Overview: Network Services for Alberta educational, business incubation and not- for- profit

Transcription

1 Overview: Network Services for Alberta educational, business incubation and not- for- profit institutions Network services for the Alberta not- for- profit, business incubation and education sectors have been coordinated to increase efficiency and innovation in these industries based on advanced internet infrastructure. The services are offered by Cybera, Alberta s not- for- profit advanced information technology agency. Cybera operates a high- bandwidth, high- speed network called CyberaNet. Applicable institutions are able to join Cybera, and connect to CyberaNet, to receive: Greater bandwidth for integrating new online tools, such as virtual classrooms and distance collaboration projects; High- bandwidth access to materials such as videos; Group rates for commercial internet services; Direct internet connection to major websites, removing between 40 to 65 percent of data use from commercial traffic. As a Cybera member, your institution may be able to take part in these network services.

2 2 Peering Service About this service Through direct connections with the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), the Toronto Internet Exchange (Torix) and the New York International Internet Exchange (NYIIX), Cybera offers members a direct internet connection to major internet destinations such as Google, YouTube and Facebook. A full list of peered sites can be viewed at projects/peering/peering- list. When Cybera members sign up for the Peering Service, their internet traffic to these sites is split from their other commercial internet traffic. These direct connections mean that content will load faster, even during peak times. For general information on the Peering Service, visit: projects/peering. Member benefits The Peering Service can reduce data costs for members between 40 to 65 percent by directly connecting with heavily visited internet sites. Analysis of school data traffic shows that visits to the major sites included in the Peering Service account for over 50 percent of the average school s internet traffic. Membership requirements The Peering Service is exclusively available to educational and not- for- profit organizations in Alberta that are members of Cybera. Technical requirements for consideration by a prospective member s network staff 1) A physical network connection to CyberaNet or the Alberta SuperNet is required. 2) The member institution needs its own public IP address (Class C minimum). 3) When the Peering Service is set up with the required routing system, the member will be connected to both CyberaNet as well as their commercial Internet Service Provider. This will require the Internet Service Provider to be set up for multi- homing. Cybera will provide the documentation required for this set up. This does not apply to members who are in the Internet Buying Group. 4) Once the physical connection is set up, the connection is finalized and tested. Cybera is able to provide technical advice and assistance for all organizations interested in the Peering Service.

3 3 Internet Buying Group About this service Cybera operates a transit exchange in Calgary, which allows it to aggregate connected members internet traffic and pass it directly to an Internet Service Provider. By aggregating traffic from multiple institutions, Cybera can secure more competitive pricing for internet services for its members. The purpose of this service is to increase efficiency for the public and not- for- profit sector in Alberta. Cybera purchases internet bandwidth on behalf of the members in the Internet Buying Group. The Internet Service Provider that provides the bandwidth is selected through a Request for Proposals. The lowest two bidders are awarded the contract (two providers are chosen to ensure redundant internet access). The Internet Buying Group is a month- to- month service, with no long- term contract or commitment. All members of the group pay the same rate per megabit of bandwidth. Membership requirements Access to the Internet Buying Group is exclusively available to educational and not- for- profit organizations in Alberta that are members of Cybera. Benefits The buying group allows Cybera members to achieve a lower rate for internet services by purchasing as part of a collective. Members will receive monthly invoices for the bandwidth they purchase. The monthly cost is $12 per megabit per second. These prices may be reduced as the size of the Internet Buying Group increases. Technical requirements and set up 1) A physical network connection to CyberaNet or the Alberta SuperNet is required. 2) When members join the Internet Buying Group, they will enter into a monthly payment arrangement for their share of the bandwidth purchased from the Internet Service Provider through the Internet Buying Group, with the ability to alter their capped bandwidth amounts month to month, as required. 3) Once the physical connection and contract are in place, Cybera will work with members to test and monitor the connection.

