1991 saw a major advance for academic and research computing in Ireland, in the form of the HEAnet-2 project. The seven member universities of the Higher Education Authority are now interconnected by a new 64 Kbps multi-protocol switched data network. The major protocols in use are TCP/IP, DECnet, and the U.K. Coloured Book protocols, and these are running successfully between the campus LANs.
HEAnet is connected to the European IP network by means of an IXI link between University College, Dublin, and the NIKHEF router in Amsterdam. NSFnet access is via EASInet and their EASIgate at CERN. The primary domain name server for IE has now been located in Ireland, and name servers for domains in each of the seven universities are now running. Interior and exterior gateway protocols are running on routers at each of the sites. Thus, the Irish universities, and their teaching and research communities, are well placed when it comes to Internet connectivity.
In inter-connecting the campus networks, and in providing access between HEAnet and the wider Internet, we are grateful for the co-operation and guidance of many people, particularly the help of colleagues in RIPE, NSF, EASInet and other bodies. Without their help the HEAnet-2 project could not have been completed on time.
