ITS News

Over the next 4 years, ITS will be replacing all of our current network infrastructure equipment, as well as developing and implementing a lifecycle replacement process to ensure that the network computing infrastructure is as reliable and continuously available as is possible.

Beginning in Summer of 2005, all existing network equipment will be replaced with new equipment. The new equipment will be acquired through a leasing agreement, as opposed to an outright purchase, as in the past. The leasing agreement will help to normalize and distribute expenditures for network equipment much more evenly over time, and ensure review and/or replacement of equipment at the end of its lease.

All current network equipment is schedule to be replaced by the end of FY 2007-2008. The process will then be repeated beginning in Summer, 2009. Equipment added to the network infrastructure in the meantime will be included in the replacement planning for the subsequent 4-year cycle.

An additional outcome of the Network Equipment Lifecycle Replacement initiative will be to provide a trial for using leasing agreements to manage other infrastructure equipment and components. Such leasing agreements may provide a cost-effective and efficient way to maintain servers that provide core services. Lessons learned can also be shared to other Vanderbilt departments and schools who may wish to consider a leasing arrangement for IT products.

As of 10/31/05, we have replaced all Year 1 equipment except the 2 Content Switch Servers, which will be replaced 11/13/05. "Lessons Learned" from Year 1 are being applied as we plan Year 2 replacements, which will occur January through May 2006. Current plans show us replacing 9 UPS', about 220 wireless Access Points and about 200 data switches, but that may change as we finalize plans. Year 2 replacements focus on the Law School, the School of Engineering and the Owen Graduate School of Management, though about 30 wireless APs outside these schools are old and we hope to replace them this year as well.