Cisco Cisco ONS 15454 M2 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP) Guida Informativa
Challenge
Millions of people are familiar with the wonderful museums along the National Mall
in Washington, D.C. But what many people do not realize is that the Smithsonian
Institution is much more than its impressive collections of art and artifacts. It is a major
contributor to research and education that is helping to unlock the mysteries of the
universe, better understand our biodiverse planet, value world cultures, and improve
our understanding of the American experience.
in Washington, D.C. But what many people do not realize is that the Smithsonian
Institution is much more than its impressive collections of art and artifacts. It is a major
contributor to research and education that is helping to unlock the mysteries of the
universe, better understand our biodiverse planet, value world cultures, and improve
our understanding of the American experience.
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and
research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries with more than 137 million
objects, artworks and specimens; the National Zoological Park; and nine research
facilities. In addition, the Institution encompasses 40 other facilities on the East Coast,
from Florida to New York, and 181 affiliate museums across the country.
research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries with more than 137 million
objects, artworks and specimens; the National Zoological Park; and nine research
facilities. In addition, the Institution encompasses 40 other facilities on the East Coast,
from Florida to New York, and 181 affiliate museums across the country.
The Institution’s mission is to increase and disperse knowledge and its vision is to help
shape the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing
resources with the world. Technology plays a major role in helping the Institution fulfill
its mission: from digitizing its collections, to creating interactive web-based learning
experiences for visitors and students, to facilitating its genomic research efforts.
shape the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing
resources with the world. Technology plays a major role in helping the Institution fulfill
its mission: from digitizing its collections, to creating interactive web-based learning
experiences for visitors and students, to facilitating its genomic research efforts.
In 2012, there were more than 30 million visits to Smithsonian museums and the
National Zoo, more than 100 million website visitors, and more than 8 million digitized
records available online. The Zoo’s Panda Cam alone has received more than 1 million
clicks by people watching the new baby panda in action.
National Zoo, more than 100 million website visitors, and more than 8 million digitized
records available online. The Zoo’s Panda Cam alone has received more than 1 million
clicks by people watching the new baby panda in action.
Between museum visitors sending pictures via the Wi-Fi network, 7,000 employees
sharing large files via email, researchers transferring digital images, and Panda Cam
watchers, the Institution’s 1 Gbps Ethernet network was under tremendous strain and
suffering from repeated congestion, at times running at 95 percent capacity.
sharing large files via email, researchers transferring digital images, and Panda Cam
watchers, the Institution’s 1 Gbps Ethernet network was under tremendous strain and
suffering from repeated congestion, at times running at 95 percent capacity.
Meanwhile, other Smithsonian research endeavors required network support as well.
These programs included genomics research (mapping the genomes of the animal and
plant kingdoms), astrophysics, environmental research on the Chesapeake Bay and
the Florida Coast, tropical research in Florida, Air and Space Museum video support
to NASA, and the digitization (2-D and 3-D) of the Smithsonian’s vast collections. As
these programs and their technologies advanced, they required far more bandwidth
than the legacy network could handle.
These programs included genomics research (mapping the genomes of the animal and
plant kingdoms), astrophysics, environmental research on the Chesapeake Bay and
the Florida Coast, tropical research in Florida, Air and Space Museum video support
to NASA, and the digitization (2-D and 3-D) of the Smithsonian’s vast collections. As
these programs and their technologies advanced, they required far more bandwidth
than the legacy network could handle.
“People keep building more and more apps. That’s wonderful, but they aren’t
worth anything if your network can’t handle it,” says Martin Beckman, director of IT
Operations for the Smithsonian Institution. Continually adding leased carrier circuits
to accommodate the growing traffic was expensive and inefficient, so Beckman and
his team began to implement an optical network.
worth anything if your network can’t handle it,” says Martin Beckman, director of IT
Operations for the Smithsonian Institution. Continually adding leased carrier circuits
to accommodate the growing traffic was expensive and inefficient, so Beckman and
his team began to implement an optical network.
Executive Summary
Smithsonian Institution
• Industry: Museum and Research
Institution
• Location: Headquartered in
Washington, D.C.
• Number of Employees: 7,000
CHALLENGE
• Increasing network demands driven
by high-bandwidth applications, such
as video for the baby panda cam at
the national zoo and the digitization of
museum collections
• Increasing need for access to
Smithsonian resources by institutes of
higher learning
• Rising circuit costs, long lead times
for changes, and limited equipment
space and power in 100+ year-old
buildings
NETWORK
SOLUTION
• Cisco Optical Networking System
Multiservice Transport Platform
RESULTS
• New levels of network performance
and reliability, with better than 99.999
percent availability
• Reduced latency from more than
20 milliseconds to less than 20
microseconds, a 1,000-fold
improvement
• Annual savings on circuit charges of
approximately US$100,000 per year
using DWDM and leased fiber paths
that allow the addition of devices and
services as needed
1 © 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
National Institution Improves Network to
Support Visitors and Science
Smithsonian dark fiber optical network connects museums, offices, and
research facilities.
The Panda Cub at the National Zoo