NIHnet Core Services

NIHnet Core Services includes the NIH backbone network that interconnects local area networks (LANs) and the NIH Data Center with the Internet, Internet2, HHS operating divisions, and other government agencies. It manages access between the ICs and between NIH and the outside world. Information carried by NIHnet includes biomedical, clinical, and administrative data. NIHnet is a wide area network (WAN) comprised of a physical infrastructure of cable, optical fiber, routers and switches; network management control systems, servers, and workstations. This infrastructure supports the NIHnet operation; wireless access points; and security control systems, which include firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), content filtering systems, and virus detectors.

NIHnet is the NIH backbone network providing a high-speed, highly-available network infrastructure for NIH and interconnects the LANs of the 27 ICs with each other, with the commodity Internet, Internet2, HHS Operating Divisions, (OPDIVS) and other government agencies. NIHnet connects ICs and LANs collocated on the NIH campus (9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland), numerous off-campus sites located in or close to the National Capital Region and field locations across the U.S. The data and information carried by NIHnet varies widely and includes biomedical, clinical, financial, and administrative data.

In addition to maintaining the connectivity between the LANs of individual ICs, and wide area network (WAN) connectivity, NIHnet has facilities for wireless connectivity, remote access services including dial-up and secure virtual private network (VPN), and includes applications for network management. NIHnet is comprised of a physical infrastructure of cable, optical fiber, routers, switches, network management control systems, servers, and workstations which support the operation and function of NIHnet. NIHnet also includes wireless access points, on-ramp router access and specialized security control systems such as firewalls, gateways, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and content filtering systems for the operation and protection of the network infrastructure.

NIHnet Peering Relationship

NIHnet interconnects with other public, private, and Federal networks. These external networks are called “peers” and the act of interconnecting is called “peering.”

The following is a table of major peer relationships with external networks:

Internet2 (http://www.internet2.edu/network)

The Internet2 Network is the U.S. research and education network that provides members with high-capacity, low-latency connectivity that avoids the congestion of the Internet. The current network, fully redesigned and deployed in 2006 when it replaced Abilene, provides next-generation production services as well as a platform for the development of new networking ideas and protocols. NIHnet customers communicate with Universities, Labs, and other Federal research agencies through this “member-only” network.

HHSnet

A private network interconnecting all HHS Operating Divisions (NIH, FDA, CDC, CMS, IHS, etc.) and special partnering organizations. Data to and from other OPDIVs utilizes HHSnet. NIHnet maintains two fully redundant, fully diverse 1 Gbps connections to the HHSnet backbone.

NIH Consolidated Co-Location Center (NCCS)

Located in a commercial-operated, secure Data Center in Northern Virginia, the NCCS site provides an alternative hosting environment ideal for disaster recovery and active-active hosting sites. NIHnet provides a scalable 2000 Mbps of connectivity to the NCCS from the campus network. In addition, the NCCS is equipped with its own Internet and Internet2 connectivity, with 100% failover to NIHnet’s Internet and Internet2 peers.

NIHnet Network

• Fully redundant Core and Distribution network currently running at 10 gigabits per second (10 Gbps). Downstream links scalable up to 10 Gbps.
• Future capacity includes potential migration to 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps.
• Path diversity for on-campus and off-campus locations, greatly reducing the risk of service impairments and outages.
• Node redundancy
• Scaleable carrier-class hardware infrastructure with regular refresh cycles, minimizing the impact of hardware and technology obsolescence.
• Corse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) technology used to reduce cost of ownership for cable infrastructure, allowing multiple logical networks over one fiber facility. Future dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM).
• Mature change management process which improves successful service delivery
• 24x7 Network Operations Center providing industry-level service assurance through network monitoring and management

Metropolitan Area Network

• Rock Spring/Democracy Cluster
• Parklawn/Fishers Place Cluster
• Executive Blvd Cluster
• Misc Rockville/Gaithersburg Locations
• Washington Hospital Center

Wide Area Network Capacity

Frederick:

• Primary: 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over leased dark fiber
• Secondary: 45 Mbps over commercial leased-line

North Carolina:

• Primary: Two (2) 45 Mbps leased-line services provided by separate telecommunication providers, each serviced from different central office locations in North Carolina and entering the RTP campus from diverse entrance points.
• Future: 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) or 2.5 Gbps wave solution.

Baltimore:

• Triangle of 45 Mbps leased-line services interconnect Baltimore (Bayview campus), Catonsville, and Bethesda.

Poolesville:

• Three 1.5 Mbps bonded leased line connections.

Arizona:

Rocky Mountain Labs:

• Leased-line solution to support FACnet.