KanREN Network
About the Network
KanREN operates a backbone network that provides connectivity between its member sites, access to the commodity Internet, and to Internet 2 for qualifying member institutions. KanREN has fully deployed advanced networking technologies such as IPv4 Multicast and IPv6 Unicast, placing the KanREN backbone far ahead of other networks of its type. In fact, at the time of this writing, KanREN is the only wide-area backbone in Kansas with these advanced technologies.
The backbone is comprised of six distribution nodes and a single core node. The distribution nodes are located at the KanREN Network Operations Center in Lawrence, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Fort Hays State University, The University of Kansas Medical Center, and Wichita State University. Each distribution node connects back to the core over GigE links provisioned on redundant SONET ring networks. The high-performance core node is capable of handling an aggregate throughput of 20Gbps. Below is a network map depicting the network:
Current telecommunication regulations do not allow many types of connections from several circuit providers to cross LATA (Local Access Tariff Area) boundaries except in certain special cases. KanREN ensures that at least one distribution node lies in each LATA to ensure maximum value in connection types we can offer our members.
KanREN makes every effort to provide superior commodity Internet access with little to no oversubscription. When members purchase more commodity Internet access, KanREN purchases more -- and from multiple suppliers to keep the data flowing. If one of our connections fails, traffic can be re-routed through another supplier. In many cases a re-route occurs automatically with no noticeable loss of connectivity. KanREN currently purchases commodity Internet service from SBIS and the Great Plains Network. SBIS provides primary service to the southern LATA (roughly equivalent to the 316 and 620 area codes) and GPN provides primary service to the northern LATAs (roughly the 913 and 785 areas).
Most KanREN members connect to distribution nodes with FrameRelay, IMA, or Point-to-Point T1 circuits from well-known suppliers such as SBC and AT&T. We also work with newer providers like COX Communications to provide faster, more cost-effective last-mile solutions such as wide-area Ethernet. KanREN leverages all available technology to find the best possible solutions for members' needs.