One of the most unknown and secure rooms on campus is getting a facelift.
Hidden in a corner of the Frey Computing Center is the 14,400-square foot Machine Room and next to it is the Network Operations Center. The NOC monitors the University’s expansive Internet network and controls security for Frey Computing Center.
Currently, the center can’t expand its computing capacity because it has used up all power and cooling capacity. But renovations under way are working to change that.
The project has been in the works for some time but is just now coming to fruition, according to Sheri Thompson, IT Communications and Planning officer. The final phase of the project began this summer and will be completed by the end of the fall semester.
“We are doubling our power capacity with this project,” Thompson said. “After this project is complete, we will have added 500 kilowatts to our power stopped.”
Inside the Machine Room sit neatly arranged rows of servers for different functions. A few of the servers operate on parts from one of the University’s old super computers named Super Mike.
Blinking multi-colored lights and buzzing machines indicate ongoing processes, although the room is surprisingly quiet. The only noise is a subdued humming and the occasional voice breaking the serenity.
In one corner of the room sits the Tezpur, a 15-teraflop super computer, which will eventually be replaced due to the progressive nature of technology, Thompson said.
These servers are used by various departments on campus for different functions, which ITS declined to comment on in detail for security reasons.
Although most don’t know about the Machine Room or NOC, these rooms serve important functions.
“If the NOC and Machine Room go down, basically all network traffic stops,” Thompson said. “PAWS, Moodle, e-mail and numerous other things would cease until the NOC and Machine Room were back up and