Controller Area Network (CAN)/
Multi Area Network (MAN)/
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Transport Brick

NIH has migrated from an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) backbone to a Gigabit Ethernet fiber backbone in the Controller Area Network (CAN) environment using GBIC (Gigabit Interface Converter) technology to convert the serial electric signal to serial optical signals, and vice versa.

On a limited basis, Packet over SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)-based transport technology is used in the Multi Area Network (MAN)/Wide Area Network (WAN) environment as provided by service providers. Packet-over-SONET/SDH (POS) enables core routers to send native IP packets directly over SONET/SDH frames.

NIH is considering the future use of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) as a transport mechanism. MPLS is a generic networking technique that combines many of the desirable features of technologies such as ATM and frame relay with the features of IP. MPLS can deliver alternative QoS services for potential voice-over-IP deployment in the future.

• Institutes and Centers (ICs) should seek advice from Center for Information Technology (CIT) on bandwidth and connectivity options to HHSnet.
• Tactical and strategic products were selected to leverage NIH's investment in products that are a proven fit for NIH's known future needs. Leveraging baseline products in the future will minimize the operations, maintenance, support and training costs of new products.
• Some baseline products have been designated retirement and containment. These products are either not as widely or successfully deployed at NIH, or they do not provide as much functionality, value, or Total Cost of Ownership as the selected tactical and strategic products.