SUNYNet Information
SUNYNet Frequestly Asked Questions
What is SUNYNet Technology Services?
How do I order SUNYNet services?
How does AT&T fit into SUNYNet services?
Help me understand all these Cases
I have questions about my AT&T bills. Can you answer them?
How can I use my new SUNYNet line for video conferencing?
What is SUNYNet Technology Services?
SUNYNet Technology Services is part of the Office of Administrative Systems (OAS) within System Administration in Albany, NY. We provide specialized and value-added campus-to-campus networking services to the entire SUNY community on a subscriber basis. Subscribers include State-operated campuses, community colleges, System Administration, and other SUNY entities. Although the term SUNYNet actually refers to the entire suite of services we offer (intranet, Internet and video), to many it still refers mostly to the intranet and the people who staff it. We don't mind that a bit. Providing intranet services is, and will always be, central to our mission.
Intranet: Our primary service is the University's intranet. We provide multi-protocol networking and data links among campuses in support of many University-wide applications.
Internet: We also provide services to assist campuses and program providers with Internet access.
Video: We operate a videoconferencing service with our partners in four parts of New York State.
How do I order a new SUNYNet service?
If you are interested in acquiring a service from SUNYNet you may contact Kevin Stillman in SUNYNet Planning via email or phone (518-443-5748). We will discuss your requirements and determine which service best suites your needs. Once a decision is made we will ask you to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the service. The MOUs are web forms that can be signed electronically.
How does AT&T fit into SUNYNet services?
We use the State Contract with AT&T to provide both intranet (SUNYNet) and Internet (SUNYNet ISP) services, but are not an AT&T reseller. We're a value-added partner providing management services, intranet services, and collegial assistance to augment the AT&T service. Intranet services use special add-ons (VPNs, tunnels and Class of Service) that allow us to use the Internet for SUNY's internal applications--even ones that are not using IP. Customers that receive services from AT&T for intranet or Internet are billed directly by AT&T.
Help me understand all these "Cases."
SUNY has so much variety among its campuses, that one size doesn't fit all. It never did, and we've always had at least three speeds to accommodate differences. But, we one style doesn't fit either. So, like a shoe store, we try to have enough variety of styles and sizes to fit all. It seems to have worked well, but it does make it harder to understand.
We have described each of these 10 cases here on the website at the level of detail that campus network planners would need as they decided what new SUNYNet service to get. We'll try to simplify it a bit here.
The Cases present different ways a campus can handle intranet traffic, which is special-purpose traffic that is internal to SUNY. Some campuses don't have applications that need special handling and just use the Internet and they are called Case 9 or 10, depending on whether they use AT&T. Case 2 & 6 and 3 & 5 are also identical except that one uses AT&T for general Internet and the other selects another ISP. This distinction is noteworthy because response times are best when using the same ISP.
Except for 9 and 10, the Cases provide networking features that are not in the Internet. The Cases offer designed service levels to deal with these issues:
- Is the Internet speed sufficient to carry intranet application? SUNY's intranet applications don't need much bandwidth compared to the Internet, but the Internet can get clogged, especially on the campus access lines. This can slow response times for critical applications.
- Do any networked applications between campuses require a secure network? Sensitive data that is not encrypted by the application cannot be put out over the Internet without encryption. All State-Operated campuses need encryption for mandated State financial applications.
- Do any networked applications between campuses rely on protocols other than IP, the Internet Protocol (network communication language)? Throughout the 1990s, SUNY used DEC and IBM protocols for business and library applications. Today, non-IP usage is rare, but not gone.
- Do we need to control the pathway in both directions? Wherever there are multiple IP networks available to one or both campuses running an application, it can be difficult to control which networks are used. Intranet tools can help.
- Can the campus's Internet and intranet traffic both fit on a single T1? Only a few sites can still do this. Where networking budgets are small, that efficiencies of using one line are highly desirable.
