FREEnet

A Brief Description

FREEnet (The network For Research, Education and Engineering) - free research network, interconnecting computer networks of research institutes and organizations of Russian Academy of Sciences, universities, colleges, and other research and academic organizations.

FREEnet was founded on July 20, 1991, by the N.D.Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC RAS) at the center of Computer Assistance for Chemical Research (CACR).

FREEnet provides its users with network services for Internet IP and various information services. Presently over 320 research institutes, universities, colleges and other research and academic organizations enjoy FREEnet services.

Objectives

FREEnet is intended to be a backbone infrastructure providing:

open networking services for efficient access to network and information resources located both in Russia and all over the Internet;
reliable network connectivity for research and academic communities inside country as well as to foreign colleagues;
world wide access to science and information potentials of Russian Academy of Sciences, universities and colleges in Russia;
assistance to home fundamental research progress;
assistance to the development and application of modern information technologies for education process.

Management principles

Network Coordination Council (FREEnet NCC), nominated by the FREEnet members, has the overall responsibility for FREEnet general management.

Network operation is based on the Charter approved by FREEnet Coordination Council.

Regional FREEnet branches are administratively independent regional research networks cooperating with each other as peers in accordance with FREEnet Charter principles.

FREEnet Technical Council (FREEnet TC) has the responsibility for the engineering and development of FREEnet. FREEnet TC works out research and development projects and submit them to FREEnet NCC. FREEnet NCC drafts which may affect technical aspects of FREEnet operation must pass technical expertize of FREEnet TC. Network Operation Center (FREEnet NOC) performs daily technical management and operations of the installed FREEnet.

Membership

Any organization from the list below can become FREEnet member:

academy institutes and organizations;
universities, state colleges and high schools;
state research and technical information centers;
non-profit research centers and associations;
computer and information centers of state enterprises and departments;
schools, technical secondary schools and other state academic institutes.

Relations

FREEnet represents Russia in the CEENet (Central and Eastern European Networking Association) in contract with UNICOR Corporation.

FREEnet maintains close contacts with foreign academic and university networks. They are:

NASK - Polish Academy Research Network.
UNIBEL - Belorussian University Network.
El Cat - National Research Network of Kirghizstan
VERDNet - Viet Nam National Research Network. Ministry of Sciece, Technologies and Ecology

Our thanks to Dasha Silaeva ( dasha@netserv2.free.net ) for providing this updated information on the non-commercial Russian network, FREEnet