Alabama Supercomputer Authority

1. What is the Alabama Research & Education Network

The Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN) is the statewide managed network connecting Alabama's universities, colleges and K-12 schools to the Internet and to Alabama supercomputer resources. AREN currently consists of a multiple-star, leased-line-based network with major hub sites in Huntsville, Florence, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Troy, Auburn, and Mobile.
Approximately 225 client institutions are connected to AREN, including all public universities and colleges, the state's community colleges, several state government agenies and approximately 134 K-12 school systems. For those universities which have an alternate primary Internet service provider, AREN functions as a secondary ISP for local traffic and the primary route for traffic within the state.

2. Who manages AREN?

The Alabama Supercomputer Authority is a state-funded corporation founded in 1989 to operate the Alabama Supercomputer Center and the Alabama Research and Education Network. This organization provides supercomputing and advanced networking resources to Alabama's colleges, universities, and K-12 schools, providing Internet connectivity and faciliating research in advanced scientific and engineering disciplines.
We are directly funded from the Alabama Educational Trust Fund, and we support educational network initiatives statewide. Services are provided through a professional services and facilities management contractor, Computer Sciences Corporation.

3. What statewide network services does ASA provide?

The AREN backbone, linking the state from Huntsville to Mobile, is comprised of segments. Internet access is provided to the connection in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile.
Our network is monitored and managed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from our network operations center located at the Alabama Supercomputer Center in Huntsville.

4. How do we get a quote for our school system?

If your organization is interested in learning more about the Alabama Research and Education Network, please have your superintendent or designated officer send a written request on offical letterhead to our business office. ASA staff will discuss your network needs with your local staff and will complete a technical review and needs assessment at no charge. This information will be used to prepare a quote for network connectivity.

5. What is included in typical AREN service?

Internet and AREN Connectivity
Required hardware
Installation
Domain Name Service (DNS) registration
IP/host addresses
Managed network monitoring and support
Help desk and troubleshooting, 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
Toll-free 800 line for support calls
Connectivity to ASA supercomputing resources
Assistance ordering local telecommunications circuits
(Line installation and service charges are not included in the AREN quote)

6. How do I request a technical seminar for my school's technical coordinators?

7. Why does ASA/AREN have two names?

The Alabama Supercomputer Authority (ASA) is the governing agency created in 1989 and funded by the Alabama Legislature.

ASA manages two primary projects: the Alabama Supercomputer Center (ASC) in Huntsville and the Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN), which was formerly known as the Alabama Supercomputer Network (ASN). ASA's Board of Directors voted to change the name of our network to Alabama Research and Education Network in 1995 to better reflect our service to the state's education community.

8. How do I request access to the Traffic Graphs under the AREN Services section?

9. How do I access the Traffic Graphs under the AREN Services section?