APPLICATION REPORT he University of Cincinnati was founded in 1819 and, for many years, was the second-oldest and second-largest municipal university in the country. Today, the school is one of Ohio’s state universities and has attained national prominence as a major research center. In fact, it is one of only 88 schools classified as a Research 1 University by the Carnegie Foundation. As a proponent of good research, the University both investigated and set in motion a plan to achieve state-of-the-art infrastructure, including the KRONE ® Incorporated TrueNet Structured Cabling System. This emphasis on infrastructure has helped the University’s IT environment gain national recogni- tion. The University of Cincinnati is ranked 32 in Yahoo! Internet Life’s 100 Most Wired Colleges. Accessing Information Technology The University’s plan evolved from the realization that they had to take action to address a growing list of contemporary educational needs. For example: ■ An increasing number of students were using computers in class- rooms, dorms and other areas throughout campus. The University of Cincinnati Chose to Future-Proof its Network with KRONE’S TrueNet ™ C6T ™ Structured Cabling System “Technology is moving toward Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop and we wanted to have an infrastructure solution that would answer our needs not just today, but well into the future.” 1 T APPLICATION REPORT ■ Professors required video and data links to more effectively teach and conduct global research. ■ The demand for distance learning and online administrative services was rapidly expanding. Braunstein Hall Braunstein Hall, one of the earlier buildings to be constructed on the University’s West Campus, was the first structure to be retrofitted with the KRONE ® TrueNet ™ Solution. Both Anixter’s Donna Rosser and KRONE Sales Engineer Tina Carson, were involved with the project from the start. Donna reports that the intent of the project was to upgrade the building’s learning spaces as well as its critical systems and infrastructure components. Selecting a Networking Solution Mark Faulkner and Benny Lovette, who are associated with the University’s Infrastructure Services Department, were responsible for the network selection for Braunstein Hall. “We’ve used KRONE products since 1997,” said Mark Faulkner, the University’s Director for Network & Telecom Operations. “We felt that KRONE products would best accommodate the continual advances and increased speeds. “Then KRONE introduced the TrueNet Structured Cabling System and we were immediately interested. Technology is moving towards Gigabit Ethernet to the desktop and we wanted to have an infrastructure solution that would answer our needs not just today, but well into the future. The TrueNet System met this requirement. In fact, out of all the solutions we looked at, KRONE had an edge in performance.” As most people know, seeing is believing. Lovette, the Operations Manager for Infrastructure Design/Field Services, along with Faulkner, traveled to KRONE’s headquarters facility in Denver to see the TrueNet System undergo active testing. “The simulation of pushing Gigabit Ethernet traffic through their wiring and seeing it happen, being there to see the results ourselves…that won our business,” related Faulkner. “Because of the volumes of parts we required, we also sought and received assurance of KRONE’s long-term commitment to the marketplace, and its ability to deliver product on time.” The TrueNet C6T ™ System “The TrueNet C6T System is a revolutionary structured cabling system designed to support 100BASE-T standards to the desktop and optimized for Gigabit Ethernet,” Anixter’s Donna Rosser explained. “It consists of an integrated system of impedance-matched horizontal cable, patch cords, termination blocks, jacks and patch panels working together as a finely tuned unit.” The University’s TrueNet C6T System is an Anixter Level 7 channel solution that is also Category 6 channel compliant.* The system components include 96-pair (24-port) Ultim8 ™ field assembly kits, patch panels, Ultim8 termination blocks, TruePatch ™ patch cords and C6T horizontal cable. KRONE HighBand ™ RJ45 keystone jacks are used for data and KRONE K600 jacks are used for voice. An Easy Installation The CommTec cabling division of Pomeroy Computer Resources, located in Hebron, Ky., handled the installation of the TrueNet System at Braunstein Hall. Tom Hampton, CommTec Design Engineer and RCDD on the job, explained that, “the Braunstein installation utilized approximately 250,000 ft. of KRONE TrueNet cable with approximately 1,100 drops. There was a MDF closet on the first floor and seven IDF closets utilizing KRONE Ultim8 termination blocks. Hampton added, “The crews reported that the cable installs more quickly and was easier to handle than other products they’ve worked with. Also, there is ‘less kink’ factor in the cable when they pull it.” An Impressive Warranty Michael Gaddes, CommTec’s Vice President of Technical Engineering, has been instrumental in the University of Cincinnati project. He, too, is sold on the TrueNet System. He added, “One thing I do find unique about the KRONE product line is the KRONE warranty. After the installation is complete, KRONE engineers test the network.” Gaddes continued, “I do know other manufacturers will — from time to time — send their own people out to do passive test audits. But I believe that KRONE is the only company that sends an engineer out to test the installed TrueNet network in the active domain — live, right before your eyes.” “They perform the active test and then they certify the system to zero bit errors. That’s a strong point," Gaddes added. There for the Long Run “We demanded a certain performance and KRONE proved that they could deliver it,” Faulkner conceded. “In the end, two additional things helped win us over,” Mark Faulkner explained. “One, we had a very good working relationship with KRONE. And two, we also wanted a turnkey solution — one-stop shopping as far as the vendor is concerned. The fact that KRONE was able to offer everything definitely played a role in our decision.” Recently, another TrueNet installation was completed at Laurence Hall, and several additional TrueNet installations are currently in the works across campus. So, with the help of these TrueNet installations, the university should keep its superior IT status for many years to come. For more information For more information about the KRONE TrueNet System, please call 1-800-775-5766 or visit our Web site at: www.kroneamericas.com. 2 *Draft 9 of SP-33727-AD1 (to become TIA/EIA 568-B.2.1) and compliant with the proposed ISO 11801 Class E requirements. . APPLICATION REPORT he University of Cincinnati was founded in 1819 and, for many years, was the second-oldest and second-largest municipal university. KRONE TrueNet System, please call 1-8 0 0-7 7 5-5 766 or visit our Web site at: www.kroneamericas.com. 2 *Draft 9 of SP-33727-AD1 (to become TIA/EIA 568-B.2.1)