MRNet Brief The Minnesota Regional Network (MRNet) was formed in 1987 as part of the National Science Foundations regional network program. MRNet provides and coordinates high-speed network access to local, national, and international resources in support of research, development, and education in the Minnesota region. These resources include national engineering, medical and research databases, library catalogs, highÐperformance computing facilities, electronic mail, software archives and information services. Members of the network include colleges, universities, corporation, library consortiums and government agencies. Mission: MRNet's mission is to enhance the academic, research and commercial climate in the state through the use of computer networks. It shall be a focal point for interÐorganizational computer network activity and promote, coordinate, represent and provide for the growth of the computer networking infrastructure in the Minnesota region. It shall accomplish this through a cooperative effort of corporations, educational institutions, research organizations, and government agencies to advance the quality and productivity of education and business activity. MRNet shall take upon itself as its primary tasks to: o promote, facilitate, and support connectivity, o disseminate information on computer networks and associated technologies, o pursue connections to other networks, o provide a forum for the exploration of computer network issues, o contribute to state, national and international planning in the areas of computer networks. Organization: MRNet is an organization of members incorporated as a nonÐprofit corporation in the state of Minnesota and is governed by a board of directors. Members are a variety of the leading public and private universities and colleges, public and private research foundations, government agencies and commercial businesses. The majority of the board seats are filled by people from the member organizations and elected by the designated representatives from each member at an annual meeting. Daily management and operation is supervised by an executive director. MRNet is financed primarily through member dues and fees. NSFNET and the Internet: The Internet is a collection of high-speed networks comprised of the national backbone network provided by the National Science Foundation and a hierarchy of over five thousand attached regional, state, federal agency, campus and corporate networks. Links to networks in Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, Central America and South America are in place. There are presently over 3/4 million computers and workstations of various sizes connected to the Internet with millions of users. The Internet is presently growing at a rate of around 10% per month as more colleges, universities and businesses desire to be included in the international computer network. The National Science Foundation's Network (NSFNET) provides the opportunity for students from Kindergarten through graduate school, scientists, business peopleÑindividuals from all walks of lifeÑto have access to resources ranging from electronic community bulletin boards to supercomputers scattered across the continent and around the world. It offers access to the nation's largest and fastest network for research, education and technology transfer. NSFNET is the current incarnation of what is to eventually become the National Research and Education Network (NREN). The NSFNET backbone currently has a bandwidth of 45 megabits per second. MRNet Connections: MRNet provides redundant 1.5Mbps links to NSFNET. Through this path, MRNet also provides connectivity to the rest of the Internet networks including BITNET, USENET, ESNET, MILNET, SPAN, the NASA Science Internet, EARN and many others around the world. Electronic mail gateways to MCIMail, ATTMail, SprintMail, Compuserve and Applelink are in also available. Connections to MRNet from a member's local area network are made using a router and a leased data circuit to the MRNet hub, typically running at 56kbps or 1.5Mbps. The network uses the TCP/IP protocols, with additional support ISO/OSI protocols. Plans are currently under way to provide lower cost dial up attachments using SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) or PPP (Point to Point Protocol) connections to members hosts. Additionally, service to provide dial up connections to an Internet host using terminal or personal computers with terminal emulators is being investigated. MRNet can provide technical information on configuration, equipment and administrative procedures. For further information, contact: Dennis Fazio Executive Director Minnesota Regional Network 511 11th Avenue South, Box 212 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612) 342-2570 Fax: (612) 344-1716 electronic mail: info@MR.Net Member List: Regular Members University of Minnesota Minnesota State University System: Bemidji State, Mankato State, Metropolitan State, Moorhead State, Southwest State, St. Cloud State, Winona State Augsburg College Bethel College Carleton College College of St. Benedict College of St. Catherine College of St. Scholastica Concordia College, Moorhead Concordia College, St. Paul Gustavus Adolphus College Hamline University Macalester College Minneapolis College of Art & Design St. JohnÕs University St. MaryÕs College of Minnesota St. Olaf College University of St. Thomas Cooperating Libraries in Consortium Mayo Foundation National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center Ramsey County Data Processing State of Minnesota 3M Corporation Aggregate Computing Apertus Technologies Burlington Northern Railroad Computing Devices International Control Data Systems Cray Research, Inc. Fourth Shift Corporation Honeywell IDS Financial Services Management Graphics, Inc. NCR Network Products Division Network Systems Corporation Paramax Systems Corp. Pillsbury Secure Computing Technology Corp. SSESCO Unified Communications, Inc. United Health Care West Services, Inc. Associate Members MCI Telecommunications Unix Users of Minnesota