November 29, 2005 | In
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Under Construction
As most staff have heard by now, ITS employees in ITS Franklin are using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP, pronounced voyp) phones. ITS Telecommunications is working to promote the features and mitigate the concerns associated with the devices.
While traditional telephones use circuit switches to create a direct connection between the two ends of the conversation, these phones route voice chats over the Internet or IP networks. The phones in ITS Franklin actually connect to a data port instead of a normal phone jack.
VoIP phones are quickly taking hold in businesses due to several advantages they offer. VoIP systems are often cheaper than traditional phone plans, they work anywhere Internet access is available and they offer many extras related to Internet messaging and information sharing.
"VoIP phones are the first step in a real-time communications framework being laid by ITS Telecommunications to unify voice, video and instant messaging," said Telecom employee Justin Church. "When completed, this framework will offer VoIP users a number of features, including unified messaging (the ability to receive voice mail as an e-mail), the ability to control how and when calls are received through the use of personalized call processing rules, clickable dialing and advanced directory services."
VoIP phones also present some concerns. One of the largest concerns recently has been the ability to dial 911 using a VoIP phone during an emergency, and the ability of emergency services to detect where the call is coming from. Telecommunications staff assure ITS employees that the ITS Franklin phones are able to connect to emergency services.
"All VoIP phones being deployed at ITS Franklin and other campus locations are capable of dialing 911," said Church. "No VoIP phone is deployed without thorough verification of 911 dialing behavior and confirmation of the location information received by UNC's Department of Public Safety. In addition, any campus location that is solely dependent on VoIP, such as ITS Franklin, has a number of strategically placed regular (analog) phones to provide 911 services in the event of a VoIP outage."
Another issue is the safety of information being communicated over the Internet. Church says that protecting voice-carrying IP packets is a major part of any VoIP security plan. The same technology that makes Web-based credit card transactions safe is used in VoIP to encrypt media, which makes recovering voice from captured packets impossible.
"We are working to incorporate this technology into the developing UNC VoIP architecture in the very near future," Church said. "However, voice traffic currently traverses the campus network unencrypted. Threats to voice traffic are being mitigated by completely isolating voice traffic from other data traffic on the campus network, and access to voice segments is strictly controlled. Furthermore, all voice calls outside the campus VoIP system exit the campus via PSTN gateways, so no voice ever leaves the campus network as IP packets. This reduces the number of potential threats to those found inside the campus."
VoIP phones in ITS Franklin look very similar to the phones ITS staff have already been using. They offer many of the same features as the current phones, but do not interface with them. This means that users of IP phones can forward calls and messages to each other, but not to other campus phones. They cannot 5-digit dial campus numbers, but can 7-digit dial without dialing 9 first.
To smooth the Centrex-VoIP transition, Telecommunications has hosted several training sessions. Information is also available online at http://www.unc.edu/rd/cisco_info.html.--HKC
November 15, 2005 | In
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Under Construction
ITS Franklin passed inspection on Wednesday, Nov. 9, and walkthroughs are now taking place to prepare the building and its furnishings for the staff moving into ITS Franklin this month. Find out who's going when.
The first group will inhabit the building on Nov. 21. This will include staff currently working in Abernethy, Hanes, Peabody, Phillips, Swain and Smith. Others will follow on Nov. 28 (Carr Mill Mall), Dec. 5 (Elliott Road, AOB and Chapel Hill North) and Dec. 12 (Carr Mill Annex). Final preparations have begun, and boxes are being delivered to ITS Franklin staff over the next few weeks. The move company, All American Movers, has suggested that each ITS employee be allotted five boxes for personal items. Additional boxes will be distributed for shared items such as public reference materials and files.--HKC
October 26, 2005 | In
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Sometimes the best way to embrace the future is to celebrate the past. ITS has a history of more than 30 years with the University's facility at 440 West Franklin Street, now called ITS Franklin.
The University purchased and renovated the building in 1974, using it as office space for various business departments, such as the budget and comptroller's offices, travel, purchasing and others. What is now ITS has been there from that beginning; because the business offices needed computers to manage their data and perform tasks, the Administrative Data Processing (ADP) department was also assigned to the site and used computer facilities installed in the building by previous owners. ADP (which expanded beyond the confines of the Franklin Street property) later became Administrative Information Services (AIS), which in turn gave way to ITS.
ITS Franklin now consists of a main building and a storage annex used to house the computer's UPS (uninterruptible power supply) and building infrastructure, such as a standby diesel generator and the HVAC (heating-ventilation-air conditioning) support equipment. What we know as the main building was built in three phases, beginning in 1934 as a small service station with a single gas pump. Customers entered from the Rosemary Street side because the garage was below grade on Franklin Street. Later the site was purchased by the Hospital Savings Association, which added a three-story building with matching brick exterior in 1951 and a third section in 1963. The Hospital Savings Association became Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which used the building as its home office until moving to its new headquarters on Chapel Hill Road.
