As of 11/18/2002, network requests to Texas A&M Computing & Information Services for additional 10 megabit (Mbps) desktop connections will no longer be accepted. Outstanding requests for 10Mbps connections will be filled and existing 10Mbps connections will remain operational, but users are highly encouraged to upgrade to 100Mbps connections. All new installations will be 100Mbps. Requests may be directed to request@tamu.edu or through https://cis.tamu.edu/network/. Any questions regarding the 10Mbps connection policy change may be directed to request@tamu.edu or by contacting Chris Noynaert, Network Installations, 845-8593.Reasons for the termination of the 10Mbps service offering include:
- There has been a substantial drop in price of 100Mbps network switches, enabling CIS to lower the 100Mbps prices. Upgrade cost from 10Mbps to 100Mbps is now $85. Cost for a new 100Mbps desktop connection is $160. As switch prices (hopefully) continue to decline, rates will be adjusted downward. Also, on request, CIS will quote a volume discount price for upgrade of all 10Mbps connections within a building. The discounted price has been made available due to the substantial labor savings associated with doing all the 10Mbps upgrades in a building at one time.
- Shared 10Mbps repeated connections do not have the capability to support the peak network traffic demand generated by current desktop personal computers. Desktop machines today run more than 10-100 times faster than they did when 10Mbps Ethernet was first introduced over two decades ago. The current applications that are run on ordinary desktop machines depend on network data transfers far more than anyone imagined at that time. Not only is 10Mbps one-tenth the raw speed of 100Mbps, but, because the 10Mbps connections operate in a shared environment versus the switched environment of 100Mbps, the effective throughput of the 100Mbps connections is much greater. The closest analogy is a party-line telephone line versus a single-line telephone.
- The 10Mbps shared environment is more vulnerable to individual desktop machines causing problems for the other machines sharing the network. Typical problems in a shared environment are slowdowns and disconnections from network services. 100Mbps switched connections substantially reduce those kind of problems.
- Buildings are now connected to the network backbone at 100Mbps. 100Mbps desktop connections can take advantage of the higher speed capability going to the building. CIS is working on upgrades to Gigabit building connections.
- 100Mbps switched connections will be able to support planned Quality of Service (QOS) features for prioritizing various types of network traffic in order to provide more reliable service for time-sensitive applications such as video and voice. In addition, network access control, as part of the implementation of QOS features, will also significantly improve the security of the network as a whole.