Syracuse Data Center Part of Larger Whole

Written By: Sam Savage

Published Date: September 29, 2008 Last Edited: September 29, 2008

By Talbot, Brandon

SYRACUSE – Syracuse is a historical crossroad that links products and services from Upstate to the rest of the state, and with Internet technology, it’s no different thanks to the efforts of NYSERNet.org, a 501 (c) (3) research and education technology organization.

According to Timothy Lance, president and chairman of the board, networks are increasingly linking economic development activities with technological and scientific experiments. One such experiment will be the Sept. 10 activation of the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, allowing researchers in New York, as well as across the world, to share data because of increased networking capacities. In New York, the major research institutions will have the ability to collect data due to the network NYSERNet has in place.

As a major player in national and international network technology; NYSERNet has been at the forefront of innovation and collaboration, says Lance, pointing to NYSERNet’s creation of the first non-government Internet Protocol in 1987. This statewide network has since advanced and currently entails a 516-mile optical fiber network running from New York City to Buffalo with an additional branch running from Syracuse to Binghamton.

As a membership-based organization, NYSERNet’s largest expense, according to its 2007 IRS Form 990, was $2.6 million to support its research and education network. This network, part of the Internet2, is designed to connect research institutions together to share high-performance applications and data, says Stephen Kankus, chief operating officer. This network has 41 research members, he adds, consisting of prominent CNY schools such as Binghamton University, Clarkson University, Cornell University, Le Moyne College, SUNY Potsdam, Syracuse University, and Upstate Medical University. Membership plans for the network are waived for some institutions, but others may pay a $4,000 or $30,000 fee, depending on the type of research conducted and usage demands.

Another revenue source for NYSERNet is the provision of high- speed Internet services to universities, research labs, museums, libraries, and K-12 schools. This generated $1.9 million in 2007 according to IRS filings, and serves about 200 members. Some of the newest members to use this resource are the BOCES organizations, which use the large available bandwidth for video conferencing, Kankus adds. The value for institutions using NYSERNet’s Internet service, he says, is that it allows the group as a whole to act like a buying club garnering better pricing and services.

In a story published in The Business Journal in December 2006, NYSERNet relocated to the Atrium Building in downtown Syracuse and developed its new data center. JF Real Estate brokered the deal for Suite 300, while CBD Builders redeveloped the space to include a 2,000-square-foot data center and an 8,000-square-foot administrative office. The office features roof-mounted cooling fans for the data center, office space for the organization and its members, a state-of-the-art security system, and a backup diesel generator to power the network in the event of a power failure.

NYSERNet also maintains an office in Albany and a 1,100-square- foot co-location center at 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York City.

The Albany location allows NYSERNet a legislative presence, for which it spent $152,000 on lobbying expenditures in 2007. The New York City location serves as an international hub for research networks to share data.

The Syracuse data center provided $827,000 in revenue in 2007 from members that use it as an off-site backup for vital computer systems. According to Lance, this is the only system like it in the world, and it still has room to grow. Although its current occupants do not make it self-sustaining, Lance and the board members agree that the money at risk over the short term is worth it for long- term payout.

Lance stresses the value that collaboration has provided in the success of NYSERNet. He explains that the network was designed for a special class of customers and researchers, and the activities carried out by the board of directors have shown that senior level technology professionals can work together on common ground. Lance also applauds the staff of 15, which consists of highly skilled experts in networking and technology.

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