In 2001, AIS made plans to renovate the historic building, including removing asbestos, ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, enlarging the central computer room, performing minor exterior renovations and replacing the electrical, lighting and air conditioning systems. ITS inherited and modified those plans with its creation in 2004.--Richard Ellington with HKC
October 26, 2005 | In
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Under Construction
ITS Franklin is almost completeĀfurniture is being installed and the parking lot has been paved. The final inspections should be done by Nov. 9. Moves are scheduled to begin on Nov. 14. On Sunday, Oct. 23, the commissioning and functional testing of building systems began. The testing lasted about 5 hours, with only minor issues reported. All issues should be repaired by Nov. 9. The Dell high-performance computer is scheduled to arrive Nov. 1.
ITS Manning is progressing along nicely. The structural steel and fireproofing are complete, as are the concrete slab floors. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing overhead rough-in has started on the second floor. Currently there are no problems with the construction schedule.--Mike Harris
October 11, 2005 | In
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The ITS Franklin opening celebration has been scheduled for Friday, Nov. 4. The afternoon's festivities will begin with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. followed by a reception and open house until 5:00 p.m. After touring the building, ITS staff are invited to gather at the Carolina Brewery for an after party from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Appetizers and soft drinks will be provided, and staff can purchase alternate beverages if desired.
Plan on joining us on Nov. 4 to celebrate this important event for ITS!
More information about the event will be posted in the coming weeks on the move Web site at
http://its.unc.edu/buildings/.--HJC
September 27, 2005 | In
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Under Construction
Contractor Rodgers Hardin hosted a topping-out ceremony at ITS Manning on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The ceremony is an age-old custom that honors the laborers' efforts and expresses wishes for safety and well-being for the future occupants of the building. Topping out often includes a time when builders sign the final beam to reflect their pride in their work.
A fir tree and an American flag are sometimes used. They have varying meanings in the ritual, depending on the participants.
For more on the origins of topping out, see
--LJB
September 27, 2005 | In
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Under Construction
Monday, September 19, marked the first meeting of the ITS Franklin move coordinators, who will serve as points of contact between ITS HR and staff who are moving to the new building in November. John Gallagher, who requested that the AVCs of divisions that are moving choose these coordinators, expects that having one person manage each division's move will smooth the transition.
Division move coordinators will attend weekly meetings over the next couple of months to learn the latest news about the move and to relay staff questions and comments to HR.
Move coordinators, by division:
Academic Computing storage: Jim Gogan
AVCs (Szakal, Knott, Gallagher): Scott McCall
Business Office: Scott McCall
Communications: Joe Morris
Data Management: Nancy Doyle
Enterprise Applications
--Financial Services: Jill Poston
--HR: Steve Seaton, Sally Caulk
--Payroll: Steve Seaton, Sally Caulk
--Physicians & Associates: Laurie McDaniel
--Enterprise Resource Planning: John Gallagher
Infrastructure: Jim Etheridge
Networking: Jim Gogan
Teaching & Learning: Kathy Thomas
User Support & Engagement: David Goode
--HKC
September 13, 2005 | In
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Occupants of ITS Franklin have been determined, at least in broad outline. The groups that will occupy the three floors in the renovated building were revealed at a recent meeting of the Service Managers Council.
On the ground floor, level with Rosemary Street, is space for a networking lab and academic computing storage; ERP staff; Enterprise Applications--Financial Services; and infrastructure and post processing workers.
On the first floor, accessible from Franklin Street, will be groups from computer security, networking, data management, and infrastructure; Enterprise Applications--Physicians and Associates; User Support and Engagement; the ITS Business Office; and work space for three assistant vice chancellors and shared space for the CIO and deputy CIO.
On the second (top) floor, ITS-Teaching and Learning will have some space, along with Web Systems, Knowledge Management, Telecommunications and three groups from Enterprise Applications (Human Resources, Payroll and Financial Services).
AVCs are working with the managers in the affected groups to staff specific work areas. More details about these plans and the impact of the move are being developed. We remain on track for a November move date.--LJB
August 22, 2005 | In
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ITS Franklin Updates
The renovation of the computer rooms and new data centers have been accomplished in a phased approach so that as old spaces are renovated, equipment can be transferred. The incremental transition of old to new allows for gradual moves with limited service interruptions for ITS staff and campus customers. The demolition of the old computer room at Franklin is near completion. Part of the demolition of that space includes the asbestos inspection. When safety requirements have been met and inspections completed, the next phase of the project will begin.
Additionally, carpet and ceiling tiles will be installed in coming weeks in the office work areas as part of the fall move-in deadlines. The new elevator installation is near completion and the tile has been laid in the lobby.
ITS Manning update
Unfortunately, the Web camera at the site was damaged by a tree falling during a storm. A replacement camera is expected later this week.
-- MRB with Mike Harris
August 9, 2005 | In
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Under Construction
"The most exciting construction update is at ITS Manning," Mike Harris reports. "Steel started going up last week, and will be topped out September 15." Mike encourages everyone to check out the
Webcam to see the progress. At ITS Franklin, demolition of the old computer room has started and should be completed by the end of August.
