UB's Role In Advancing Internet Technologies Made Possible Through Equipment Donation

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo is partnering with academic institutions across the country to take the lead in developing the next generation of Internet technology, a national project receiving widespread support from industry partners and the federal government.

To support UB's efforts, Bay Networks, a Nortel Networks line of business and leader in the world-wide networking market, has donated Internet network equipment to the university.

The equipment, valued at nearly $90,000, enables the university to participate in Internet2, a national consortium working to perfect a new generation of Internet applications. UB is among more than 100 research universities participating in the project, which is spearheaded by the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development.

"By creating and sustaining a leading-edge network for the national research community, Internet2 is enabling the Internet community to develop the necessary tools for scientific research and higher education in the 21st century," said Bill Hawe, chief technology officer at Bay Networks. "This innovation will provide new technologies needed for the ongoing growth of the Internet."

Using cutting-edge network capabilities, UB will be able to communicate with other member institutions. Global teaching, learning and research will be brought to the next level through multimedia applications, such as multicasting, video and voice integration and online collaborative research.

Jerry Bucklaew, network engineer in the UB Office of Computing and Information Technology, explained that the new technologies will "allow faster, better communication between UB and others connected to Internet2. It can dramatically enhance a researcher's ability to collaborate and conduct essential research components. It is the second generation of the Internet."

Internet2 also will serve as a testing ground for future applications. "The project is vital to perfecting new Internet technologies," said Bucklaew. "By promoting experimentation with these communication applications, the bugs will be worked out and they will run more smoothly once transferred to the broader Internet community for the average user."

UB's equipment for the Internet2 project is expected to be installed next spring.

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