Rural educational system network (RESNET): Design and deployment

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to design and deploy the initial infrastructure of the Rural Education System Network (RESNET) in eastern Texas. We have selected the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and single-mode fiber to build the RESNET infrastructure. The RESNET network operated initially at a backbone speed of OC-3c (155 Mbit/s), with the goal of upgrading to OC-12c (622 Mbit/s). The RESNET backbone connected the following sites: Tyler County Courthouse, Woodville ISD High School, Tyler County Hospital in the city of Woodville, Alabama & Coushatta Indian Reservation, Big Sandy ISD, Livingston High School, the Polk County Courthouse, the Polk County Hospital, main campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. The intended applications for RESNET are classified into three types: 1) Telecommunication Services, 2) Interactive Multimedia Services, and 3) Mutlimedia Services. The telecommunication services include: Switched data, voice, and video ATM service at 25 Mbps and 155 Mbps. In addition, it is the goal of the Tribes to establish a Call Center and Network Control Center. The interactive multimedia services include: Virtual Classroom, Virtual courtroom, Virtual County, Virtual Clinic, Teacher Network, Parent Network. The multimedia services include: Video-On-Demand (MPEG I & II), Education-On-Demand, Training-On-Demand, Multimedia Publishing, Electronic Publishing, and Intra/Internet Broadcasting. In this paper, we give an overview of the RESNET history, goals, design and technology adopted for RESNET, and conclude with future RESNET activities.