Our Partners

In the highly competitive world of telecommunications, stability is the most important factor in considering a service provider. Education Service Center, Region 20 (ESC-20) has selected Time Warner Cable San Antonio as our Internet carrier. Currently, ESC-20 has a 155 Mbs redundant uplink to Time Warner Cable. ESC-20 employs Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing to achieve portability and autonomy. ESC-20 has an Autonomous System Number (ASN) and owns and administers Internet Protocol (IP) address space.

The Time Warner Cable supports the Center with resources to negotiate telecommunications services and rates across service boundaries of local providers, provide a single point of contact for troubleshooting network failures, and guarantee ability to scale capacity to meet bandwidth demand. Operating in the ESC-20 Data Center, the local Time Warner Cable point of presence interfaces directly with the netVision20 hub to provide reliable, high performance Internet access to ESC-20 clients.

The Future

With netVision20, it is possible to centralize shared resources such as videoconference bridging, content delivery, Internet content filtering and monitoring and electronic mail anti-virus and SPAM filtering services. This centralization eases the transition and deployment of emerging network technologies throughout the region to reach each netVision20 member. netVision20 members are connected through proven equipment, protocols, and philosophies to ensure the most reliable and cost-effective service.

Equipment Requirements

The technical reasons for the existence netVision20 are simple, but often overlooked by educators and commercial Internet service providers eager to expand their presence on the Web. netVision20 is about more than Internet access.  It is about efficiency and unity of telecommunications for education.

Instead of connecting to different Internet service providers who often use separate national carriers for paths to the Internet, Region 20 schools can connect to netVision20 and become part of a wide area network (WAN) with a central hub in San Antonio.  netVision20 educators can communicate with each other and many other organizations on the Time Warner Cable San Antonio networks without having to travel an excessive number of "hops" around the state or across the nation.  This centralized architecture is strategic to delivering services beyond Internet access that include videoconferencing, distance learning, online resources and access to the ESC-20 mainframe - offerings not available through most traditional Internet service providers. 

In designing netVision20, ESC-20 has chosen a standard set of equipment, protocols, and other elements to reduce the complexity in deploying and maintaining the wide area network. These choices have also been made with the intention of evolving netVision20 from conventional routing to high speed Ethernet switching as part of the ESC-20's long-term strategy to increase capacity and efficiency. This design also has the flexibility to provide advanced data services and mainframe resources from ESC-20 in the future with minimum changes to the basic equipment required for Internet access.

Identified below are the typical components which must be procured to gain access to netVision20 in its current form. Exact requirements may depend on member location, telecommunications circuit availability and current network configuration.

• Local Area Networks
  ESC-20 recommends each netVision20 clients install or have an existing local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) to connect multiple computers, rooms, buildings, and sites to netVision20. An ideal school district configuration involves a central hub, located at the school district central office or largest school, connecting all sites to a single "pipe" into netVision20. ESC-20 provides a variety of consulting, management, and installation services to assist clients in designing and deploying their networks to meet various objectives.

• Data Circuits
  With the expansion of the World Wide Web and online multimedia has come the need for high-speed access to the Internet. Until recently, this performance came at a high price. Fortunately, legislative mandates and aggressive competition have brought the pricing of telecommunications circuits within reach of educational budgets. ESC-20 currently supports dedicated access to netVision20 through T1 circuits and GigaMAN Circuits taking advantage of House Bill 2128. For connecting to netVision20, clients may acquire circuits from their local Telecommunications Carriers or through the State Department of Information Resource (DIR) contract.

• Routers
  A router is a networking device required to connect an organization’s internal network to the Internet. Each netVision20 client must have a router dedicated solely by netVision20 access, or configured for use as an organizational hub with a port assigned to routing netVision20 traffic.
  
  netVision20 has been redesigned to support Routing and Layer 3 Switching using standard Internet routing protocols. Router selection is dependent on the netVision20 member site size and complexity. Integrated Services Routers (ISRs) are recommended.

• IP Address Allocation
  Registered IP addresses are required for operation on the Internet. To satisfy this requirement, ESC-20 will allocate IP addresses for each netVision20 client.
  
  In any case, each client will be advised to conserve IP addresses by implementing a firewall, network address translation (NAT), or dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). A firewall provides multiple benefits: intruders are blocked, registered IP addresses are conserved, and internal IP addresses can follow the internal network models specified in InterNIC RFC1918.

• Domain Name Server
  For each Internet domain name, InterNIC policy requires domain name service (DNS) to be maintained on a minimum of two servers, each with a unique registered IP address. One server acts as 'primary', while the other acts as 'secondary', or 'backup', to the primary. The InterNIC also recommends these servers be connected to separate LANs at separate locations, but this is not a requirement.
  
