workshop@extro.ucc.su.oz.au (Network Workshop, University of Sydney) (10/29/88)
WORKSHOP
ON
AUSTRALIAN ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH
NETWORKING
6 to 9 December 1988
hosted by
The University Computing Service
University of Sydney
AIMS
The major aim of the Network Workshop is to provide a venue
for invited speakers to present working papers, for
attendees to hold discussion sessions, share experiences and
generally promote exchange of ideas on various key issues
related to computer (and other) networking within the
Australian academic and research environment.
As organiser, I hope some Key Issues can be identified
before the workshop begins, that these issues can be
discussed during the workshop and specific concrete
proposals for how to tackle the issues be documented as the
workshop is completed.
The workshop is a continuation of workshops of this type
first hosted by the University of Sydney way back in 1983
and carried through over the last few years by the SPEARNET
Group.
INVITED PARTICIPATION/ATTENDEES
As for past SPEARNET Workshops, a general invitation is
extended to all those organisations and individuals who have
participated in the SPEARNET Workshops in the past.
Unlike past workshops, however, participation has been
requested from groups such as the Australian-Vice-
Chancellors Committee. This presents a unique opportunity
to bring together those at the policy/decision making level
with those at the technical level who are left with the task
of actually implementing network facilities. Given
proposals to establish an Australia-wide Academic and
Research Network, the range of organisations invited to send
attendees has also been widened. Thus attendence is invited
from both the technical and administration/policy-makers of
the following of organisations:
- Australian Universities,
- Australian Colleges of Advanced Education,
- Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee (AVCC),
- Australian Committee of Deputy-Principles (ACDP),
- New Zealand Universities and Colleges,
- CSIRO Division of Information Technology,
- The Australian Common Carriers:
+ Telecom Australia (Research Labs),
+ Telecom Australia (Management),
+ OTC,
+ AUSSAT,
- The Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN),
- Any other members of the SPEARNET Group or past
attendees of the SPEARNET Workshops,
- ACSnet (Sydney University Network - SUN) Software
Designers and Distributors,
- ACSnet Sites within the Academic and Research Arenas,
and
- Possibly a few other selected organisations.
In addition, since issues regarding proposals for a national
network are to be considered, representation from both the
Federal and State Governments (eg Department of Employment,
Education and Training (DEET)) may also be invited to
attend.
Registration forms will be circulated shortly. Places at
the workshop will be limited and so please return these
registration forms as soon as possible.
TOPICS AND KEY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
As for past network workshops, participants are invited to
submit suggestions for topics and key issues to be
considered during the workshop. Obviously THE Topic for
discussion is likely to be proposals to establish an
Australian Academic and Research Network/Backbone. However
this topic probably cannot be considered without other
related topics, such as the current status of various
networking activities within the academic and research
areas, and networking within the major organisations likely
to take part in any national setup. Thus the list of
SUGGESTED topics and issues for consideration currently
stands as:
- Proposals for an Australian Academic and Research
Network including:
+ Bootstrapping from Shoestrings to Megabucks (or
How to Think Big Enough)
+ National Goals for Academic and Research
Networking
+ Physical, Network and Transport Layer Network
Services (getting messages from A to B)
. Australia-wide
. State-wide
. Metropolitan
+ Access to Network Services
+ Procotol Families to be Supported
+ National Addressing and Directory Services
+ National Network Services (above Transport Layer)
. Interactive Sessions,
. Mail
. News
. File Access (by Transfer and Remote Mounting?)
. Non-Computer (FAX, Voice, Voice-Mail, Video?)
+ Overseas Connections
. To near neighbours (eg New Zealand)
. USA, Europe, Asia and Japan
+ Which Organisations Can Connect / Use National
Network
+ Finances (who pays what and how)
+ Management (who manages what services and how)
+ Network Security
- Status Updates/Reports on Current Wide-Area Networking
Activities including:
+ ACSnet
+ SPEARNET
+ PSI Mail
+ Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN)
+ New Zealand Scene
+ The USA Scene and NFSnet
+ European Scene
+ Proposals for a Pacific Basin Internet
- University/College Campus Networking including
+ Status Updates from each site represented
+ Management Issues for University Networks
+ Internal University/College Policies for Network
Development
+ Future Directions
- OSI Standards Update
Intending participants are requested to forward to the
Workshop organiser any other suggestions for general topics
or particular issues to be discussed.
FORMAT FOR NETWORK WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
The emphasis will be on a WORKSHOP rather than CONFERENCE or
SEMINAR.
Thus ALL ATTENDEES should expect to be called on to take
ACTIVE participation in Discussion Sessions and other
activities.
By circulating the topics for discussion (on electronic news
etc) and requesting comments PRIOR to the Workshop, I hope
several Key Issues will be identified. During the Workshop
ideas can be shared on how best to tackle these issues with
a view to generating some written conclusions or position
papers towards the end of the four days spent at the
Workshop. Note that this imples considerable preparation
will be required before Workshop to identify these key
issues an encorporate presentation of working papers and
discussion/panel sessions to consider them.
In terms of general timetabling, the organised Workshop
programme will be run over four days from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
with buffet lunches provided. The first two days will be
aimed at establishing current status of network developments
within the Australian academic and research environment,
addressing general policy issues and setting concrete goals
for the future. The remainder of the Workshop will be aimed
at addressing the Key Issues and commencing the task of
establishing policy, strategic and technical plans to solve
the problems that arise.
The final programme for the Workshop will depend very much
on the nature of working papers offered for presentation and
the Key Issues identified before the Workshop begins.
Please remember that a successful Workshop depends very much
on the level of participation and activity of those
attending.
Throughout the duration of the workshop, access to
electronic mail accounts will be made available to each
participant (to keep in touch with the guys back home).
Also, terminals, personal computers and other facilities
will be provided adjacent to the auditorium venue as a small
on-going demonstration of some of the services currently
available on both a wide-area basis and within the
University of Sydney Information Network.
Of course, it is also hoped that the fine tradition, now
well established at past SPEARNET Workshops, of carrying
discussions on at the various pubs etc after organised hours
will continue! A dinner may also be arranged on the second
evening of the workshop for those wishing to attend.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
Registration costs will be set to cover running costs of the
workshop (ie meals, lecture theatre, etc).
Precise details relating to location of lecture
theatre/auditorium venue, accommodation for attendees from
outside the Sydney metropolitan area, attendee registration,
registration costs will be circulated in the very near
future.
In summary:
- Intending participants are invited to submit topics and
issues for consideration during the Workshop NOW.
- Intending participants are invited to submit working
papers on any of the topics listed above or others of
their own choosing NOW.
- Registration forms for attendees will be circulated
shortly - please return them as quickly as possible.
CONTACT ADDRESS(ES)
The organiser of the Network Workshop is
Mr David Phipps,
and I can be contacted as follows:
Phone: (02)-692-3495
FAX: (02)-660-6557
ACSnet: "workshop@extro.ucc.su.oz"
Post: Mr David C.W. Phipps,
Information Network Manager,
University Computing Service,
University of Sydney,
N.S.W., 2006.
(AUSTRALIA)