GOVERNMENT

GTANet, Canada's newest education and research network, is being powered by Extreme Networks, Inc.'s solutions, delivering scalable and intelligent bandwidth to allow multiple research institutions to collaborate over multiple, high-speed network connections. GTANet is a dark fiber network recently created to cost-effectively enhance communications and enable the sharing of research for Toronto's leading research and education organizations. With Extreme Networks' BlackDiamond core switching platform serving as the backbone network, data can be passed over GTANet both quickly and reliably, at a rate one hundred times faster than previous systems could support. This enables bandwidth intensive applications, such as IP video and distance learning applications, to be delivered smoothly and easily. The flexible bandwidth of GTANet also connects Canada's largest genomics supercomputer, at the Ontario Center for Genomic Computing (OCGC), located at the Hospital for Sick Children. File transfers can happen in real time, freeing researchers to share research extensively and rapidly move to new project phases. "GTANet is a result of intensive planning, broad cooperation and technological innovation," said Bob Gagne, chair of GTANet Networking. "GTANet set out to deliver higher bandwidth over an advanced IP network but it also recognized the need for redundancy and reliability vital to delivering education and research on a constant, consistent basis. Extreme Networks was an ideal fit for our needs. And now, with GTANet in production across multiple sites, students and scientists can more easily and effectively share information and collaborate on projects. GTANet connects public education, research and healthcare institutions including Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care, The George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology, The Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Humber College Institute of Technology and Applied Learning, Ryerson University, The Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario College of Art & Design, and York University.