4 4 Frequently Asked Questions What is the Internet Buying Group? What is Peering Service? My Internet Service Provider also offers a Peering Service what is the difference? Is Cybera an Internet Service Provider (ISP)? Can I sign up for either the Peering Service or the Internet Buying Group, or are they a bundled package? What are the steps involved in signing up for Internet Buying Group or Peering Service? How long does it take to get set up? What equipment will I need? Do I need a router? If I am currently in a contract agreement with an Internet Service Provider, should I still become a member? What is the duration of the Internet Buying Group contract agreement? How much does it cost to become a Cybera member? How are membership fees levied? What is the Internet Buying Group? The Internet Buying Group is a collective. Members of the collective are members of Cybera, Alberta s not- for- profit organization responsible for the advanced computing and networking foundation for innovation in the province. Cybera acts as an internet traffic aggregator for the Internet Buying Group, which is open only to Alberta public sector and not- for- profit organizations, including K- 12 school districts and postsecondary institutions. By aggregating traffic from multiple institutions, Cybera is able to leverage the increased buying power and get better pricing for the participating members. What is the Peering Service? Through direct connections with the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), the Toronto Internet Exchange (Torix) and the New York International Internet Exchange (NYIIX), Cybera offers members a direct internet connection to major providers of content, such as Google, YouTube and FaceBook. A full list of peered sites is here ( projects/peering/peering- list). When Cybera members sign up for the Peering Service, their internet traffic to these sites is split from their other commercial internet traffic. This reduces the volume of commercial traffic for members. Testing has shown that commercial internet traffic for early phase adopters of the Peering Service has been reduced by 40 to 65 percent by directly connecting with the heavily visited internet sites mentioned above. My Internet Service Provider also offers a Peering Service what is the difference? The Peering Service offered by your Internet Service Provider is the same service as that offered to Cybera members. The only difference is that there is no charge to Cybera members for this service, because they are publicly funded institutions. There is still a membership fee for Cybera. The purpose of the Cybera membership structure and fee is to increase efficiency for the public sector, as a foundation for innovation.

5 5 Is Cybera an Internet Service Provider (ISP)? No, Cybera is not an Internet Service Provider, and never will be. Cybera is a not- for- profit organization that works to spur and support innovation, for the economic benefit of Alberta, through the use of cyberinfrastructure. Cybera acts as a traffic aggregator for public sector organizations. By aggregating traffic from multiple institutions, Cybera is able to leverage the increased buying power and create efficiencies in this sector of society. The internet is now considered an essential foundation for innovation, and that is what Cybera is mandated to protect and foster. Can I sign up for either the Peering Service or the Internet Buying Group, or are they a bundled package? You can sign up to receive only the Peering Service. It is available at no additional costs to educational not- for- profit Cybera members in Alberta. If you join the Internet Buying Group, you are also automatically signed up for the Peering Service. As a member of the Internet Buying Group, all of your internet traffic is sent to Cybera, who will split it into peered traffic and commercial internet. Therefore, if you are part of the Internet Buying Group, you will also receive the Peering Service provided to Cybera members. What are the steps involved in joining the Internet Buying Group or Peering Service? The first step is to talk to one of Cybera s Project Managers. Your network technicians will be asked to complete a technical questionnaire so Cybera can assess your current configuration and determine what needs to be done to get your school district or division set up. Then, a meeting will be arranged with our technical team. The technicians will direct the process from that point onward. These services do not normally require the purchasing of any special equipment, as most school districts and post- secondaries have an appropriate router in place. How long does it take to get set up? Getting set up for the Peering Service or the Internet Buying Group takes approximately 8 to 10 weeks. What equipment will I need? To join the Internet Buying Group, you will most likely not need any additional equipment. Instead of connecting to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you will connect to Cybera, who will in turn split your traffic and direct the commercial portion of your traffic to the ISP. To connect to the Peering Service, you must have a router in place that is capable of splitting your internet traffic between commercial internet and the Peering Service. If you sign up for the Internet Buying Group, you do not need this router because all internet traffic will be directed to Cybera, which then diverts your traffic appropriately. Do I need a router? For Internet Buying Group you do not need a router. If you wish to only sign up for the Peering Service, you will require a router. There are a number of routers on the market that are compatible with this service and our technical team can help you with equipment selection.

