USAFANet

From USAFA Folklore

The computer network at USAFA has undergone a number of changes over time.

[edit] FalconNet

The first cadet network was called FalconNet. It used a pair of coaxial cables (upstream, downstream). Each cadet room had a "Network Interface Device" (NID) which was a toaster-sized box that plugged into the coax. Each NID had two 25 pin serial ports to connect to the computers. It was said that over 1,000,000 feet of cable were used and this was the first major college campus to network every dorm room. One laser printer (roughly dishwasher-sized) was networked into each squadron, with a few in faculty and other academic areas. They regularly crashed, particularly at times when a major paper was due. But overall the project was considered a success. With USAFA being well ahead of the power curve for universities getting all students on a LAN with their own computers, this project helped along the career of then-Col. Erlind Royer who got promoted from head of the EE Department to become the Dean of Faculty as a 1-star.

[edit] USAFANet

• The current network is known as USAFANet and is a Windows Networking domain. For some reason, in 2004 it became a subdomain under Air Force Space Command. USAFANet is an ethernet network and has two or three drops in each cadet room. Each squadron has a networked laser printer. The K: Drive is also hooked up to USAFANet.

[edit] Wireless

• Beginning in 2002, a wireless network was tested in the McDermott Library. This proved useful as more classes were issued laptops. Today, a cadet may use his laptop and connect to USAFANet from anywhere in Fairchild Hall. While this is very useful academically, it also allows cadets to waste more time during class.