Daily Bulletin

IST unveils future campus network

"This presentation will describe the technologies that comprise the current and intended campus network and its underlying transmission systems," explains the IST webpage devoted to the topic, and adds the following explanation:

"The UW next-generation network objective is the continuous evolution of a robust high-speed sustainable network infrastructure to serve current and future needs for communication ... within each of the six faculties and the academic-support sector, between those constituencies, with central facilities, with external "communities of commonality", and with the Internet in general.

"The focus of the past 18 months has been on the integration of Ethernet (transmission-layer) switching with IP (network-layer) routing. Since August of 1997, 12 core-class and over 150 workgroup-class Cisco Catalyst switches have been purchased, configured, installed, and are now in production. The workgroup switches service over 3,000 computers in the academic, academic-support, and campus-residence sectors. This has become the "now-generation network". Hundreds of additional workgroup-class switches are still required in order to connect each of the remaining 10,000 computers in the campus network to a port on a switched-Ethernet device.

"Subsequent phases of the project will focus on Ethernet and IP quality-of-service delivery mechanisms, tools for switch-configuration and IP address-assignment administration and network-port user authentication, and IP-based applications involving electronic commerce and IP video and telephony. Migration to Gigabit Ethernet will be pursued where needed; speed beyond that will come from the "optical IP network" technologies now being deployed in leading wide-area networks such as CANARIE's CA*net3."

Lectures for Lent at Renison

"Lent represents a searching time for knowledge and faith in preparation for Easter," explains Patti Carlisle, assistant director of the institute, which plans to offer this schedule of book reviews on Tuesday evenings during Lent:

• February 23 -- Michael Higgins, president designate of St. Jerome's University, will speak on his book, Heretic Blood: The Spiritual Geography of Thomas Merton
• March 2 -- Renison College religious studies professor Darrol Bryant will discuss Mansions of the Spirit by Bishop Michael Ingham
• March 9 -- Renison College English professor Judith Miller will review The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris
• March 16 -- Becoming Human by Jean Vanier will be the subject of a talk by Bishop Morse Robinson
• March 23 -- Renison College religious studies professor Michael Bird and clinical psychologist Susan Hyde will explore "spiritual visions of children's stories from around the world"

Java creates buzz on campus

UW food services director Mark Murdoch has confirmed rumours that Starbucks coffee and yet another Tim Horton's franchise are in the works this year.

Construction will begin March 17 to move the current coffee shop in South Campus Hall into the southwest corner of the Bookstore, where stationery supplies are currently sold. Food services staff will sell Starbucks products in the new incarnation of Double U's, but will not operate as a franchise. Construction is expected to be completed by May 1.

Negotiations are continuing with Tim's to install an outlet in the Modern Languages cafeteria. "We're examining a proposal from Tim's," said Murdoch, who expects a decision on the project by the ides of March. If approved, construction could take place in August. The outlet would be staffed by food services employees.

The two new coffee shops, as well as a Second Cup at St. Jerome's and the two Tims in Davis Centre and Optometry, will make finding a favourite brew only a few short steps away for most folks on campus.

Thinking beyond reading week...

Today is the last day in the winter term to receive a 50 per cent refund on tuition, co-op fees and work report marking. "Full tuition for the winter term will be retained by the University after this date," the registrar's office reports.

Volunteers can help out in the community by serving as library tour guides, Sunday chapel helpers, or work as coat checkers for an Oktoberfest in February celebration tomorrow from 2:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Kitchener City Hall. To learn more, contact the Volunteer Action Centre at 742-8610.

The Re-Fridgee-Eighter 8 km run and 2.5 km fun run takes off on Sunday from Federation Hall and the North Campus road at 10 a.m. Runners can register between 8:15 and 9:45 a.m. on the day of the race, which is organized by the Waterloo 10 km Classic Road Race Inc. "Runners, joggers, walkers and families of all ages and abilities" are welcome. The entry fee for the 8 km is $20, the 2.5 km is $15, and family rates (for three or more) are available.

Guides and Scouts are reminded to think ahead to Thinking Day on Monday, when "everyone in Guiding and Scouting wears their uniform to work and/or to school, not just in Canada but around the world," reports Astra Goodhue in math. UW people involved in Guiding and Scouting plan to mark the occasion of their founder's birthday, Lord (and Lady) Baden-Powell, by posing for a photo at 12:30 p.m. on the steps of the Dana Porter Library (facing Arts Lecture Hall). You can let Goodhue know you'll be part of the event by notifying her at azgoodhu@math.uwaterloo.ca.

A personal note -- from Chris Redmond, editor of the Bulletin

I noted in the Bulletin of January 8 that I was heading off for heart valve surgery. That scheduled operation was completed in the cardiac division of University Hospital, London, on January 19, and I came home five days later to start recovery. A complication followed, which led to an emergency operation February 4 at St. Mary's Hospital, Kitchener. I came home from there February 10.

It appears that everything is now healing as it should, and I'm gaining a little strength each day. It's too early to know when I will be back on campus, but I am now able to check my e-mail regularly and follow the university's news as Barbara Elve is reporting it in my absence. I don't promise that all e-mail will be answered quickly, but it's a pleasure to hear from colleagues and friends. Thank you again.

Barbara Elve
bmelve@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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