Networks & Communications/Systems & Operations
Contact: Angela Bradley, Director
Networks & Communications
Responsible for the development and management of voice, data, and video networks for academic, administrative, student, and Research Park clients; and voice, data, and operator services. Networks and Communications assists in the management of the new BOREAS regional optical network that provisions commodity Internet and Internet2 access.
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Planning & Design
Planning & Design is responsible for long-range technical project planning and management for all Networks & Communications areas including data networking, voice, and video. Major activities include creating and updating the 5-year plan for the campus voice network, taking a leadership role in the creation of the Regional Optical Network, preparing and evaluating numerous RFPs, reviewing and negotiating contract language with various vendors, reconciling vendor bills with purchase orders, acting as lead on major Networks & Communications projects, and consulting with other institutions, the Regents, and Extension.
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Engineering
Engineering is responsible for all aspects of the campus data network and Internet connectivity including the administration and management of routers and switches, the campus network design and architecture, circuit provisioning, and Internet vendor relations. The engineers are also proficient in network security with expertise and responsibilities for VPN services, firewalls, intrusion detection, and netflow analysis. The campus wireless network is also a major engineering initiative.
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Plant Operation
Plant Operation is responsible for all installations and repair of campus voice, data, and video connections including coordinating, updating, and developing master plans; planning and design for new and renovated buildings; system sizing; layout; and operation of the university's copper and fiber cable plant. Technicians install, troubleshoot, and repair all services, and support staff maintain cable records and CAD drawings.
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Support & Operator Services
Support & Operator Services answers the main university directory number (294-4111 or dial 0), handles all voice/data work orders and trouble tickets, and works with customers on the programming of telephones and voice mail (e.g. resetting of voice mail passwords). Additional responsibilities include the project management of voice and data services for new buildings and remodels.
Systems & Operations
Responsible for supporting the physical computing infrastructure for the university academic and administrative systems. Systems and Operations includes infrastructure services such as DNS, authentication, central file services, directory services, email, and software systems development; server support; database administration; desktop support and service level agreements; labs; and two computer operation centers.
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Managed Infrastructure Services
Managed Infrastructure Services provides network and third-level support and consultation to IT Services technical staff. Support can include consulting for desktop application development, interactive administrative system access, and data file downloads. Network support includes support for local area networks including file and print services for networked workstations as well as access to central systems and other networks.
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Network Systems
Network Systems provides centralized, distributed, and local area network computing systems that are technologically current and have sufficient power and speed to ensure consistently fast response time to clients. Additionally, this group seeks to configure computer hardware capacities to stay ahead of client storage and processing needs.
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PALMS
PALMS (Partnership Agreements, Labs, Micros, and Servers) is responsible for supporting staff and computer lab desktop systems for several contracted departments, computer classrooms utilized mainly for English classes, computer labs located in the Durham Center, and Solution Center laptops available for checkout. The team also manages several servers related to the support of these desktop and laptop systems.
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Distributed Administrative Systems
Distributed Administrative Systems support mid-range systems that interface to the central server and other disparate environments. The supported systems are primarily Unix/Linux-based, and include the AccessPlus server infrastructure, web servers, database servers and gateways, credit card processing services, and distributed applications for administrative services.
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Academic Systems
Academic Systems supports a wide variety of infrastructure services ranging from email to Active Directory and from DNS to Red Hat Linux licensure and localization.
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Database
Database Administrators support the database infrastructure and the teams that work on client applications by developing and implementing database policies and procedures. They also manage the department's DB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL, and other databases and software. Applications and databases supported include ISU's enterprise level Student Systems, HR, Payroll, WebCT, and Health Services.
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Central Administrative Systems
Central Administrative Systems provides the technical services that support the applications and data repositories of the AccessPlus web and online production (ADIN) systems. Responsibilities include providing support for the batch processes for payroll, purchasing, student records, billing and much more. Technical services include implementing and administering security, communications, backup/recovery, application development and deployment, storage, printing, and data transfers. Additional responsibilities include the installation, implementation, and support of all software and hardware related to the central server which is required to provide all of these services.
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Operations
Operations manages the IT Services computer rooms, controls all computer operations, and processes all batch jobs on the computing systems according to a schedule established by the programmer/analyst in charge of each job. The group is responsible for monitoring systems and network availability and initiating problem resolution procedures when necessary. This group is also responsible for running the jobs that provide daily backup of systems and client data.
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Distribution
Distribution prepares all batch job output according to procedure instructions and delivers it to clients. This group begins work in the early morning to ensure that clients have their reports on their desks at 8:00 a.m. This group also assists ASB operations when necessary.
