A Brief Description
What are the components of ISUnet?
ISUnet is a cohesive collection of heterogeneous network environments and architectures providing a seamless integration of services for faculty, staff, and students at Illinois State University. A variety of hosts, servers, and clients use this network for a large number of applications. This environment allows for the introduction, preservation, and enhancement of electronic services for the entire University community. Although the services, products, and audiences can vary dramatically, all of these systems coexist and often times intercommunicate with each other.
Conceptually, ISUnet can be broken into 5 major components: 1) remote access or dialup which provides access to the residence, 2) public WAN (Wide Area Network) or Internet connectivity to give users access to Internet resources, 3) private WAN to provide remote networks access to campus resources, 4) CAN (Campus Area Network) or network core to provide exchange points between building networks, the WAN, and remote access systems, and 5) LAN (Local Area Network) or building network to provide desktop systems with network access. Each of these components has specific characteristics, services, and limitations. All of these areas are interrelated and combine to form the infrastructure of ISUnet. When expanding or evolving this network, all of these elements must be reviewed and addressed to determine the impact of impending changes in response to growth or other needs.
Telecommunications and Networking • Williams Hall Annex • Campus Box 3500 • Normal, IL 61790-3500
Phone: (309) 438-8731 • Fax: (309) 438-7220 • TTY: (309) 438-2941 • E-mail:
