Introduction to "FS-net"
Overview
FS-net is a fast data transport network linking all the upper secondary schools and lifelong education centres in Iceland.
FS-net was developed following a tender offer by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in June 2002 on a fast data transport network for the purpose of creating a modern information highway between educational organisations that could be used for innovations in schooling as well as distance teaching and distance learning.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is the network owner.
Members of the network include all of Iceland's upper secondary schools in addition to lifelong education centres and their branches.
Today, 63 parties are connected to the network: 29 upper secondary schools, 9 lifelong education centres and 25 of their branches.
Technical setup
FS-net is structured as a fast, independent data transport network building on the IP protocol. All upper secondary schools and lifelong education centres are connected to the network with a 100 Mbps link, and then lifelong education centre branches are connected to the network with 2 Mbps links.
The network supports multicast and traffic prioritisation using Quality of Service (QoS) as support for the seamless transport of multimedia material over the network.
FS-net has a 100 Mbps link with Reykjavik Internet Exchange (RIX) for communications with other comparable networks in Iceland, e.g., The Icelandic University Research Network (RH-net).
Introduction of the network
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture entered into a four-year agreement with Skırr hf. (www.skyrr.is) to build up and operate FS-net.
The parties signed an agreement on 9 December 2002. Following this, Skırr entered into an agreement with Iceland Telecom Ltd. to be its subcontractor for introduction of the network, i.e., to install the network hub and links with all of its users.
FS-net is operated as an independent network with Iceland Telecom Ltd.'s IP network, which covers all of Iceland and has MPLS capability, which is required for network segregation and support of QoS and multicast.
FS-net was formally opened on 1 February 2002; it thus took only 56 days from signing of the agreement to get the network up and running.
Daily supervision and operation
Skırr sees to the daily supervision and operation of FS-net.
The company's service desk is open 24 hours a day every day of the year to handle queries, pointers and notices of breakdown and to see that a solution is obtained.
The network offers, among other things, e-mail and proxy services for users; in addition, there is a special system for monitoring the status of the network.
FS-net has its own connection to the Internet.
FS-net's homepage, www.fsnet.is, provides access to various information, including:
- An information database on users
- An event log
- A system for monitoring individual connections that notifies the service desk if the service level of the network is not within standards.
- A summary of the load on user connections and connections with other networks, e.g., the Internet.
All this information is accessible to the users of FS-net.
Further information about FS-net is available from:
Skırr hf.
Magnus Stefansson
IT Manager
Service Solution
Tel: 5695100
magnus@skyrr.is