The use of networking to support education and research has become a necessity rather than it being a desirable requirement, as it was a few years ago. The higher and further education communities and the research communities now require high availability and reliable network services to conduct their work. A diverse group of education and research users of JANET, who work in institutions with varied missions and strategic plans have many differing requirements. This environment dictates that the development and implementation of JANET services is carried out in collaboration with JANET users, whilst having an understanding of the driving strategies.
The talk will give some examples of the policies and strategies of the funding bodies that fund the JANET network and will show how the development of JANET services is influenced by them. The mapping of high level strategies and objectives on to the development, implementation and operation of supporting infrastructures is not always apparent when working at a practical level. However, funding is driven by the requirement to execute strategic plans and to meet high level objectives. It is therefore important that network development programmes and network services are aligned and funded to serve the missions of the funding organisations and to achieve the underlying high level objectives of those organisations.
Network managers, responsible for the development of campus networks in institutions, will need to consider institutional, regional and national strategies when shaping and developing the network services within their institutions. International, national and regional network service developments will also need to be taken into account when designing and implementing campus networks. Some of the developments being conducted by JANET(UK) as a result of the setting of strategic goals and objectives will be outlined in the talk. Examples of some of the issues that will affect the development of campus networks will also be given.
Robin G. Arak
Chief Executive, JANET(UK)
