth to and from our main data center and between UConn and the Internet is constrained by the parts of our network that carry traffic between buildings. To increase bandwidth, ITS is rebuilding the core and distribution layers of the Storrs data network.
New core and distribution equipment has been installed in the main data centers. Starting in December 2023 and for the next several months, technicians will be actively migrating connections to new equipment in the main data centers. When complete, network performance and reliability will be enhanced on campus.
When we cutover to the new equipment, there will be a brief (1-5 minute) network outage. We are performing work during the morning maintenance windows (5:30 am – 7:30 am) and in some situations, other non-peak periods. We will communicate with building occupants in advance of any disruption and post information on itstatus.uconn.edu.
If you have any questions or wish to report an issue with the network in your campus location, contact the Technology Support Center.
Additional Information
What is core and distribution?
The access network switches in each building are connected to two of the university’s main network distribution switches, and in most cases, each switch is connected to two different distribution switches located in two different data centers to provide redundancy.
The distribution switches are designed to connect many access layer switches. They are in three main locations on Storrs campus, which are also the origin of the campus’s fiber optic backbones that extend to nearly every building on campus. Access layer switches connect to the distribution switches using the backbones. The distribution switches are then interconnected by way of two specialized routers known as the network core. Core and distribution equipment is robust and specialized to meet the needs of evolving technology but periodically also needs to be replaced.
How are the core and distribution switches replaced?
New core and distribution equipment has been installed in the main data centers near the existing devices. Over the next several months, Network Services technicians will migrate the physical connections from old to new equipment, one at a time and building-by-building. Part of the migration also requires replacement of the fiber optic modules on both the access layer and distribution equipment for each connection. This process will consume a small amount of time to clean, check performance, and update records and documentation.
This process will be repeated for each network switch on the Storrs campus.
How will it impact us?
Each switch will experience a brief interruption of service as the system is migrated from one distribution to the other. We have planned and sequenced the work for the normal change window to minimize the impact on the community.
This work will cause a short interruption of network service to those systems connected to the affected access layer switch(es). The interruption may last from 1 to 5 minutes unless a problem is encountered.
What are the benefits?
There are many benefits to the replacement of the core and distribution equipment.
- Supportability: The existing equipment is end of life has a risk of failure and difficulty in obtaining parts.
- New features: The manufacturer is no longer developing software for the equipment and so we need updated equipment to support future features.
- Faster speeds: Additionally, the new fiber optic modules will connect each switch at a higher speed.