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One becomes two: Goodbye and auf Wiedersehen c6k-rog…Welcome n7ks!

December 1st, 2021 | by
The RWTH Aachen University network connects around 350 university buildings. Source: Own illustration

Source: Own illustration

Now it’s official: The c6k-rog was finally switched off from the network at the beginning of November 2021 and is now in a well-deserved retirement. The router, which was the main distributor for all institutes of the RWTH Aachen in the city centre for more than 14 years and routed the entire network, will now be replaced by the two new core routers n7k-carl-1 and n7k-sw23-1.

This means that one router has been replaced by two new, more powerful routers, which will guarantee the IT infrastructure at RWTH Aachen University in the future. This changeover was accompanied by the Network Division of the IT Center which operates the communication infrastructures of RWTH Aachen University.

The project for network renewal at RWTH Aachen University, which we already reported on in the update on network renewal, is to be supported, along with many other measures, by the renewal of the core network.

The renewal of the core network infrastructure is intended to ensure the future viability of the data networks and to further increase their performance. The two new core routers, which receive data at distributed locations, analyse it and distribute it to the correct network segments, were already put into operation in 2017. In total, the project to convert the old c6ks to the new n7ks took around three years. RWTH Aachen University’s data network supplies a good 350 university buildings.

What can the new routers do?

The shining jewel: an n7k core router

Source: Own illustration

The new n7k-carl-1 and n7k-sw23-1 core routers have special site redundancy and thus offer considerable protection against possible data network failures. In this way, the facilities remain operational even in the event of a core network router failure. In addition, the many times higher performance is a particular advantage of the new routers. The considerable increases in performance of the core network could be achieved by using high-performance device technology and by switching new fibre optic lines. Thus, the new core routers continue to serve the university’s needs in a future-oriented manner. In the picture you can catch a glimpse of the new router.

Do you have any questions or concerns?

Our IT-ServiceDesk will be happy to help you!

Responsible for the content of this article are Jennifer Grampe, Lina-Louise Kaulbach and Nicole Wießner.

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