University of Waterloo Academic Support, ancillary, and residence network management
Purpose
The Campus Network is a fundamental service that provides interconnection between the University’s computing resources, and provides internet service to end users. It is vital that such a resource is properly controlled, maintained and managed.
The purpose of this document is to clearly delineate responsibility for all aspects of the Campus Network in student residences, academic support departments and ancillary departments, while at the same time allowing sufficient flexibility to ensure an efficient service can be delivered to the departments involved.
Definitions:
- Remote Access Facilities: Any facility capable of enabling a network connection with a device or network that is not owned or operated by the University. e.g. dial-in/out systems, VPNs, rented or leased lines, border routers, internet service providers (ISPs).
- Network Components: Includes, but is not limited to: switches, hubs, routers, bridges, firewalls, repeaters, interface converters, patch cables & data cabling, wall sockets, wireless access points, wireless controllers, traffic management systems, network load balancing systems, Remote Access Facilities.
- Residence and Admin Networks: All University (including Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo) controlled Network Components in Student Residences, Academic Support departments, and Ancillary Departments, that are directly or indirectly connected to the external Cogent, ORION, or Hydro One Telecommunications interfaces (or their replacements).
Network management
The University requires that only authorized persons shall manage and maintain the operation of Residence and Admin Networks.
- The Information Systems & Technology (IST) Network Services group (hereinafter referred to as Network Services) is responsible for all activities pertaining to Residence and Admin Networks.
- Network Services will oversee procurement of all Network Components that are to be connected directly or indirectly to Residence and Admin Networks.
- Network Services is responsible for the connection of all Network Components to Residence and Admin Networks. Network Services may, at its discretion, delegate specific activities to End User departments to support their activities as efficiently as possible.
- Network Services is responsible for the configuration and management of all Network Components which constitute the Residence and Admin Networks. Network Services may, at its discretion, devolve some local management (VLAN membership and port speeds etc) to End User departments to support their activities as efficiently as possible.
- Network Services is responsible for the management of all network based protocols (IP addresses, routing tables, DNS, DHCP, OSPF etc) throughout Residence and Admin Networks. Network Services may, at its discretion, devolve some responsibility for address allocation and management to End User departments to support their activities as efficiently as possible.
- Network Services is responsible for managing all aspects of network security, traffic management, traffic prioritisation, authentication and control of access to Residence and Admin Networks. Network Services may, at its discretion, devolve some specific responsibilities for these activities to End User departments to support their activities as efficiently as possible.
- Network Services is responsible for all performance monitoring and measurement exercises of Residence and Admin Networks. Network Services may, at its discretion, devolve some specific responsibilities for these activities to End User departments to support their activities as efficiently as possible.
- Network Services is responsible for the disaster recovery of Residence and Admin Networks.
- Network Services will operate a request tracking facility for the logging of all faults and problems with Residence and Admin Networks. All faults requiring the attention of Network Services must be logged. Network Services will work closely with nominated representatives of End User Departments to support the resolution of problems as efficiently as possible.
- There will be no monitoring or recording of the data content of packets traversing Residence and Admin Networks without the explicit permission of Network Services.
Ownership
- The Director of Network Services has direct responsibility for maintaining this document and providing guidance and advice on its implementation.