M. Makhaniok
Institute of Engineering Cybernetics
Academy of Sciences of Belarus
E-mail: mahaniouk%bas10basnet.belpak.minsk.by@demos.su
The long-term objective of this project is to assist the Republic of Belarus in the development of a modern digital communication network. This will be done in three phases.
Only the first phase is planned by now and described in this document. It aims at setting up a scientific computer network in Minsk region comparable to Western standards. In the second phase the scientific network will be extended in all regional centers of Belarus. In the third phase this basic network will be expanded and opened for commercial use by industry, governmental institutions, etc. Eventually it is envisaged that this network will be extended to transport all type of digital information using technology comparable to ISDN. These two phases are not covered by this proposal. According plans will be developed together with appropriate commercial partners.
Nowadays, scientists in Belarus use the BASNET and UNIBEL networks established by the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus and by the Association of Universities and Research Institutions of Belarus. BASNET is connected via BELPAK and IASnet in Moscow to international networks, e.g., the German DATEX-P. UNIBEL is directly connected with UARNET (Ukranian Academic and Research Network) in Lvov and EUNet/Relcom in Moscow. Currently both networks are based on old-fashioned equipment. It can support only simple protocols (e.g., UUCP) that do not satisfy existing and future requirements. Communication is too slow and too expensive for accessing foreign databases, libraries, direct dialogue, remote job entry, etc. Besides there is up to now no networking infrastructure in the Republic of Belarus. Therefore this project aims at providing scientists of the most important Belarus scientific institutions with computer networking infrastructure including connectivity with European and worldwide networks at a speed high enough for Internet services.
This project has the following general objectives:
The resulting dramatic improvement of the networking infrastructure of the Republic of Belarus will contribute, on the short term, to the integration of Belorussian scientists into the European and worldwide scientific community and, on the long term, to their scientific and technological capacity. About 8,500 scientists of the Academy of Sciences, about 11,300 in institutions within the Ministry of Education and Science, and 3,200 scientists of the Ministry of Public Health will get the opportunity to participate in various international projects sponsored by, e.g., INTAS, COPERNICUS, COST, SOROS, ISF, and NATO.
The project consists of the following three activities.
The access to the international networks and full INTERNET services will be provided. A number of server machines will guarantee reliability as well as support of LANs and databases of the network. The structure of Research and Development Computer Network of the Republic of Belarus will be based on high-speed radiolines to connect 12 institutions combined with existing telephone lines and local computer networks (see Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. Radiolines for high-speed connection between the most significant institutions in Minsk.
In the figure the following notions are used. Institute of Engineering Cybernetics Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1), Computer&Analytic Center of the Ministry of Education and Science (2), Belorussian State University (3), Computing Center of the Academy of Sciences (4), National Library (5), Belorussian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics (6), Belorussian Polytechnic Academy (7), "Academician Campus" (Institutions located out of Minsk) (8), Institute of Nuclear Physics (9), University of Economics (10), Medical Institute (11), University of Pedagogics (12).
The routers will be used to create LANs in the 15 most significant and biggest institutes of the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Education and Science. They will provide high-speed communication between them (10 Mbps). All other institutions (about 50) of the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Ministry of Public Health will first be connected to the server via existing networks, e.g., BASNET, UNIBEL, BELPAK.
The networking hardware and software will provide the following possibilities:
Dr. Mikhail M. Makhaniok Head of Department, Institute of Engineering Cybernetics Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Surganov St., 6, Minsk, SU-220012, Belarus Tel.: +7-0172-395171 FAX: +7-0172-318403 Email: mahaniok%bas10.basnet.minsk.by@demos.su
Dr. Igor A. Tavguen Vice-president of SOROS Foundation-Belarus Prospect F. Scorina 65, Koupus 11A, Minsk, SU-220027, Belarus Tel.: +7-0172-399346 Fax: +7-0172-328092 Email: smedley%sfbel.minsk.by@relay.ussr.eu.net
Prof. Dr. R. Maenner Lehrstuhl fŸr Informatik V, University Mannheim, A5, D-68131 Mannheim, Deutschland Tel.: +49-621-292-5758 Fax: +49-621-292-5756 Email: maenner@mp-sun1.inf.uni-mannheim.de
Mr. H.-M. Adler GeschŠftsstelle des DFN German Research Network (Deutsches Forschungsnetz -DFN) DFN-Verein, Pariser Str. 44, D-10707 Berlin, Deutschland Tel.: +49-30 88 42 99-39 FAX: +49-30 88 42 99-70 Email: adler@dfn.d400.de
The project consists of three stages. In the first one, which should begin autumn 1994, the equipment for the central networking services will be bought, installed, and connected to international networks. It is planned to cooperate with DESY (Dr. H.Frese), COPERNICUS (Dr. W. Wittig) and NATO (Dr. J.-P.Nadreau) telecommunication programs to get support to cover traffic expenses for two years. In the second stage LANs in the major institutions in Minsk will be created that will be connected to the central nodes. Also specialists will be educated to use software and to maintain hardware. During the third stage the Research and Development Computer Network of the Republic of Belarus will be established, e.g., networking environment in all major scientific institutions in Minsk will be created.
STAGES: BEGIN-END REPORTS 1. Selection, procurement 01.10.94 - 01.02.95 Working documentation and installation of equipment. Training of users to work on-line, and development of methodical materials for this purpose. Creation of the central node and its connection to international networks. 2. Development of LANs of 01.02.95 - 01.08.95 Intermediate report institutes in the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Education and Science. Development of on-line operation technology of remote nodes in the local environment. 3. Complete creation of the 01.08.95 - 01.01.96 Final report network. Adaptation of software to local languages. Dissemination of information about international networks and their possibilities. Organization of a Consulting Center on Networking and Software facilities.
Experts of the sponsoring institutions and the contributing partners, e.g., the German Research Network (Deutsches Forschungsnetz Ð DFN), the Polish Academic and Research Network (NASK), UNESCO, the International Science Foundation, the Academy of Sciences, the University of Mannheim, representatives of INTAS and COPERNICUS programs will be able to observe the progress of the project and the results achieved at all stages of the project. The achieved results will be demonstrated in Minsk according to stages 1-3.