SASKATOON, Sask. - February 11, 2003 - The University of Saskatchewan has begun a $15-million upgrade of its campus computer network using advanced technology from Cisco Systems.
"Cisco is excited to be working with the University of Saskatchewan to provide technology to implement one of the most powerful and sophisticated campus networks in Canada," said Gilles St. Hilaire, regional vice-president, western Canada, Cisco Systems Canada. "This strategic network upgrade will provide connectivity for researchers, educators, students and staff at the University of Saskatchewan. The flexibility of the Cisco network will also allow for the rapid deployment of advanced Internet Protocol (IP) based network services such as voice over IP, video, virtual private networks (VPNs) and security."
The University of Saskatchewan Research Network (USR-net) project will provide a tremendous boost to research on campus, as well as to teaching, learning and business services.
"USR-net is an IT project of unparalleled scope and impact for the U of S, made possible through Canada Foundation for Innovation and Saskatchewan government grants, as well as through critical collaboration with leading technology companies such as Cisco," said Rick Bunt, associate vice-president of Information and Communications Technology.
"The project will help ensure that research facilities across campus, including the Canadian Light Source – the national synchrotron facility – have access to powerful, reliable and secure networking capabilities to address present and future needs."
The USR-net infrastructure will connect up to 10,000 desktops in more than 40 buildings on the Saskatoon campus. The project will benefit all users of the campus network – faculty, staff and students – by improving the capacity, performance, availability, security and reliability of the network, and by improving connectivity to other universities and research organizations both in Canada and abroad. It also opens up the possibility for expanded use of IP-based voice and video in the future.
The network is based on Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series at the network core with redundant Gigabit (Gb) connections to every wiring closet on campus. The core is interconnected with redundant 10Gb connections.
The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series is a key component of Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data). Its flexibility enables the delivery of scaleable, secure and converged services, end-to-end, from the wiring closet, to the core, to the datacentre, to the wide area network (WAN) edge.
About the University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is renowned for its high international standards, academic pre-eminence, and a strong sense of place reflected in teaching, research and service. More information about the University and the Canadian Light Source is available at: www.usask.ca.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.
About Cisco Systems Canada
Cisco Systems Canada Co. has offices across Canada dedicated to customer support, sales, and service. In addition, Cisco Systems has a significant research and development centre in Ottawa, Ontario. Additional information about Cisco Systems Canada is available at www.cisco.com/ca.
Press Contact:
Gareth Pettigrew
Strategic/Ampersand (for Cisco)
416-961-5595 ext. 428
gareth@stratamp.co
Willa Black
Cisco Systems Canada
416-306-7732
Pager: 1-800-68-CISCO
wblack@cisco.com
For more information on Cisco Systems Canada news and events, please go to www.cisco.com/ca/newsroom/index.shtml
