About Network Services

Network Services is responsible for managing a complex network that spans the Knoxville campus and remote sites scattered around the region.  Network Services' responsibilities include the management of the local UTK network (both wired and wireless), a range of wide area connections, and Internet/Internet2 connectivity.  In addition, the group manages various security devices such as firewalls, VPN (Virtual Private Network) access devices, IPS and IDS devices (Intrusion Prevention/Detection Systems).


Network Connectivity

• Local Area Network (LAN):  At its core, the UTK network supports speeds up to 10 Gbps (gigbits per second).  Buildings are connected with at least 1 Gbps, with some featuring 10 Gbps connections to the core in order to accommodate applications that require very high bandwidth.  Overall, the campus network can support approximately
  

• Wireless Access:  A state of the art wireless network consisting of more than 2,000 wireless access points (APs) spans the entire campus.  A major upgrade to the wireless infrastructure was completed in the summer of 2009.
• Wide Area Network (WAN):  Remote offices are linked to the main campus network using connections ranging from 1.5 to 100 Mbps.  Such locations include offices in Knoxville, Oak Ridge, Nashville, and Agriculture Extension facilities at various locations in Tennessee.
• Internet Connectivity:  Multiple, redundant connections provide the UTK community with access to the Internet at an aggregate speed of more than 1.25 Gbps (fall of 2009).
• Research Network:  Multi-Gbps network connecting UTK to research facilities in ORNL (Kraken supercomputer), Fermi Labs in Chicago, and Internet 2 sites via Southern Crossroads (http://www.sox.net). 
• Internet 2® Connectivity:  UTK is a Sponsored Education Group Participant (SEGP), a program that allows us to sponsor other educational institutions' access to Internet2 resources.

 
Network Security

• Firewalls:  Two core firewalls and a multitude of smaller, department-size firewalls, are deployed and managed by Network Services.
• Secure remote access is facilitated through VPN access devices (appliances) that support both IPSec and SSL/VPN access.
• Intrusion Prevention/Detection Systems (IPS/IDS) are deployed at strategic locations on the network in order to provide an additional layer of security and compliance for the campus community.

The NS team is just one part of the Office of Information Technology.

This site is intended to help answer your questions. If you don't find what you're looking for, please let us know.

How to contact us

Network Services
113 Kingston Pike Building
2309 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-9900
Fax: (865) 974-3531