ITS Improvements

RCC Network Improvement Project

Information Technology is a key part of Roxbury Community College’s goal to provide learning opportunities and a quality learning environment to the public.  In order to deliver quality Information Technology services, the college periodically reviews the existing IT infrastructure and implements changes to align the IT service offerings with the College’s strategic plan.

The college, with the assistance of an outside consultant, has recently completed an assessment of the IT infrastructure.  The assessment has identified several key areas for improvement and has provided the framework for implementing the technology upgrades required to meet the College’s current and future Information Technology needs.

Due to the large scope of this project, it has been broken down into phases.  Phase I work as already started and is due to be completed during the Spring Break of 2011.

Phase I -- Improve network backbone by increasing capacity and implementing network protections


Completed

Assess current state of network and server infrastructure

Completed

Design future network that will address IT needs for the next five to ten years

Completed

Increase capacity of the Internet connection from 20Mbps to 40Mbps

Completed

Deploy HP Procurve eSeries switches in the Academic building to support 1Gb connectivity to the desktop computers used by faculty, staff and students, including the classrooms

Completed

Implement network switch configurations that will detect and block certain network problems that can cause service interruptions

Received

Implement new firewalls that will provide redundant, highly available network perimeter protection

Ordered

Implement new core switches to provide 10Gbps network backbone

Has begun

Upgrade Academic Building internal fiber plant to support 10Gbps network capacity to the Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF) wiring closets

Ordered

Add 10 additional wireless access points to the Administration Building to improve wireless coverage


Phase II -- Consolidate server and storage infrastructure to optimize performance and utilization while reducing service and support costs as well as energy consumption


Completed

Evaluate current server and storage capacities and utilization

In Progress

Determine desired server and storage needs

In Progress

Design future server and storage infrastructure using industry best practices and server virtualization

In Progress

Select necessary hardware and software

TBD

Implement and test hardware and software

TBD

Migrate services and applications to the new infrastructure

TBD

Recycle retired hardware