Local area network expansion at WITS
| Pages | 249-251 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb045241 |
| Published date | 01 April 1993 |
| Date | 01 April 1993 |
| Author | Julie Wilcocks |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Article
Local area network
expansion at WITS
Julie Wilcocks
Computer Services Librarian, University of the
Witwatersrand,
South
Africa
1.
Introduction
With the rapid development of computer technology, new and
sophisticated facilities become available every few months.
The skill of planning expansion or development lies in choos-
ing the innovations that can
be
far reaching and support future
new technology. Akeroyd (1991), Van Brakel
(1991,
1993)
and many others have reviewed CDROM networking tech-
nology. The expansion presented in this paper describes con-
version to a 10baseT network incorporating both mainframe
terminals and PCs on the LAN (local area
network).
It will be
seen that the chosen route is cost-effective and advantageous
to academic staff and
students.
It is also a lot more convenient
as far
as
library staff are concerned.
2.
The CDROMs
Since its inception in
1991,
searching on the CDROM LAN at
Wartenweiler Library
has
experienced steady
growth.
In 1991
a Novell LAN with two workstations was linked to a mul-
tidrive system holding eight CDs which operates from Opti-
Net software. A further workstation was added to the LAN a
few months later and after 14 months of steady increase in
usage more multidrives were acquired. Currently the mul-
tidrives support 16 CDs with four workstations attached.
More multidrives and workstations are to be added within the
next few months along with the proposed network expansion.
The CDROM databases currently available on the LAN are:
• Science Citation Index (1986 to date)
• Social Science Citation Index (1986 to date)
• Arts and Humanities Index (1991)
• ERIC (Educational Resources Information Centre)
(1982 to date).
Eight more subject specific CDROMS (such as MathSci,
ABI/INFORM, Medline and so on) are available either on
single drives or in other
Wits
Libraries.
From May to December 1991 the usage on the two avail-
able terminals was steady. In December 1991 the LAN was
moved to a slightly more open area and another workstation
was added. Active promotion to academic departments was
undertaken and usage rose from an average of 27.25 searches
per month in 1991 to 203.4 searches per month in 1992. Just
over a year later in February 1993 the LAN, along with the
Computer Services Department, was moved again, enabling
another workstation to be brought into operation. The LAN,
now residing in a spacious workplace with less crowded
desks,
has continued to experience rapid increase in usage by
staff and students. In March 1993 there were
491
searches on
the CDROM LAN, the highest figure thus far. During the
mornings and at lunch times there are frequently people wait-
ing to
use
the LAN terminals, indicating the need for yet more
workstations.
3.
OPAC and LAN facilities
Historically,
OPAC
terminals giving users access to SLIC (the
Library's catalogue and circulation system) were introduced
in 1989. Shortly thereafter academic departments throughout
the University, which had access to the mainframe computer,
could acquire their own IDs for local access to the Library's
catalogues. In effect the library databases had moved into the
office environment of the University
Staff.
Indexes on
CDROM, however, are limited to the workstations on the
LAN in the Library. The need to extend accessibility of these
facilities on the campus-wide network soon became apparent.
In the same way that academics have made use of
the
link to
library OPAC facilities via PCs in offices and laboratories, so
do they require access to the CD LAN.
4.
LAN expansion
The need for expansion of the LAN onto the campus network
is without question. The campus network links libraries and
departments with a
fibre
optic
line,
generally termed
the
back-
bone. Most of our 16 libraries are linked either directly to the
backbone or through a gateway. Our top priority is to link the
two main libraries, Wartenweiler and William Cullen, to the
backbone, thus enabling the establishment of LAN worksta-
tions in Cullen. Initially three workstations installed in the
Cullen Library will be linked via a multi-protocol router and
bridge to the backbone. The token-ring LAN in Wartenweiler
will also be linked to the backbone thus effecting a link from
the Wartenweiler LAN to the Cullen
Library.
Once this link is
realised two benefits will immediately be felt:
(1) immediate pressure on the CDROMs will be relieved;
(2) CD access in another section of the campus will be pos-
sible.
A
more long-term and permanent solution is underway in-
volving a 10baseT network linked to the backbone. Axner
The Electronic Library,
Vol.
11,
No.
4/5,
August/October 1993 249
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