Getting started with Internet2

The specifics of each of these components varies, depending on the district’s relationship to TIES, its Internet service provider (ISP) and its location. These are detailed below, along with a discussion of videoconferencing protocols and quality of service issues.

TIES MEMBER AND NONMEMBER TWIN CITIES METROPOLITAN DISTRICTS
With TIES as their ISP
Connectivity	Equipment	Affiliation
Upgrade bandwidth to TIES. Configure routers per instructions from the University of Minnesota (contact David Farmer).	Install the latest version of Internet browsers and plug-ins on computers that will be used for Internet2. Videoconferencing using Internet protocol requires a Polycom or similar camera and CODEC or desktop video camera and software.	Sign Internet2 K-12 GigaPOP Acceptable Use Policy (available here).
Without TIES as their ISP
Connectivity	Equipment	Affiliation
Upgrade connectivity to include minimum T1 link to the Northern Lights GigaPOP at the University of Minnesota. (This service is available through TIES). Configure routers per instructions from the University of Minnesota (contact David Farmer).	Install the latest version of Internet browsers and plug-ins on computers that will be used for Internet2. Videoconferencing using Internet protocol requires a Polycom or similar camera and CODEC or desktop video camera and software.	Sign Internet2 K-12 GigaPOP Acceptable Use Policy (available here).

DISTRICTS OUTSIDE THE TWIN CITIES AREA
Connectivity	Equipment	Affiliation
Increase Internet bandwidth. Contact the local Minnesota State Colleges and Universities institution or the local campus of the University of Minnesota . Note: Districts connected through a network access translation (NAT) link may encounter problems with interactive video connections using Internet protocol.  Configure routers per instructions from the University of Minnesota (contact David Farmer).	Install the latest version of Internet browsers and plug-ins on computers that will be used for Internet2. Videoconferencing using Internet protocol requires a Polycom or similar camera and CODEC or desktop video camera and software.	Sign Internet2 K-12 GigaPOP Acceptable Use Policy (available here).

Videoconferencing protocols

The biggest advantage of videoconferencing using Internet protocol compared to ISDN is cost. With IP, there are no additional network charges and no charge for making a call. In addition, there is no need to invest in ISDN peripheral equipment.

ISDN does have an advantage over Internet protocol in terms of quality of service. ISDN quality is the same from minute to minute, while IP quality can vary, depending on bandwidth availability. It is possible to get to an ISDN site on IP through a gateway service, but this costs an additional fee along with long-distance charges.

Quality of service issues in TIES network

All TIES customers can reach Internet2 sites for videoconferencing via TIES network. Quality of voice and video service, however, may vary depending on a number of factors.

To get the optimum quality of service, every piece of hardware along the path must “understand” quality of service (QOS) so the high-interest packets of information are treated correctly. Unfortunately, there is no way to ensure that remote sites have QOS-enabled networks.

Having QOS enabled may be an issue for many districts that have a mix of equipment, some of which may not support QOS. Quality of service will not work over a half-duplex link or in a “hubbed” environment, for example.

In addition, districts that connect to TIES via frame relay cannot exceed their committed information rate on the link. For many, videoconferencing via Internet2 over this link would cause a major loss of capability since districts often oversubscribe their links. Districts might also notice that some Internet activities, such as browsing, become slower when Internet2 video sessions are running because these high-priority sessions take precedence. Also, no firewalls, including the PIX, support quality of service.

The video equipment also needs to support QOS. TIES supports H.323 and other video and voice (no ISDN).

Districts may be able to avoid some of these issues, depending on the location of the router on their network. For example, far fewer problems are likely to arise if the equipment sits on the Ethernet port of the district’s edge router rather than deep inside the network because less equipment needs to be configured for quality of service.