Some applications need to be protected from prying eyes. So we provide encryption. Some need to be quick or highly consistent. So we provide separate channels or prioritization. In the old SUNYNet, this was done with leased lines or frame relay circuits connecting to a SUNY-owned state-wide backbone. SUNYNet uses AT&T's Internet Service and adds encryption, protocol tunneling and Class of Service. The AT&T backbone replaces the old SUNYNet backbone.
Intranet combined with Internet Access with Priority
Cases 1, 2, and 6 put intranet and Internet
traffic on the same service and use Class of Service to give priority to intranet traffic. Intranet traffic is encrypted, tunneled, and
prioritized as necessary. The difference among these three cases is how the campus handles its general Internet access. Case 1 combines it all in
one service. Cases 2 and 6 have additional lines for general Internet access. Case 2 uses AT&T and Case 6 the campus selects another ISP.
Useful for locations that are small and can easily fit both Internet and intranet traffic on the same service OR have a need for intranet access and may want to add some Internet bandwidth to the service to get more value from it.
Dedicated Intranet Service
Cases 3 and 5 put intranet alone and encrypt it or use tunnels as necessary.
Prioritization is not required since the service is not shared with Internet traffic, however Class of Service can be added to place priority
within different intranet applications. Internet access is handled by separate services. In Case 3 the provider is AT&T and in Case 5 the
campus selects another ISP.
Useful for locations that have sufficient Internet access through another service and require intranet access.
Intranet shared with AT&T Internet without Priority
Case 4 puts intranet traffic on an AT&T multiple line Internet service that is also used for general Internet
access. Intranet traffic is encrypted and tunneled as necessary, but prioritization is not possible. This case only applies to locations
that are using an AT&T NxT1 Internet service and would like to put intranet traffic on it. AT&T is not able to add Class of Service to
NxT1 services.
Useful for locations where it is cost prohibitive to obtain a separate intranet service and can take advantage an existing AT&T NxT1 Internet service.
Intranet shared with Internet on non-uniform ISP
Case 7 puts intranet traffic on the location's non-AT&T Internet access but first runs it through a SUNYNet
router on campus to get intranet features of encryption and/or tunneling.
Useful for locations that have a requirement to use the intranet and have sufficient bandwidth to the Internet to support intranet applications at a reasonable performance level.
No SUNYNet services
Cases 9 and 10 put intranet traffic over the Internet without encryption or
tunnels, or there are no intranet applications. Case 9 the campus uses AT&T and in Case 10 the campus selects another ISP.
Customized Services
Case 8 puts intranet traffic over private lines or other customized service.
I have questions about my AT&T bills. Can you answer them?
Understanding AT&T Bills
AT&T services requested through SUNYNet Technology Services are ordered using the New York State Internet Access Contract with AT&T and a generic contract tariff agreement between SUNY and AT&T for local loops that works in conjunction with the State Internet Access Contract. Local Loops used with AT&T Internet Services are NOT being purchased on State Contract. This is an important point for reasons explained here. Since the Internet Access service and Local Loops are not on the same contract, they are billed separately by AT&T. Therefore customers will receive two bills each month, one for Internet Access and one for the Local Loop(s).
Description of Bills
Internet Access Bill
The bill for Internet Access will come from Atlanta, GA and will detail charges for "AT&T Managed Internet Service". The charge will typically be labeled "AT&T MIS w/Mgd Router @ {Service Speed}". This charge lumps together the two amounts that are billed for the Internet Access portion of the service: the port and the managed router. The port is the primary charge for the service and ranges depending on the access speed (1.544MBps... etc). The port charges by speed for AT&T services are listed below. The managed router is the premise router that terminates the service on site and is AT&T's responsibility for maintenance and repair. The managed router charges are also listed below.
