Project Initiation Document (PO003)
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Network Upgrade Project NUPB/08/04 Project Initiation Document (PO003) Document Control Project Title: Network Upgrade Project Project Manager: John Carroll Date: 11-February-2008 Version Date Author(s) Notes on Revisions 1.0 17/01/08 John Carroll First Issue 2.0 11/02/08 John Carroll Revisions requested by ISG Project Initiation Document 1 of 15 Date printed: 27/07/2009 Network Upgrade Project NUPB/08/04 Table of Contents 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW................................................................................................................... 3 2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................ 3 2.1. TOP 10 METRICS ....................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES ............................................................................................................. 4 3. SCOPE & TIMESCALE OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................. 4 3.1 RELATED PROJECTS .................................................................................................................. 7 3.2 OUT OF SCOPE ......................................................................................................................... 7 4. RISKS, CONSTRAINTS AND ASSUMPTIONS ............................................................................. 8 4.1 RISKS ....................................................................................................................................... 8 4.2 CONSTRAINTS & DEPENDENCIES ................................................................................................ 8 4.3 ASSUMPTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 8 5. RESOURCE FOR THE PROJECT ................................................................................................. 9 5.1 FINANCE ................................................................................................................................... 9 5.2 RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 9 6. MANAGING THE PROJECT ........................................................................................................ 11 6.1 ISSUE CONTROL ...................................................................................................................... 11 6.2 ACTIONS REGISTER ................................................................................................................. 11 6.3 FINANCIAL CONTROL ............................................................................................................... 11 6.4 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................... 12 7. COMMUNICATION PLAN ............................................................................................................ 12 8. PLANNING.................................................................................................................................... 13 9. APPROVAL................................................................................................................................... 14 APPENDIX A: KEY PROJECT RISKS................................................................................................. 15 Project Initiation Document 2 of 15 Date printed: 27/07/2009 Network Upgrade Project NUPB/08/04 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW The University’s current IT and telephone networks were largely installed in the early to mid 1990’s and some parts (such as St Luke’s) were installed even earlier in the 1980’s. The most recent upgrade was the high-speed backbone, which was installed around the time of the millennium. These systems are now outdated and are not capable of supporting the required data and voice transfer throughput, resulting in increasingly poor performance for users. The current network was built up in a piecemeal fashion and there is no real resilience in the system resulting in regular ‘single points of failure’ across the network. In a nutshell, the equipment and cabling are close to being ‘unfit for purpose’. This has been tested and verified through two external audits to the network, cabling and wireless connectivity. If the network is not upgraded, the University will be unable to exploit new technologies and the efficiencies they bring. It will also be prone to increasing failures with a consequent adverse impact on the functioning of the University. There is already a worrying level of dissatisfaction within the University with the poor wireless connectivity and poor telephone service. This project has therefore been proposed to upgrade the network and greatly improve the wired and wireless data and telephony networks. Academic Services recognise that different groups of users have different requirements and will cater for these where possible. The new approach will also allow bespoke solutions to be put in place where reasonable and will also enable closer collaboration with regional institutions via the South West of England Regional Network (SWERN) and nationally via JANET. 2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES The primary objective of the project is to provide an upgraded network, which combines wired, wireless and mobile data and telephony. The upgrade will provide faster network access, wireless network across the Exeter Campuses (Cornwall Campuses are dealt with under a separate project) and greatly improved e-learning capabilities. It will offer increased protection against network damage and provide maximum reliability for the majority of users. The proposed changes will also allow easier integration of new technology and give uninterrupted service wherever required, making hot-desking and working from home easier for the end users. It will also support research and our science strategy. The project objectives will be delivered through four main deliverables: • Upgraded cabling to provide a faster, more resilient backbone which has room for future expansion if required. • Upgraded network switches and routers to provide a faster, more resilient network with multiple-routing options and room for future expansion if required. • Upgraded wireless access to provide for easier campus-wide roaming access and room for future expansion if required. • Upgrade to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephony system to provide a modern, resilient telephony system with room for future expansion if required. The key deliverable from the project will be a fully-documented, wired and wireless, upgraded data and voice network, capable of meeting the known and projected requirements of the University for the next five to seven years from time of implementation. Successful achievement of these objectives should be measurable through ease of use, improved network response times, less network failure and ease of future growth. Project Initiation Document 3 of 15 Date printed: 27/07/2009 Network Upgrade Project NUPB/08/04 2.1. TOP 10 METRICS While the top 10 metrics have not yet been fully defined, it is worth stating that the University is reliant on its IT infrastructure for the delivery of research, learning, teaching and outreach activities; and that this project is a necessary precondition for successful IT. In order to attract and support the best students and staff we have to have to have a strong IT infrastructure at our heart. This investment coupled with a successful implementation is going to be critical to the University achieving a top 10 status. Research activity (research income) and student satisfaction (NSS) are particularly strong examples of the Key Performance Indicators that will be supported by this investment. 2.2 SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES The project will result in the necessary replacement of a large amount of the existing network. All new equipment and materials will be selected against sustainability criteria in their environmental impact for: manufacture, delivery, power consumption and re-usability (suppliers will also be asked to propose industry standard solutions and energy efficient options in all cases). It should not be necessary to replace all the existing cabling, ducting and equipment and, wherever it is of sufficient quality to meet the project objectives, it will be retained and re-used. Our requirements will also specify that the suppliers should buy back, re-cycle and re-use replaced equipment wherever possible. As we will be purchasing a large amount of equipment and cabling, we will, wherever possible, request the minimum number of deliveries to reduce the impact of heavy goods vehicle travel. Finally, we will also request that the suppliers provide the minimum amount of printed documentation. 3. SCOPE & TIMESCALE OF THE PROJECT The project will span the entire Exeter University network from hub to individual desktop or wireless user, covering the Streatham and St Luke’s (including PCMD) Campuses. It will cover all University buildings and residences and will provide secure local access for users. The link between the Streatham and St Luke’s campuses is part of the University Wide Area Network (WAN) and this link is included in the scope of the project. It will also provide remote access for users, via the Internet, using unsecure Web and secure virtual private network (VPN) connections. The network