Net TekRef

The Technical Reference Group for Network Infrastructure on the Research Network, commonly referred to as Net TekRef, is a group for sharing experiences with other network people from the institutions and for making suggestions and debating initiatives regarding the Research Network.

Institutions operate their own network equipment, usually even if it belongs to the research network community. DeiC has the role of operating the backbone of the research network, under the leadership of network operations manager Jan Ferré. Responsible for development and services is the head of the research network, Martin Bech.

The biggest attraction is the participants

The research network as infrastructure is unique in Denmark and many aspects of it are not something you can get courses in or learn anywhere else. Net TekRef is first and foremost a place where you can exchange experiences with your peers. The meetings are mostly attended by networking professionals and others with a technical background, but everyone is welcome.

The group meets about three times a year around the country. Typically, the chairman announces that a meeting is coming up and asks for topics. All participants are free to suggest topics to be discussed. The chairman then puts together the agenda for the upcoming meeting and sends out an actual invitation.

Topics in recent years have included covering the university with Wi-Fi, replacing switches with newer models, building server rooms, redundancy, eduroam in the local environment and much more.

A simple mailing list is available to announce Net TekRef meetings. If you would like to join the list, simply fill out this form. Participation in the group is free.

Influence and dialog

Net TekRef is mostly an erfa group, but still often has a visible influence on the direction the development of the research network and services takes.

In parallel with Net TekRef, there is also the management-appointed Net Forum, where there are one or two representatives from each university and a few from the UCs. They have a formal role in advising the DeiC board on the area of networks and services. But they are a closed group, they do not have a technical focus, and they rarely have time to unfold a given issue in their meetings.

Prior to the proposals discussed at the Net Forum meetings, the discussions in Net TekRef are a good - and indispensable - place to discuss new proposals - and then everyone can participate!

DeiC will typically report on developments in the network area - from a central perspective. And the participants at the meeting can give their input on what DeiC should work on in the coming period.

Most of the time at the meetings, however, is usually spent hearing about the experiences of others regarding the latest equipment and protocols. For example, Cisco ACI, Crestron and many other good things.