| AT&T Internet Access Service Charges Using NYS Contract PS57455 |
|||
| Speed | Port Charge/Mo | Mgd Rtr Charge/Mo | Total Charge/Mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128 Kbps | $145 | $50 | $195 |
| 256 Kbps | $186 | $50 | $236 |
| 384 Kbps | $226 | $50 | $276 |
| 512 Kbps | $267 | $50 | $317 |
| 768 Kbps | $348 | $50 | $398 |
| 1536 Kbps | $445 | $50 | $495 |
| 3 Mbps | $809 | $250 | $1,059 |
| 4.5 Mbps | $1,047 | $250 | $1,297 |
| 6 Mbps | $1,190 | $250 | $1,440 |
| 10 Mbps | $2,793 | $500 | $3,293 |
| 15 Mbps | $3,743 | $500 | $4,243 |
| 20 Mbps | $4,693 | $500 | $5,193 |
| 25 Mbps | $5,662 | $500 | $6,162 |
| 30 Mbps | $6,612 | $500 | $7,112 |
| 35 Mbps | $7,581 | $500 | $8,081 |
| 40 Mbps | $8,531 | $500 | $9,031 |
| DS-3 | $9,500 | $500 | $10,000 |
| OC-3 | $27,500 | $500 | $28,000 |
The New York State AT&T Internet Service Contact can be read at:
http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/purchase/snt/awardnotes/770154395can.pdf
*
Usually the first bill will have a prorated amount that adjusts the monthly charge for the service to the day that it was turned up. These charges will be listed on the bill in a section called "Partial Month Charges prior to {Date}". Subsequent bills will just list the monthly charge based on the rate schedule that matches the service.
If CoS (Class of Service) has been added to a Managed Internet Service and additional $144/mo will appear on the bill. In most cases the charge will appear in the detail that reads "MIS CoS GEA for T1 with Managed Router Option".
AT&T recently changed the format of Internet Access bills. The new format shows undiscounted amounts in the billing details and summarizes the discounts on the last page. For example, charges for a T1 port are $445 and another $50 to lease the router that AT&T uses as the demarc. They charge $144 for CoS. The Total New Charges for this item should be $495 (or possibly a couple of dollars less) or $639 if you have CoS. The details will look alarmingly high until you get to the final page that shows discounts. The port and router are discounted 75%. So the $495 shows initially as $1,970. The CoS is discounted 64% so the $144 shows initially as $225. The first bills will be harder to figure out because they prorate to get it to a billing cycle. Look for the first 30-day charge ("Monthly Charges for period __/__/02 to __/__/02 ") and you would see the $1,970 and $225 undiscounted amounts.
There should never be any installation charges on AT&T MIS bills that use the NYS Contract.
You can direct routine billing questions to AT&T IP Services Customer Care Center at 800-235-7524 prompt 2,1.
Local Loop Bill
The bill for local loops will come from Oakton, VA and are entitled "Interstate Dedicated Private Line Service" on the top of the bill next to the AT&T logo. The bill is typically about 10 pages long because it reports all of the discounts, but the meat of the bill is on the first page. The monthly bill will consist of three charges: The Line Charge, Local Channel Clear Channel Capability Charge, and State/Local Taxes/Surcharges.
The Line Charge will typically range from $170 to $700 for a T1, depending on the location's distance to the AT&T point of presence (POP). The Local Channel Clear Channel Capability Charge is applicable to some regions of New York State and typically is about $25/mo per T1. The State/Local Taxes/Surcharges should NOT include standard state and local taxes, however will include the NY gross receipts tax surcharge. This ranges between $5 and $10 per T1.
If the local loops are being used for a 3MB, 4.5MB, or 6MB service the local loop bill will charge for 2, 3, or 4 T1s, respectively.
Like the Internet Access bill, AT&T will prorate charges for services that were up for a partial billing period. This charge will be indicated on a Prorated Charges/Credits line on the bill.
You can direct routine billing questions to AT&T New York State Customer Care Center at 888-342-5697 prompt 2.
Need More Assistance?
If you are receiving bills from AT&T that do not match the descriptions above or have specific questions, please feel contact SUNYNet Planning, Kevin Stillman at 518-443-5748, to discuss the bills.
How can I use my new SUNYNet line for video conferencing?
If you are interested in using your SUNYNet intranet line for dedicated video conferencing, contact Kevin Stillman in SUNYNet Planning via email or phone (518-443-5748). There are a number of ways to do this and are best discussed over the phone.