The proposal requests networking infrastructure to establish a high-performance computing, high-bandwidth, robust, and intelligently managed converged data research network; to be utilized as a shared resource in the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (CMNST) at Delaware State University (DSU), a Historically Black University (HBCU). The network infrastructure will support and enhance the research, research training and education activities and capabilities in the Departments of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer and Information Sciences, Mathematics and Physics and Pre-Engineering.The requested infrastructure will support research, research-training, and education at an HBCU where the vast majority of students are from underrepresented groups. It will contribute to the Nation?s global competitiveness by providing cyberinfrastructure at an HBCU that will be utilized to educate and prepare underrepresented groups for the 21st century scientific, engineering, and technical workforce. In addition, it would close the digital divide at this institution and provide the advanced networking infrastructure necessary to fulfill the CMNST and University?s research and educational mission well into the 21st century. Establishing a robust advanced high-speed and high-bandwidth networking infrastructure would give the CMNST the capability to establish more meaningful research collaboration especially with colleagues at larger research institutions, and facilitate access to geographically distributed computing resources, data repositories and digital libraries. It will enable high-quality computational research, video conferencing, the ability to move large data sets and work remotely. In addition, it will give us the capability to make our resources available to others via the network and allow the CMNST to more effectively recruit and maintain faculty and students.
A high-performance computing, high-bandwidth, robust, and intelligently managed converged data Internet Protocol (IP) 10 Gigabit Ethernet research production network was designed and deployed at Delaware State University (DSU), a Historically Black University (HBCU); to be utilized as a shared resource in the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (CMNST) at Delaware State University (DSU), a Historically Black University (HBCU). The infrastructure was also utilized to consolidate and coordinate the various pockets of computing and networking infrastructure located in the CMNST. The network infrastructure will support and enhance the research, research training and education activities and capabilities in the College’s five departments. The College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology consists of the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer and Information Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics and Pre-Engineering. Networking infrastructure was installed, configured, and tested to establish a completely new 10 Gigabit optical fiber physical layer, 10 Gigabit Ethernet core, distribution and access network layers, as well as a fault tolerant storage network with Gigabit wired connectivity to the desktop and 802.11n wireless connectivity with roaming capability throughout the College. In addition, a 45 Mbps dedicated Internet2 connection was established to MAGPI via the University of Delaware. The networking infrastructure will provide students and faculty with a modern high bandwidth and high speed converged IP network at DSU, and will support and enhance the research, research training, and education activities in the College. It will provide significant improvements and added capability in the areas of network convergence, IP communications, user mobility, compliance, and network security for students and faculty at an HBCU where the vast majority of students are from underrepresented groups, as the University strives to provide a campus of the future to educate and prepare its students for the 21st century scientific, engineering, and technical workforce.
