Network Laboratory and Demonstration Facility

Network Testbed
ANSPAG has built up a laboratory for both teaching and research in the use of high speed networking technologies such as Ethernet and ATM, and research in the interworking of networks and services. The laboratory is connected to Telstra's "Accelerate ATM" commercial ATM service as well as cable modems from both Telstra and Optus. Early in 1998 the lab will also have a direct ATM connection into AARnet 2, the Australian Academic Research Network allowing video and other types of high speed communications with other universities from Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and others. The research work of ANSPAG has an emphasis on video and audio services, and hence there is a wide range of equipment to support this, including video cameras, UNIX workstations with video I/O, PCs with MPEG decoders, PCs with H.261 compression hardware, and video server computing equipment. The laboratory includes a range of ATM switches, both edge switches and workgroup switches, with interfaces such as E3, OC-3, E1, Ethernet, and 25 Mbit/s UTP. It has has Opnet network simulation software, network monitoring and management software and a range of Ethernet and ATM protocol analyzers.
ISDN Teaching Lab
The Department has built up a laboratory for teaching and research in the area of ISDN networking and advanced telecommunication services. The laboratory presently consists of several Jtec J1000 ISDN Multiplexers (one of which can act as a Virtual Exchange) with basic and primary rate interfaces, analog telephone interfaces, asynchronous data terminal interfaces, and a number of Jtec J1195 Protocol Analyzers (which can simulate an ISDN exchange or ISDN terminal and decode ISDN protocols) that can be used to create different ISDN configurations. The laboratory has access to both Telstra Microlink Basic rate connections, and connections to Monash's ISDN PABX network. A PictureTel PCS100 desktop video conferencing terminal with a basic rate ISDN interface is also available.
Applications Demonstration Facility
A Network Demonstration Facility has recently been constructed to showcase the work of ANSPAG. The group attracts a large number of visitors each year, ranging from senior politicians and overseas delegations, to Open days and School Visits. Industry partners also frequent the facility to catch up on developments in technology or to collaborate on specific projects. The previously cramped facility has now been replaced by a comfortable, spacious area. All of the activities of ANSPAG are on display, from advanced network equipment, to VoD, video-conferencing and digitisation/compression. Feel free contact us and arrange a visit. [ Network Research ] [ Video on Demand ] [ Video Conferencing ]