Network Services offers the following services by contacting the Help Center or the Network Services Coordinator:

1. Network Host Registration
2. Data Port activation, testing, station cabling
3. Network communications design and engineering
4. Network Capacity Planning
5. Network communications infrastructure support for 10000 nodes and 35 buildings
6. Network backbone equipment installation, monitoring and maintenance
7. Internet communications transmission
8. Support of Campus Network Systems applications availability and communications
9. Support for communications that involve any Computer Network client, Lab machine, or peripheral
10. Any building renovation or expansion that involves increase or design in data connectivity or Networking Services

Internet Connections

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is connected to the Internet via The North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN). NCREN is a private telecommunications network to interconnect universities, research institutions, and medical and graduate centers in North Carolina. NCREN connects 18 university sites over 600 miles with interactive analog and digital video services and IP data services with over 200,000 host computers across the state. Services include multi-point interactive video and Internet data communications. Private microwave facilities and leased lines provide multiple channels of analog and digital video and data connections from 10Mbs to 155Mbs. Currently The University of North Carolina serves as a Regional Point of Presence or RPoP site for NCREN to service the greater Charlotte Metropolitan area. Our Current Internet Connection is a 45 Mbs lease line WAN connection to the RPOP, then to RTP.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an Internet2 Sponsored Education Group Participant. Being an Internet2 participant allows us to connect and collaborate with other Internet2 Institutions doing High Speed Communication and Supercomputing Research. We have a 2.4 Gps connection to the Abilene Internet2 Network Backbone. Visit Internet2 to see who's connected to Abilene and the various projects, applications and research being done now.

The majority of the Residence Halls achieve Internet Connectivity through Time Warner's Road-Runner Internet Service. Time Warner has provided a peering connection back to the campus network to allow faster access to campus resources for those students that require campus access.

Service Level Agreement

Client’s responsibilities for connecting to the campus network:

1. Submit a Computing Services Network Registration form, or complete the Web version of the form, to Network Services providing the necessary information concerning the node to be connected to the campus network.
2. Follow campus conventions regarding host name, network node and subnet addresses, etc.
3. Identify any high bandwidth requirements for specific network connections to Network Services well in advance of the date of desired connection to ensure minimal impact to other users already on the network. This would include such things as servers, laboratory instrumentation, real-time data capturing, or others which would reasonably be expected to require high network bandwidth.

There are many devices and services which cannot be attached to the network by users because they have the ability to interfere with or impede the function of infrastructural systems supporting the production campus network. These include the following.

1. Network name servers such as DNS servers, etc.
2. Network address management systems which administer or assign network node addresses for TCP/IP or other protocols (BOOT-P, DHCP, etc.).
3. Network cabling / wiring, or equipment which transmits network signals (hubs, routers, concentrators, switches, or other).
4. Connections to other networks or the Internet, without express consent by the Manager of Network Services.
5. Any device which has the ability to record or display network traffic or network data content, and thereby breach the privacy of users.
6. Any network or application security device such as local network firewalls which negatively impact the normal flow of authorized user and data traffic on the campus network.
7. Any system, service, or device which interferes with the normal operation of existing infrastructural services including but not limited to Email, Email SMTP gateway, Web, FTP, Proxy, or others.
8. Any services or systems which conduct commerce not specifically authorized by University administration.