OARnet
Encyclopedia
The Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) is the technology infrastructure and operations arm of the Ohio Board of Regents
and provides a slate of network services and access to its member institutions.
OARnet, a technology initiative of the Ohio Board of Regents, was created by the Ohio General Assembly
in 1987 to provide Ohio researchers with network connectivity to the resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center
(OSC). It was recognized at the time that the network would serve a much broader audience, so when a network name was selected in early 1988, OARnet was chosen to emphasize the many uses of the network.
The OARnet leaders, with various titles, have been
Russell Pitzer
1987-1988
Alison Brown 1988-1994
John Ritter 1995
Larry Buell 1996-1997
Douglas Gale 1998-2002
Alvin Stutz 2002-2005
Pankaj Shah 2005-
The initial plan (1987) was to make use of a number of existing Bitnet
and CCnet (regional DECnet
network) connections to get started. Three network (compatible) protocols were used, NJE, DECnet, and TCP/IP
. The first OARnet-funded line was installed between Case Western Reserve University
and John Carroll University
in June 1987. Many subsequent lines at 9.6 kbit/s, 56 kbit/s
, and T1
(1.544 Mbit/s) were installed with the aid of an Ohio Department of Administrative Services contract with Litel Corp. Internet
(then NSFnet
) connections were obtained in the spring of 1988. The non-TCP/IP protocols were soon phased out, and a process of upgrading connections took place regularly.
In 1991, it was decided that OARnet would accept commercial business, at appropriate rates, for Internet connection services. Thus OARnet became one of the first internet service providers (ISPs) in Ohio. After commercial ISPs entered the business extensively, OARnet stopped seeking new commercial accounts.
A very large increase in backbone capacity occurred (planning 2000-2002, installation 2003-2004) when it became possible to lease optical fiber
lines themselves ("dark fiber"). A new network backbone of 1,850 miles was installed at much higher capacity and the eTech Ohio Commission and the Ohio Department of Education joined in funding and using OARnet.
Today, OARnet provides members with virtualization and cloud computing solutions, advanced videoconferencing, intrastate networking, connections to regional and international research networks and the commodity Internet, colocation services and emergency web-hosting.
Thus the OARnet network (known for a time as OSCnet and, earlier, Third Frontier Network) is a dedicated, statewide, high-speed fiber-optic network that serves Ohio K-12 schools, college and university campuses, academic medical centers, public broadcasting stations and state and local governments. OARnet is considered one of the most advanced statewide telecommunications networks dedicated to research, education and economic competitiveness in the nation.
OARnet is connected in Cleveland to Internet2
, the United State’s most advanced nationwide research and education network. OARnet also maintains direct connections to New York's NYSERNet
, Michigan's MERIT network, and OmniPoP in Chicago.
Ohio Board of Regents
The Ohio Board of Regents is the coordinating board for higher education in Ohio. The board was created in 1963 by the Ohio General Assembly to: provide higher education policy advice to the Governor of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly; develop a strategy involving Ohio's public and independent...
and provides a slate of network services and access to its member institutions.
OARnet, a technology initiative of the Ohio Board of Regents, was created by the Ohio General Assembly
Ohio General Assembly
The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...
in 1987 to provide Ohio researchers with network connectivity to the resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center
Ohio Supercomputer Center
Established in 1987, the Ohio Supercomputer Center is a partner of Ohio universities and industries that provides a high performance computing, research, cyberinfrastructure, and computational science education services....
(OSC). It was recognized at the time that the network would serve a much broader audience, so when a network name was selected in early 1988, OARnet was chosen to emphasize the many uses of the network.
The OARnet leaders, with various titles, have been
Russell Pitzer
Russell M. Pitzer
Russell Mosher Pitzer is an American theoretical chemist and educator.He was born on May 10, 1938, in Berkeley, California and attended public schools in this and the Washington, DC area....
1987-1988
Alison Brown 1988-1994
John Ritter 1995
Larry Buell 1996-1997
Douglas Gale 1998-2002
Alvin Stutz 2002-2005
Pankaj Shah 2005-
The initial plan (1987) was to make use of a number of existing Bitnet
BITNET
BITNET was a cooperative USA university network founded in 1981 by Ira Fuchs at the City University of New York and Greydon Freeman at Yale University...
and CCnet (regional DECnet
DECnet
DECnet is a suite of network protocols created by Digital Equipment Corporation, originally released in 1975 in order to connect two PDP-11 minicomputers. It evolved into one of the first peer-to-peer network architectures, thus transforming DEC into a networking powerhouse in the 1980s...
network) connections to get started. Three network (compatible) protocols were used, NJE, DECnet, and TCP/IP
Internet protocol suite
The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol , which were the first networking protocols defined in this...
. The first OARnet-funded line was installed between Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
and John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
in June 1987. Many subsequent lines at 9.6 kbit/s, 56 kbit/s
56 kbit/s line
A 56 kbit/s line is a digital connection capable of carrying 56 kilobits per second , or 56,000 bit/s, the data rate of a classical single channel digital telephone line in North America...
, and T1
Digital Signal 1
Digital signal 1 is a T-carrier signaling scheme devised by Bell Labs. DS1 is a widely used standard in telecommunications in North America and Japan to transmit voice and data between devices. E1 is used in place of T1 outside North America, Japan, and South Korea...
(1.544 Mbit/s) were installed with the aid of an Ohio Department of Administrative Services contract with Litel Corp. Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
(then NSFnet
NSFNet
The National Science Foundation Network was a program of coordinated, evolving projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation beginning in 1985 to promote advanced research and education networking in the United States...
) connections were obtained in the spring of 1988. The non-TCP/IP protocols were soon phased out, and a process of upgrading connections took place regularly.
In 1991, it was decided that OARnet would accept commercial business, at appropriate rates, for Internet connection services. Thus OARnet became one of the first internet service providers (ISPs) in Ohio. After commercial ISPs entered the business extensively, OARnet stopped seeking new commercial accounts.
A very large increase in backbone capacity occurred (planning 2000-2002, installation 2003-2004) when it became possible to lease optical fiber
Optical fiber
An optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of a pure glass not much wider than a human hair. It functions as a waveguide, or "light pipe", to transmit light between the two ends of the fiber. The field of applied science and engineering concerned with the design and application of...
lines themselves ("dark fiber"). A new network backbone of 1,850 miles was installed at much higher capacity and the eTech Ohio Commission and the Ohio Department of Education joined in funding and using OARnet.
Today, OARnet provides members with virtualization and cloud computing solutions, advanced videoconferencing, intrastate networking, connections to regional and international research networks and the commodity Internet, colocation services and emergency web-hosting.
Thus the OARnet network (known for a time as OSCnet and, earlier, Third Frontier Network) is a dedicated, statewide, high-speed fiber-optic network that serves Ohio K-12 schools, college and university campuses, academic medical centers, public broadcasting stations and state and local governments. OARnet is considered one of the most advanced statewide telecommunications networks dedicated to research, education and economic competitiveness in the nation.
OARnet is connected in Cleveland to Internet2
Internet2
Internet2 is an advanced not-for-profit US networking consortium led by members from the research and education communities, industry, and government....
, the United State’s most advanced nationwide research and education network. OARnet also maintains direct connections to New York's NYSERNet
NYSERNet
NYSERNet is an non-profit internet service provider in New York State. It mainly provides internet access to universities, colleges, museums, healthcare facilities, primary and secondary schools, and research institutions.NYSERNet's network reaches from Buffalo to New York City...
, Michigan's MERIT network, and OmniPoP in Chicago.