Connectivity Providers Database

From: "Abdulaziz H. Al-Zoman" <zoman@kacst.edu.sa> To: sghuter@nsrc.org (Steven Huter) CC: zoman@kacst.edu.sa Date: Sat, 7 Dec 1996 09:54:24 +0300 (GMT) Good day Steven, Computer Networks in Saudi Arabia country status report Dr. Abdulaziz H. Al-Zoman 9/3/1996 One of the main goals of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is to assist science and educational communities in Saudi Arabia by funding projects and providing tools that aid scientific researches. GULFNET (BITNET-based network) has been a valuable tool for academic users since its establishment in 1985. KACST played a major role in the establishment of GULFNET. It acts as the main node and provides funds for the international communication link to BITNET. Current Computer Networks: ------------------------- GULFNET is a computer network which links the academic and research institutes in the Arabian Gulf States. There are currently twelve members primarily in Saudi Arabia. The main objective of GULFNET is to provide an electronic information exchange medium for the research community in the region. Its membership is open to non-commercial organizations. In addition to email, GULFNET enables users to access services available at KACST such as the National Bibliographical Databases. Also, users in most GULFNET nodes are able to access library services at some nodes such as King Saud University (KSU), King Fahad University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), and King Abdulaziz University (KAAU). In 1987, GULFNET was linked to BITNET by connecting KACST to George Washington University in the USA. This gave greater value to GULFNET by making useful BITNET services available to the users of GULFNET. These services include list servers that provide means for creating forums for discussion and information sharing in a given topic. In addition, since BITNET has many gateways to other major computer networks such as Internet, users can exchange email messages with millions of other users world-wide. As many sites are switching from BITNET to Internet, GULFNET nodes are motivated to follow the same stream. However, because of many reasons including the lack of a proper communications infrastructure and the shortage of skills in Internet technology in the region, its expected that GULFNET will remain BITNET-based in the near future. If BITNET ceases, GULFNET can survive by connecting to Internet through a gateway to provide email services. Future Computer Networks: ------------------------ To take advantage of vast resources of Internet, KACST with other academic institutions in Saudi Arabia are taking the lead to introduce Internet to the local community through an Internet pilot project. SaudiNet is the proposed name of the on-going IP network in Saudi Arabia. The main goal of the project is to provide the basis for SaudiNet by identifying the local technical requirements and other resources needed for a local internet. In addition, it aims at establishing a local infrastructure, and then linking its infrastructure to Internet. The experience gained in this project will guide the overall planning, design, and implementation of SaudiNet. In the pilot project, three sites will be linked: KACST, KSU, and KFUPM. Then, these sites will be linked to the Internet by linking KACST to King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) which has been connected to the Internet since 1994. KFSHRC has a T1 (1.544 Mbps) satellite link provided as part of the Saudi American University Project for tele-medicine with a 128 Kbps allocated for the Internet connection. Since the local PTT does not provide high speed lines beyond 9.6 Kbps, KACST has installed T1 microwave links between the pilot projectbs sites in Riyadh. KACST campus network: -------------------- There is a number of departmental (10BaseT) LANs interconnected using fiber optic cables. There is a plane to install a backbone connecting these LANs. Currently, MS Windows for Work Group 3.1, Win 95, Novell 3.1, and TCP/IP applications are used. Development needs ----------------- o National telecommunication infrastructure that will support data exchange at very high speed (T1~T3). o Multiple international links (with speed at least T1) to countries that are connected to Internet. o Equipment to provide or host some national-wide Internet services, e.g., DNS, USENET, Archive servers, Web servers. o Security tools, e.g., firewalls. o Expertise in - TCP/IP networking. - UNIX administration. - Security systems. o Users awareness generally in computer networking and particularly in Internet. Available Equipment at KACST: ----------------------------- . DEC alpha 3000 . Sun Ultra 1 . Microwave modems + DSU/CSUs . CISCO routers -- Abdulaziz Al-Zoman PS: Currently we are working in moving email traffic from Bitnet connection to Internet for all GULFNET nodes. Therfore, the load of the network is changing frequently. Later, I will send you some load statistics. Abdulaziz H. Al-Zoman, _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ NCN, KACST, P.O.Box 6086 _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ Tel: +966-1-481-3208, _/_/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Fax: +966-1-481-3254, ........................................ email: zoman@kacst.edu.sa