QUT Network | Service Overview

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QUT has four campuses in and around Brisbane.

• Gardens Point
• Kelvin Grove
• Carseldine
• Margaret Street
• Caboolture

The University has an extensive network infrastructure that interconnects the above campuses for the carriage of voice, video and data traffic. This network also connects QUT to the Internet via the Australian Academic and Research Network AARNet and GrangeNet - Grid and Next GEneration NETwork . These external links consist of two E3 (34Mbps) Microwave links to the Queensland Education, Science and Technology Network QUESTNet via University of Queensland and Griffith University and 1000Mbps directly to GrangeNet.

QUT's Wide Area Network consists of Nortel Networks routers that interconnect within the University and with other institutions using Ethernet, ATM, ISDN and Radio links ranging in capacity from 64 Kbps to 1000 Mbps. The network backbone is also based on Nortel Networks Routers which support Gigabit Ethernet technologies. The Ethernet protocol uses Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tagging to create VLANs, which provide the means for organisational units to function normally across multiple buildings in any of QUT's campuses. Routing of these VLANs is carried out by the backbone routers and Gigabit Ethernet switches to deliver data services to the Faculties and Divisions. Ethernet 10/100 is distributed to the desktop, in most cases via Unshielded Twisted Pair cable (usually Cat 5 or Cat 6 UTP). Gigabit Ethernet is available for high bandwidth requirements.

Virtual Local Area Networks - VLANs

There are multiple staff and student VLANs at each campus. The VLANs are provided by Nortel Networks and Cisco Ethernet switches which are connected to the campus backbone via gigabit or multiple 100Mbps Ethernet links. There are more than 15,000 switch ports in QUT's network and these switch ports are interconnected by category 5 or 6 cabling. The VLANs are mostly populated by XP, Win2000, NT4 and Novell file and print servers, but there are also many Unix servers on each campus.