6 6 If I am currently in a contract agreement with an Internet Service Provider, should I still become a Cybera member? The answer to this question depends on a number of factors and merits a discussion with a Cybera project manager. Cybera is a neutral organization and can offer unbiased expert advice on how to optimize the efficiency of your internet access. There may be no financial advantage to joining Cybera, depending on the details of your contract with your current Internet Service Provider. However, Cybera has identified the opportunity for greater efficiencies for most public sector institutions, following an analysis of the rates and services offered to public sector institutions in Alberta. You may be able to decrease the amount of bandwidth you purchase from your ISP or obtain a more competitive agreement. There may be non- financial reasons to join Cybera, such as access to the research and education network, called CyberaNet, as well as to expertise in emerging areas such as cloud computing and big data. Cybera is a collective that acts in the interest of the public and not- for- profit sectors in Alberta to ensure there is a healthy technical foundation and environment for innovation. What is the duration of the Internet Buying Group contract agreement? The duration of the contract agreement is one month. You can change the amount of bandwidth that you want to subscribe to each month. How much does it cost to become a Cybera member? There are five membership organization categories and corresponding annual membership fees: Type of Membership Type of Organization Annual Membership Fees Full membership (Class A) Associate membership (Class B) Universities with a significant research focus Organizations that are connected to CyberaNet with 501 or more FTE students or employees Organizations that are connected to CyberaNet with fewer than 500 FTE students or employees Organizations that are not connected to CyberaNet with 501 or more FTE students or employees Non- connected organizations with fewer than 500 FTE students or employees $30,000 $3,500 plus $0.50 per student/employee (whichever is greater) to a maximum of $20,000 $1,000 plus $0.50 per student or employee (whichever is greater) $3,500 $500 How are membership fees levied? Cybera is funded by a grant from Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education, and membership fees. Cybera s members receive an annual membership invoice in March or April of each year. Members in the Internet Buying Group also receive a monthly invoice that reflects their portion of the group buy.

7 7 Network Services Onboarding Checklist (Average time to connect is approximately 8-10 weeks. Green text represents tasks for the organization.) Step Task Who Peering Service Buying Group 1 Initial interest expressed. Phone call or meeting set up to discuss needs and options Cybera X X 2 Send invitation letter and information package for review Cybera X X 3 Fill in technical networking form Potential member X X 4 Arrange face- to- face or video conference meeting to discuss membership details, options and technical details Cybera X X 5 Purchase Router New member X 6 If decision is made to join, membership status initiated. Contract letter, invoice, and technical package sent. Cybera X X 7 Invoice paid, membership confirmed New member X X 8 Add member to web site, mailing lists and social media Cybera X X 9 Obtain an ASN number from ARIN New member X 10 Obtain pubic IP address (class C minimum) 11 Generate map assigning IPs Cybera X X 12 Request SuperNet VPN New member X X 13 Contact Axia to connect client VPN Cybera X X 14 Meet to instruct member on required changes to the Axia routing changes Cybera X 15 Meet to instruct member on required changes to Axia and Cybera & New ISP member X 16 Schedule Connection Day with Cybera, Axia New member X 17 Schedule Connection Day with Cybera, Axia and ISP X 18 Configure router and Internet Routing Registry Cybera X X 19 Connection Day Cybera assists Member X X 20 Add connection to Cybera Portal Cybera X X 21 Send completion Cybera X X 22 Monthly invoices Cybera X 23 Annual Membership Cybera X X 24 Add annual Cybera Summit and AGM (every October) to calendar All X X

8 8 Contact Information Please contact one of the Project Managers below: May Lynn Lee David Chan Cybera Suite ST NW Calgary, AB T2L 2A6 (403)