IFAS Information Technologies Network Systems
The University of Florida's (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is a source of information for Florida research and education on agriculture, human, and natural resources. Information Technology - Network Services unit supports the physical IFAS Computer Network (ICON) that provides data COMMUNICATIONS and COMPUTATIONAL support to all research, teaching and cooperative extension personnel of the Institute through a statewide network of VAX/ALPHA VMS computers.
This support is extended to 90 off-campus units (67 County Extension Offices and 23 Research Centers) and 44 on-campus units (College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, 22 Departments and 20 Support units). All IFAS faculty, staff and students are eligible for an account on the network of VMS and NT systems providing free services. Currently, more than 4000 accounts are in use.
Computer Network - Information Technology - Network Services unit operates a Wide Area Network (WAN) called the IFAS Computer Network (ICON) that is composed of various size Compaq (Digital Equipment Corporation [DEC]) VAX/VMS and ALPHA/VMS computers as well as ALPHA/NT and Intel/NT servers. The Gainesville ALPHA/VMS cluster functions as the primary node for on-campus computational support and provides all management for communications, maintenance and software upgrade services to a growing number of nodes both on and off campus. The campus cluster is composed of an:
and
ALPHA Server 800 (5/400) with 500MB memory
A total of 70+GB of narrow and wide SCSI disk storage is available for use.
VAXes located at nine off-campus research centers are part of the network and provide distributed processing. Two other off-campus research centers are also connected but without a local central processor. The VAX systems are starting to be upgraded to ALPHA Servers. Other on-campus VAXes are dedicated to specific tasks such as DNS and PC networking. Additional research centers will be connected to the network within the year.
Networking PC/MAC - LANmanager is the primary PC LAN software supported on ICON. Windows-NT servers support a growing number of Windows-95/98 users. A DEC ALPHA 4/233 is the primary domain controller (PDC) for a statewide domain. An ALPHA 4/275 running Windows-NT advanced server system is the primary server. Two distributed Intel PCs act as backup domain controllers (BDC) for on-campus PCs while all the DEC VAX systems located at the eight off-campus sites and four distributed Intel PCs act as the BDCs for remote PCs. More than 1300+ Windows-95/98 clients are networked.
DEC/PATHWORKS was the first PC/MAC LAN software supported by ICON. At one time ICON supported more than 400+ PATHWORKS clients allowing the integration of different types of computers into a complete, shared working environment. The PATHWORKS client technology has been phased out in favor of PATHWORKS server technology that provides LANmanager support on the VAX and ALPHA systems. As users migrate to Windows-95/98 they are brought into the Windows-NT server environment. The 1300+ clients share printers, have direct VAX e-mail access (POP and IMAP), VAX disk services, and VAX file services, and access to a library of CD-ROMS. Also installed are TCP/IP services including TELNET, TN3270 and FTP and NFS support.
Communications - All ALPHA and VAX systems and the network operate 24 hours per day and are accessable through a variety of communications resources. Inter-nodal communications utilize TCP/IP to provide direct Internet access to all IFAS VAX nodes at T1 speeds (FIRN), four private dedicated leased data lines (56 KB) for DECnet and an ISDN link. DECnet functionality will be included over the TCP/IP lines in the future.
On-campus access is obtained utilizing 10/100 ethernet through the campus FDDI/ATM Local Area Network (UFNET). The UF campus operates a 45 MB link to the Internet and is participating in the Internet II project.
RAS dial-in lines are available at each ICON site. In addition, dial-in access is available through various state agencies including FIRN, the Florida Division of Communications and the North East Regional Data Center (NERDC) providing PPP access to the Internet.
The operational philosophy is to provide communications support and interconnection to the wide variety of user equipment. Because of this, many communication protocols are provided to ensure the broadest type of compatible interconnection and service. These protocols and services include DECnet, LAT, LAD, TCP/IP, FTP, SMTP, NFS, POP2, POP3, IMAP, J-net, KERMIT and ethernet.
VMSmail is available for inter- and intra-nodal messages with Internet mailing capabilities imbedded for a simple, single electronic mail system. The MIME standard is included to allow the mailing of text, graphics, sound and video files. A number of VAXmail front-ends provide various types of user interfaces. These programs include PATHWORKS, VMAIL, PCmail, PINE and other client programs that utilize POPmail or IMAP.
Users of the VMS systems have access to a LYNX (WWW) browsers. Also, Internet/Intranet/Extranet WWW servers are available for providing access from outside IFAS to selected IFAS information. Various home pages have been designed, developed and supported including the IFAS Home Page, the AgriGator Home Page, Ag Site Index, EDIS publications server as well as the UF Campus Map sites.
Software - the variety of programs available on the systems are very broad because of the diverse needs of the user community. A menu system is available for use by those not familiar with the operating environment and resources. The system can also be configured to accept normal MS-DOS commands in addition to the usual VMS commands. Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) programs are provided to teach the use of the system.
Agricultural MARKETing information is collected continuously, processed and redistributed as text files, web files or read over the telephone by an automated voice synthesizer. The Florida Automated Weather Network FAWN provides up-to-date weather readings from multiple locations from around the state.
Other functions available are MINITAB and SAS for statistical analysis, compilers (BASIC, FORTRAN, PASCAL, C), automated batch submission and retrieval of jobs for the on-campus IBM 3090-600J supercomputer at the Northeast regional Data Center ( NERDC), electronic request for interlibrary loan, access to the campus library card catalog system, USDA AG-AM, newsletters, news releases, extension and research publications, many utilities, Extension Agents Handbook, Pesticide Control Guides, Forest Information System, bulletin board, available editorial media, Extension directory, several simulation models, ornamental horticulture programs, and more.
