gogan@samba.acs.unc.edu (Jim Gogan) (07/09/90)
I'd like to get some feedback as to what people feel is an appropriate staff size for a campus-wide data and video communications support structure. Actually what I'm ideally looking for are two items: an "ideal" staff size and what actually exists on other campuses. Our campus' Office of Data and Video Communications (ODVC) is responsible for maintaining, managing, evaluating, supporting, etc. etc. the broadband backbone for the campus (hence, the data AND video communications). These tasks were originally performed by the university's Telecommunications division (a subsidiary of the Physical Plant). Last year, the ODVC was created and housed under the Associate Provost for Information Technology (who also oversees the Academic Computing Services and the Microcomputing Support Center); voice technologies remain with Telecommunications. It is our belief that ODVC will also oversee/maintain the campus fiber backbone (assuming we can ever get funding), as we move from broadband coax to fiber technologies. Aside from the broadband system, ODVC also maintains all central campus communications facilities (dial-in modems, point-to point modems; central campus Gandalf data switch, centrally located terminal servers, etc.); monitors and evaluates traffic on the campuswide Ethernet (on the broadband and within the main academic computing facility); provides consultation and second-level support for departmental LANs, including network trouble- shooting; and evaluates new products in networking hardware and software. In general, the Physical Plant and Telecommunications offices still do much of the physical wiring installation (particularly where new conduit/ducting needs to be installed); but for small departmental or office LAN installations where drop ceilings are available and wire-mold is already in place, we will handle those installations when possible. Given these varieties of tasks, I'd appreciate some feedback as to what size of staff might be expected to provide these services? At present, there are over 50 (closer to 75) departmental LANs that we try to provide "second-level" support for (we try to "insist" that departments have some level of network management/support internally or in collaboration with another department), as well as trying to support their connection to the campus backbone. We anticipate this number to grow dramatically in the next two years. Any guidelines for staffing requirements would be greatly appreciated. -- Jim Gogan (ugogan@unc.bitnet -- or -- gogan@samba.acs.unc.edu) Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Office of Data and Video Communications
romanell@sun.udel.edu (Richard Romanelli) (07/13/90)
At the University of Delaware which has over 20,000 students we have 9 people in our Data Communications group which is under Computing and Network Services. We have an 80 Mbps Proteon Ring with 10 nodes and connected to that many token ring and ethernet departmental Lans. Each department has their own Lan Manager. We are not responsible for video but we often get into voice work and taken care of all DOV. Our group consists of a manager/team leader, 2 senior engineers, 4 engineers and 2 technicians. There never seems to be enough time even with what I feel is a more than adequate staff. I hope this helps. Rich Romanelli Senior Network Engineer University of Delaware