JISC

This report is aimed at higher education, although many principles could be applied elsewhere in the education community.

Executive Summary

The Dearing Report recommended that

“… by 2000/01 higher education institutions should ensure that all students have open access to a Networked Desktop Computer, and expect that by 2005/06 all students will be required to have access to their own portable computer.”

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), through the JISC Technology Access Programme (JTAP), commissioned this report into how networks can be built to provide the infrastructure to support portable computers. This report explores network technology, both current and imminent, that can be used to build such a network, and suggests ways in which these might be combined.

This report is aimed at higher education, although many principles could be applied elsewhere in the education community.

This report identifies two distinct modes of networking portable computers, 'itinerant' and 'mobile'. With itinerant computing a user will move from location to location, first disconnecting from the network at the first location, and then reconnecting at the second. With mobile computing a user will move from one network to another, but remain connected at all times. Mobile computing implies wireless networking.
 
It is possible, using currently available technology, to build networks that will allow students to connect at various locations (i.e. Itinerant Computing), but there are compromises that must be made. New developments, in the area of Directory Enabled Networking (DEN), will reduce the need to compromise, and will provide additional advantages for network management. Whilst standards-based DEN equipment is not yet available, there are proprietary network systems that provide similar functionality, so DEN-like networks could be built today.

Mobile computing can be supported by the use of wireless networks and mobile IP. Mobile IP is still in its infancy, so it would probably be unrealistic to plan to build networks for mobile computing in the short to medium term, although these technologies will play an increasingly important role.

The report identifies the need to move towards fully switched networks to provide some level of security. Whilst dynamic network address allocation through DHCP could be used to support itinerancy, Directory Enabled Networking is identified as solving most of the issues relating to SPC networking, while fulfilling virtually all requirements. Ways are identified of connecting students over ISPs, whilst retaining control of authentication at the HEI. Virtual Private Networks are identified as key to this.

To meet the requirements associated with SPCs, and to maintain security and manageability, it will be necessary for networks to be managed by a single authority.  Different Universities will have their own set of unique requirements, so this report investigates general approaches to supporting SPCs, whilst providing some specific examples.

Report available electronically only. Read the final report below.