NACS regularly upgrades networking equipment around the campus, typically in a rolling series of school or departmental upgrades that take place over several years. In addition to these large upgrades–which may include replacing older wiring as well as equipment, campus-wide infrastructure needs maintenance and periodic replacement as well. In 2005, the core of the campus backbone was upgraded from one to ten gigabits per second (Gb/s). In a multi-year project begun the same year, NACS began replacing older routers/switches in the “distribution layer” with new equipment in many buildings around campus. (The distribution layer connects the networks in a building to the campus backbone). In addition, NACS has been working to replace all older edge switches in buildings. (Edge switches provide the connectivity from labs and offices to the building distribution switch).
Between July 2005 and June 2006 building distribution switches were replaced in Aldrich Hall, Berkeley Place South, Science Library, Social Ecology 2, Social Science Plaza buildings A and B, and Medical Surge 1. In addition, all of these buildings except Aldrich Hall and Med Surge 1 (which were upgraded the previous year) had their edge switches replaced with new equipment, greatly enhancing the performance of these networks for the occupants. Finally, a large number of new wireless access points have been added around the campus, including a major wireless upgrade in the Science Library. Many of these wireless upgrades have been the result of a networking survey NACS conducted last year.