The purpose of the Future State Network is to transform UW–Madison’s networking architecture to meet current and future campus needs. This shift aims to enhance network performance, flexibility and security by introducing the concepts of an Enterprise Network Fabric and a Data Center Fabric. Our vision promotes collaboration and trust among Schools, Colleges, and Divisions (S/C/D), centralizes security policy and improves overall operational efficiency.
Network Services roadmap
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Data Center Network Fabric Discovery
| Activity or Project | Status | Estimated Start Date |
Estimated End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Finalization | In Progress – SEO has provided comments | 1/1/2025 | 4/6/2025 |
| Current DDN extension to support the next gen data center facility | Not Started | 4/1/2025 | 5/1/2025 |
| Planning for new Data Center integration | |||
| Campus Engagement | In Progress – SEO has provided comments | 2/2/2025 | 6/7/2025 |
| Network Services Subject Expert Education | Not Started | 6/1/2025 | 9/1/2025 |
| Pilot campus and data center fabric deployment, with security policy centralization. | Not Started | 10/1/2025 | 12/31/2025 |
| Full-scale fabric deployment, NAC integration, and performance review. | Not Started | 1/3/2026 | 3/31/2026 |
| LAN/WAN Build Out | Not Started | 10/1/2025 | 12/31/2025 |
Data Center Implementation (SEO)
| Activity or Project | Status | Estimated Start Date |
Estimated End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Progress – 16 Buidlings | FP&M Discovery project regarding telecom projects | 1/1/2025 | 12/31/2025 |
Firewall Archeticture Discovery
| Activity or Project | Status | Estimated Start Date |
Estimated End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Case reviewed and finalized | Drafted and will be reviewed by sponsors | 3/1/2025 | 5/31/2025 |
| Project Charter Approval | Not Started | 4/30/2025 | 7/1/2025 |
| Campus Engagement | Not Started | 10/1/2025 | 2/1/2025 |
Telecom of the Future Pilot
| Activity or Project | Status | Estimated Start Date |
Estimated End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Center Implementation | Not Started | 1/1/2026 | 12/31/2026 |
Smart Access
| Activity or Project | Status | Estimated Start Date |
Estimated End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Access colaboration and synergy | Not Started | 4/2/2025 | 12/12/2025 |
Change Management Leader Sessions
| Activity or Project | Status | Estimated Start Date |
Estimated End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Data Center Network Fabric project
UW–Madison requires a robust, reliable and secure network to enable seamless virtual machine (VM) mobility between DoIT-operated data centers. Unfortunately, the current network technology, unfortunately, does not meet our requirements and the disruption of one data center could have a domino effect on the others, resulting in poor reliability or the malfunctioning of all DoIT-operated data centers.
The Data Center Fabric project aims to develop a plan for creating the VM mobility infrastructure that UW–Madison requires to meet current and future business needs. It will modernize network segmentation, augment security, and enhance network and application fault tolerance capabilities.
Key components of the project
- Training program
The technical team will complete a training program covering data center fabric fundamentals, advanced spine-leaf topology and technologies, VXLAN, SDN technologies and network segmentation. - Technology evaluation and selection report
The team will create a detailed evaluation of available data center fabric technologies, with a final recommendation of the selected solution. - Data center network fabric design document (DRAFT)
A design document will be drafted and include architecture diagrams, hardware/software specifications and detailed recommendations for the deployment of the fabric solution. - Prototype implementation and testing report
The team will develop a report which details the successful implementation and testing of a fabric prototype, and include performance validation, fault tolerance testing and scalability results. - Data center network fabric design document (FINAL)
A finalized design document that includes architecture diagrams will be written and include hardware/software specifications and detailed recommendations for the deployment of the fabric solution. - Deployment plan
The team will provide a complete, detailed deployment plan for implementing the data center network fabric across relevant data centers, and include timelines, resource allocation, risk management and phased rollout.
Accomplishments, work and timeline
- Accomplishments
- Developed discovery project charter
- Work in progress
- Kickoff meeting documentation
- Upcoming work
- Finalize Data Center Network Fabric training program
- Timeline
- Kickoff, 5/13/2025
- Deploy training program, summer 2025
2. Telecom Room (TR) of the Future
This project will formally audit a selected sample group of network telecommunication rooms against campus Division 27 standards regarding space, power, HVAC, and backup power. The project will identify TR deficiencies and remediation costs for planning purposes to evaluate and remediate near 1000 TRs on campus.
3. Firewall Architecture Discovery project
This project will maintain compliance with System Policy 1038a, improve network performance, firewall availability, and reliability, and manage risk by standardizing firewall configurations. It is at the project charter creation stage.
4. Campus Network Fabric - Not Started
Current network segmentation has scaling and flexibility limitations and is not ready for Smart Access macro/micro-segmentation requirements. As a result, the team will evaluate more modern and flexible alternative network separation (segmentation) options to improve network segmentation scalability, reliability, flexibility, and programmability while enhancing network performance and security.
The team is discussing business and technical needs, as well as issues, with campus.