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Managing the core network
With
Level 1 service, also called Core Service, the Network Operations
Center (NOC) of University Information Systems (UIS) manages
the Harvard core network.
Level
1 service is provided to all Harvard departments. The total
annual cost of service is allocated proportionally to each
department, based on that department's headcount as defined
by Harvard Human Resources. The major components of Level
1 service are summarized below.
Internet and high-speed
network feeds
The NOC manages the Harvard Internet feed, which is provided
by Qwest Communications (as of January 2001) with a backup
link provided by Cignal Communications. We collect capacity-management
information and historical trending data on the Internet feed
and connections to core routers. This data assists in network
design efforts and related financial planning.
The NOC also manages
the University's connection to non-public high-performance
networks such as the Abilene network, which is part of the
nationwide Internet2
infrastructure.
Core fiber
The NOC acts in an advisory role in fiber planning efforts
to help ensure that Harvard's core fiber physical plant supports
current and future requirements.
Core routers
The NOC manages the core routers for the Harvard network and
provides reporting on key metrics including:
- CPU and memory
utilization
- Configuration
changes
- Environmental
reporting
- Inventory reporting
- Capacity reporting
- Error reporting
- Trending and analysis
Domain name service
(DNS)
The NOC manages the master domain name servers for the harvard.edu
domain. DNS makes it possible to map a numerical IP address
to a more easily remembered hostname, such as "academics",
"museums", or "UIS".
Aliasing and postmaster
functions for harvard.edu
The NOC manages the aliasing server for the harvard.edu domain.
This capability enables easy-to-use naming conventions such
as firstname_lastname@harvard.edu.
The NOC manages the postmaster function, including e-mail routing and complaints
about e-mail-related abuse, such as "spamming". Major security incidents, such
as viruses spread through e-mail, are referred to the NOC's Network
Security Incident Response Team.
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