  To satisfy DNS needs, ESC-20 will maintain secondary DNS for netVision20 clients with local Internet servers, and will maintain primary and secondary DNS for clients without Internet servers. However, clients with sufficient resources will be encouraged to install and maintain their own servers for increased performance, better distribution of resources, and local management.

ESC-20 Network Services can provide specifications and sources for equipment required to connect to netVision20. netVision20 clients who also participate in the Region 20 Educational Technology Purchasing Co-op may acquire equipment from co-op vendors without having to request bids or proposals from multiple sources.

Security Considerations

netVision20 delivers open access to the Internet, and the inherent nature of the Internet as an open system provides opportunities for users to attempt a number of sinister activities. The threat to an individual organization usually depends on the nature its activities and system administrators are normally advised to implement appropriate systems and procedures to safeguard their computer systems and protect user information from unlawful access. ESC-20 deploys Fortigate and Packeteer to secure and manage bandwidth. Fortigate detects and eliminates the most damaging threats such as viruses, worms, intrusions, in real time without degrading network performance. Packeteer monitors and shapes traffic in real-time to maximize application throughput across netVision20 network infrastructure. In addition to securing Internet traffic ESC-20 can assist in identifying security threats and securing internal networks from intrusion by evaluating various security measures.

Standard Internet Service

Service Details

ESC-20 has bundled a selection of services into the Standard Internet Service package, which provides the following:

• Access port
  ESC-20 will provide a dedicated port at the ESC-20 hub for T-1 or GigaMAN level access to the wide area network. Additional ports may be secured by the client as needed to connect additional circuits for increased bandwidth as.  The client will be billed the standard monthly access fee for each port.

• IP address allocation
  ESC-20 will allocate IP addresses for the Client up to a maximum justifiable number as determined by the size of the network. Should the Client require a number of addresses beyond what can be provided by ESC-20, the Client must obtain the additional addresses directly from the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). In any case, the Client will be advised to conserve addresses by implementing a firewall, network address translation (NAT), or dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). These technologies are very effective in reducing public address space requirements while maintaining full capabilities and performance for the Client’s end users.

 
• Domain name registration
  ESC-20 will register a domain name for the Client with the Texas Regional Hostmaster. Naming conventions specified under InterNIC RFCs will be determined in collaboration with the Client, and ESC-20 will register the selected name with the proper authorities. If the Client chooses to use a commercial name (.net, .org, .us, etc.) ESC-20 will register it with a company licensed through record domain ownership on behalf of the Client. The Client will be billed the yearly domain registration fee for each domain name.

 
• Domain name server
  DNS must be maintained on a minimum of two servers for the Client’s domain name. To satisfy this requirement, ESC-20 will maintain secondary DNS if the Client has its own Internet server, and will maintain primary and secondary DNS if the Client does not have an Internet server. However, the Client will be encouraged to install and maintain its own server for increased performance, better distribution of resources, and local management.

• Router management
  ESC-20 will remotely manage and monitor the Client's primary edge router connected to netVision20.

• Technical Support
  During the hours of 8:00am through 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays, ESC-20 support staff will be available for toll-free telephone assistance regarding routers, DNS, and systems related to netVision20 access.

Client Responsibilities

Clients must acquire and pay for their own T1 or GigaMAN circuits following netVision20 specifications.  Clients are also responsible for acquiring and configuring routers, servers, and other connectivity and computer equipment required for their sites.

ESC-20 will assist clients as needed to define the specifications for this equipment, purchase it through the clients' own preferred vendors or the ESC-20 Technology Purchasing Co-op, and configure it for operation on netVision20. Installation services are available through ESC-20 for additional charge.

Pricing

• All school districts and other educational organizations, institutions, and public agency

Extended Internet Service

Clients may customize their Internet capabilities by subscribing to the following:

• Internet content filtering and monitoring
  Parents and educators concerned about the possibility of inappropriate Web sites being viewed in schools may request server-based filtering of inbound Internet content. Operating on an appliance solution deployed by 8e6 Technologies at the ESC-20 network center, this service monitors all Internet requests made from subscribing sites. The 8e6 Internet filter provides a standalone server appliance dedicated to filtering Internet access that ensures stability, salability and performance without compromising other server/network functions. The Client will be provided with an account to create unique and customized Internet content profile based on library of content categories.
  
  ESC-20 provides content monitoring software deployed by Vericept to examine network activity and give administrators visibility into activity that goes against Acceptable Use Policies. The low maintenance requirements and low monthly cost per workstation combine to make