






            PREPnet (Pennsylvania Research and Economic Partnership Network)


            _A_d_d_r_e_s_s:
            PREPnet
            530 North Neville St
            Pittsburgh, PA 15213

            _E-_m_a_i_l: prepnet@andrew.cmu.edu

            _P_h_o_n_e: (412) 268-7870


            _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n

            PREPnet is a mid-level network serving Pennsylvania. PREPnet
            is a joint effort of the PREPnet Consortium of universities,
            Bell of PA, and the Commonwealth of PA Government.  Bell  is
            the  network operator, and owner of the equipment.  The Com-
            monwealth is the inter-LATA carrier.  PREPnet has a T1 back-
            bone,  and  is  built  with  Proteon p4200 routers.  PREPnet
            plans to offer low-cost, low-speed services via SLIP as well
            as  the  T1  and  56K  synchronous services mentioned above.
            Bell of PA is marketing PREPnet to higher  education,  busi-
            ness,  government bodies, and economic development organiza-
            tions  within  the  state.   The  Pittsburgh  Supercomputing
            Center  provides  PREPnet with a gateway to the NSFnet back-
            bone.  The participating  universities  are  making  various
            databases  available on PREPnet, such as their library cata-
            logs and various other information.  The State  Data  Center
            provides   its  database  of  Pennsylvania  demographic  and
            economic information on PREPnet.  Other databases and infor-
            mation services are planned.

            _N_e_t_w_o_r_k _a_c_c_e_s_s

            Network architecture is a  chain  of  stars,  with  hubs  in
            Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia  connected to clients who have
            routers on-site.  New hubs are  planned  for  Bethlehem  and
            Scranton  in  the  near future.  Async SLIP access will ini-
            tially be provided at Philadelphia. PREPnet is purely TCP/IP
            at present.
            _________________________
            The information in this section is provided  in  accor-
            dance  with the copyright notice appearing at the front
            of this guide.




            July 12, 1989               NNSC       Section 5.16,  Page 1








            _W_h_o _C_a_n _U_s_e _t_h_e _N_e_t_w_o_r_k

            Organizations operating  within  Pennsylvania,  involved  in
            education,  research,  technology transfer, or  the economic
            development of Pennsylvania, are  eligible  to  participate.
            Non-profit  institutions  may become members, and others may
            affiliate.  Usage consistent with the above purposes is con-
            sidered  acceptable.   Examples  of unacceptable usage would
            include commercial order-entry or invoicing, or  advertising
            commercial products.

            PREPnet is available to serve Pennsylvania clients who  have
            a valid reason to use the internet.

            PREPnet does not  presently  carry  transit  traffic,  whose
            source and destination are both outside of the state.

            _M_i_s_c_e_l_l_a_n_e_o_u_s _I_n_f_o_r_m_a_t_i_o_n

            Executive Director: Thomas W. Bajzek, twb@andrew.cmu.edu
            NIC Manager: Marsha L. Perrott. mlp@andrew.cmu.edu






























            July 12, 1989               NNSC       Section 5.16,  Page 2


