1995 -- ResNet begins as a pilot program in Smith House of Watterson Towers. The goal of the program, to test the concept of establishing a high speed Internet connection for students living in the residence halls. 110 rooms were wired with ethernet ports to begin the pilot program. The reasons Smith House is chosen to lead the experiment are simple:
1997 -- ResNet in Smith House is declared a success and plans and installation of ethernet "ResNet" ports in West Campus commences. West Campus is chosen to lead the major development of high speed access due to its distance from the core of campus. This allows Illinois State to test ResNet's ability to handle distance from the core switches and adds benefits for students living in Tri-Towers. The wiring of West Campus provides the potential for an additional 1350 connections.
1997 to 1999 -- South Campus is brought into ResNet's high speed access during these years. Chosen for the year round student population and graduate / upperclassmen housing, the incorporation of ResNet into this area provides an additional 1500 connections, bringing the total to over 1960 available connections.
2000 to 2002 -- Plans and development for bringing East Campus online commence, culminating in the activation of East Campus during the spring semester of 2002. Bringing these two buildings online result in the addition of over 1800 ports, which doubles the size of ResNet to 3760 possible connections.
2002 to 2003 -- With the successful deployment of ResNet's high speed access to Watterson's Smith House, West South, and East Campuses, plans begin for the large scale deployment of ResNet to the Watterson Towers Complex. Wiring this building, with it being one of the largest residence halls ever built, is no small task. However, progress continues and by the spring semester of 2003, ResNet connections are available in every House of Watterson Towers, including the replacement of the now dated equipment in the original Smith House test area. The incorporation of Watterson Towers into ResNet leads to the addition of over 2200 new ports, meaning a total of over 5960 available connections for ResNet.
2003 -- ResNet begins looking at fast Internet options for Central Campus. Due to the condition of the buildings and their uncertain futures, a developing technology called Long Reach Ethernet (LRE) is tested in parts of Dunn Hall during the Spring of 2003.
2004 to current -- During the Fall of 2004 and Spring of 2004 Walker Hall and the test area of Dunn Hall are given access to ResNet LRE. Throughout the Summer of 2004 the rest of Central Campus is wired, granting access to all residents of Walker, Dunn, and Barton Halls. At this point, each residence hall room at Illinois State University has a ResNet connection available for each resident.
For more information about LRE or any other aspect of ResNet please feel free to contact us.
