PeachNet is the communications network of the Georgia University system, founded by the Board of Regents to link 34 public campuses of higher learning in the state. After 7 years, all 34 campuses are linked including the Board of Regents, with some private colleges, some public libraries, some county school systems, and some RESA sites. PeachNet furnishes one connection for each site and then each site is responsible for expanding the connection.
Last year begam a pilot project of 10 public libraries
and will install 54 more public libraries (the headquarters
libraries of the regional public systems in Georgia) in the
coming year. As of 6 months ago, it was estimated that PeachNet serves 54,000 clients (a workstation connected to the net).
Type of network -- TCP/IP protocol
How to connect -- PeachNet connects networks to networks
Office to floor, floor to building, building to campus
network, campus network to PeachNet, PeachNet to SURAnet to
the Internet.
Marketing idea: all connections are based on tree anatomy:
Leaf - Communications disk for PC
Twig - Continuous dialup connection (automatic redial).
Branch - Network to network via PeachNet router, 56K or T1.
(56K will handle 250 terminals, T1 increases 24X)
Limb - A larger branch (method to connect multiple sites)
Price of PeachNet connection (approximated):
Typical 56 K branch - equipment $10,000.
Yearly PAMM - $5855.
As more and more sites become on line, PAMM will decrease as
costs are spread over more clients.
Ideal home connection to PeachNet would be through ISDN, but phone companies have not made this readily available.
Goal of PeachNet is to have a toll-free access connection in each area of Georgia, a problem in a state with over 35 phone companies, some companies serving only one county. Connecting public libraries is a method for PeachNet to serve the Georgia citizens not connected through the academic community. Libraries will provide ID and password for PeachNet access.
New initiative in primary stages - "Ring around Georgia" - provide communication access to any organization, public or private, that needs this service.
New goal of Regents --ONE LIBRARY IN GEORGIA-- all libraries interlinked and full text document delivery available throughout the system.