On May 16, 2003 at 10:00 p.m., the campus computer network will be reconfigured from a "switched" network to a "routed" network. This will be a significant campus-wide event with implications for all of us. Deans and unit heads are asked to review the following information with their IT support staff and make the appropriate arrangements. If you have no IT support in your unit, please contact ITS at a special hotline to be set up for this project. Funding is available to assist units in completing their task (see details below).

The change to a routed network is a necessary part of the USR-net project's rollout of a higher performance, more reliable network, and the benefits to everyone will be substantial. But, it will require that the configuration of all network-attached devices (desktop computers, laptops, printers, and servers) is correct. Configuration changes will be required for many of these pieces of equipment so that they will continue to work on the campus network after May 16.

The change to a routed network affects

• how desktop computers, laptops, printers, and servers must be configured to work on the campus network,
• how character cell terminals (e.g. VT220) and some printers (those with serial connections) are connected to and access the network,
• how users and computer applications should locate other computers, printers and servers on the network (fixed IP addresses should not be used), and
• which communications protocols (IP, AppleTalk) will continue to work on the campus network.

Additional information on each of these points, along with other useful information, is available on the USR-net project website at http://USR-net.usask.ca.

The first of the above points is the most significant, since a routed network requires that most of our attached devices no longer use a fixed IP (internet protocol) address, but instead use an IP address dynamically assigned for that session through a protocol known as DHCP (dynamic host configuration protocol). There are benefits to this approach, both for the University and for individual users. For the University, DHCP makes it easier to manage a large and complex network; for individual users, DHCP makes it easier to work from different locations.

Since this change impacts everyone, we are taking great pains to ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. We will provide assistance and support centrally, and we are working closely with both users and unit IT support staff in determining what form this should take. Webpages will provide both general and specific information, including detailed instructions for changing common desktop configurations and instructions for handling any special situations that have been identified, and funding will be provided to units to assist in completing this reconfiguration (see details below). Users are advised to consult their unit support staff (or ITS) before changing their computers to ensure that their individual actions don't conflict with processes already in place (units such as Arts and Science, Engineering, and the Library, for example, are already doing conversions).

Units are encouraged to make the required DHCP changes themselves. Funding is available in the form of a $13 "bounty" for each conversion of an old static-configured computer to the new DHCP configuration. These conversions must be correctly completed, documented and claimed by May 15, 2003 to qualify for the bounty. For additional information on documentation and claim procedures, please refer to the project website, http://USR-net.usask.ca.

Even though units are encouraged to make these changes themselves, ITS staff will be available to help where needed, beginning April 1.

• A special DHCP hotline will be set up to assist both individual users and IT support staff reconfigure their computers and printers. The hotline number is 966-2888. Advice will be available for those seeking to reconfigure their computers and printers themselves, as well as help for those who experience difficulty.
• ITS will also have some field staff available to provide free on-site assistance where needed. The availability of this service is limited, and will back up the hotline support when and where required.

In closing, we ask every unit to ensure that all its users are prepared for this significant change to our campus network environment. We encourage you to attend to this early (even now). Computers that are not modified will not be able to communicate on the network after May 16 until their configurations are updated. We are seeking to make this event go as smoothly as possible for everyone, but bumps are inevitable. We will work with you to get over them.

Rick Bunt
Associate Vice-President,
Information and Communications Technology