Proposal for a NEARnet Nodal Switching Subsystem (NSS)

新英格兰地区有高度集中的研究、教育和创业组织。这种集中造成了对网络通信服务的大量需求，以促进该区域内以及与全国其他地区甚至国际上的同事交流信息和想法。波士顿大学、哈佛大学和麻省理工学院认识到这一需要，率先建立了一个区域网络，以改善通信服务。这个名为“新英格兰学术与研究网络”（NEARNET）的网络拥有21个成员组织，并且正在迅速发展。它目前与NSFNET骨干网的连接与东北地区的其他JVNCNET用户共享，并将NEARNET最远程成员与骨干网存在点之间的跳数增加了两倍。另外一个位于麻省理工学院的骨干节点将为新英格兰地区的NSF设施用户（如超级计算机）提供更可靠、更快的服务，并将使该地区提供的独特资源更容易为NSFNET社区所利用。这种显著改善的访问将成为新英格兰“信息基础设施”发展的催化剂

The New England region has a high concentration of research, educational, and entrepreneurial organizations. This concentration has created a heavy demand for network communication services to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas, both within the region and with colleagues in other parts of the nation and even internationally. Recognizing this need, Boston University, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have spearheaded the formation of a regional network to improve communication services. The network, the New England Academic and Research Network (NEARNET), has 21 member organizations and is growing rapidly. Its current connection to the NSFNET backbone is shared with other JVNCNET users in the Northeast and increases the hopcount between NEARNET's most remote members and the backbone point of presence by as much as a factor of two. An additional backbone node located at MIT would provide more reliable, faster service to New England users of NSF facilities, such as supercomputers, and would make the unique resources that this region has to offer more accessible to the NSFNET community. This significantly improved access will be a catalyst for the development of the "information infrastructure" in New England.***