As convergence becomes a more commonplace reality, organisations seek to maximise their investment in their data networks to derive extra benefits and services. The integration of audio and video with data presents a new challenge, with streaming media, unified messaging, IP telephony and videoconferencing applications in the fore.
These new applications will increase your bandwidth requirements; multiply the storage costs and stretch support beyond all recognition. If you intend to take your network down the route to convergence, you need a plan. You need to carefully keep your organisationŐs needs in sight to maximize your return on investment as well as support the objectives for teaching and research as they develop and grow.
Brunel University embarked on major redesign and reworking of its network about 2 years ago with these very principals in mind. The objective of this presentation is to give a brief technical overview of how this ideal is being turned into reality. Provide practical ideas and suggestions how to go about fulfilling these requirements. A brief look at the new technologies and services that have been deployed and how the network strategy fits in with the bigger picture of what is being designed and built for the future.
