On Jan. 30, UF activated its connection to the Internet2 Innovation Platform, a research-based initiative which transfers data at 100 Gigabits-per-second, or 10 times the previous network’s operating speed.
To put it into perspective, transferring a normal student’s hard drive across the network would take moments. However, students won’t use the system. It will be used to transfer large amounts of research data through fiber-optic cables to Jacksonville and three other Internet2 test centers.
The project, according to a news release, cost $2.4 million between National Science Foundation grants and institutional funding.
Erik Deumens, the director of research computing, said the $2.4 million paid for the connection cables, upgrades to campus data centers and a network junction box half the size of a refrigerator.
He said UF requested to be part of the program in its drive to become a top 10 public university, and that having such an advanced network will likely make UF attractive to researchers and prospective students.
Associate electrical and computer engineering professor Andy Li said that after 40 years of the old Internet, the Internet2 is a turning point of fundamental change.
