OVERVIEW
Target audience: Entire McGill community
IT Services manages McGill's network, including wired network jacks of computers on the downtown campus, Macdonald campus, the Gault Estate, and the Montreal Neurological Institute
This article describes activities that are prohibited and violate the Policy on the Responsible Use of McGill Information Technology Resources
The proper usage of the McGill University optical backbone does not allow for the establishment and operation of "networks-behind-networks". In general, users may only connect one computer to one switch port.
Consequently, "hubbing" by any means (an intermediary server, a router, a hub or another switch, etc.) is not allowed. However, in order to accommodate the research, administrative, and teaching needs of the community, exceptions will be made in the following situations:
- Beowulf clusters: These multi-CPU, switched "supercomputers" may be directly connected to the backbone network. Users may choose from a wide range of rates and prices for data products available through IT Services. Staff members who are responsible for the administration of these systems should not abuse this policy by connecting multiple users to the clusters ("hubbing") for the purpose of accessing resources, other than the cluster itself, that reside on the McGill optical backbone or beyond.
- Switches that are used to teach students about networking: It is clear in this case that there must be a "network-behind-network". Note, however, that the monthly tariff for this type of usage will be based on the total number of ports offered to the students and any anticipated expansion of existing laboratories must follow the normal approval path through IT Services and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
- Switches that are used for testing purposes: A system administrator may at times require multiple network connections to test a group of servers or load software onto a group of workstations located in a repair or testing centre. In this and similar circumstances, a hub may be connected to a backbone jack for the short interval of time that is required to perform the testing or repair function and the tariff will be for a single jack.
- Particular circumstances: Individuals or groups who feel that in their particular cases this administrative interpretation of the optical backbone usage policy interferes with their administrative, teaching, and/or research needs may apply to the Network Infrastructure Group for an exemption. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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