If these walls could talk…a story of network transformation

From advancing cutting-edge X-ray science to discovering COVID-19 sequences, the research taking place inside Biodesign Institute Building C on the Tempe campus at Arizona State University is evident upon entering. 

However, another story of transformation is underway, hidden inside the walls. 

Network upgrades are being deployed across the university’s campus to handle high-speed, high-volume data transfer. This semester, Biodesign Institute Building C — known on campus as Biodesign C — was among the first on campus to achieve 400 Gb network speeds. In comparison, a standard network speed is anywhere between 10 and 100 Gb. 

“Being able to achieve 400 Gb network speeds in Biodesign C was a major milestone for our team,” said Jorge De Cossio, senior director of digital infrastructure with ASU Enterprise Technology. “We think of our work as instrumental in powering the foundation of innovation that places ASU at the forefront of research, discovery and impact.” 

Biodesign C houses cutting-edge research from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the Biodesign Institute, and includes facilities like Center for Biocomputing Security and Society. 

“Biodesign C is dedicated to pure science and research,” said Kevin Tinnin, senior systems architect in the Research Technology Office, part of ASU Knowledge Enterprise. “The centers inside are internet-facing research, which means that the network plays a pivotal role in keeping connected.”

This is the first of many buildings to gain such high networking power, part of a multi-year network transformation effort by ASU Enterprise Technology. 

Powering the next generation of research and development 

The effort – which uses Arista Networks – will transform the entire network across all of ASU, which includes upgrades to over 450 buildings and installing 4,500 switches and 15,000 wireless access points. 

Additionally, new power and fiber cabling is required – and, to date, over 43 miles of cable have been installed. 

“As we progress with our network transformation, we are also equipping the university with the necessary electrical and fiber capacity to support upcoming Arista network hardware upgrades for the next several years,” added Justin Alonzo, director of network infrastructure expansion, who manages the network construction efforts.

With Biodesign C now operating at network speeds of up to 400 Gb, the transmission of large volumes of data at ultra-fast speeds allows for data-intense applications – such as cloud computing, big data analytics and video streaming – to run more efficiently.  

This supports critical research initiatives taking place inside the research facility, such as the compact X-ray free electron laser, or CXFEL. In March 2023, ASU was awarded $90M from the National Science Foundation to build the world’s first  CXFEL — a room-sized X-ray laser instrument that will allow researchers to explore the intricacies of complex matter at atomic length and in ultrafast time 

CXFEL is located in the basement of BDC. The X-ray science powered by CXFEL generates a massive amount of data every second. Prior to the network updates, the team was limited in how much data they could transfer over the network and had to create workarounds to store the data and send it in batches. 

“We are looking at terabytes of data created through CXFEL,” said Deb McCaffrey, senior research facilitator in the Research Technology Office. “Being able to house, transfer and work with that data near-immediately is pivotal.” 

The network upgrades show promise in being able to send over the data at once, reducing expenses, time and effort to move and review data. The X-ray laser will allow scientists to observe high-speed molecular processes in detail — activities that are important for understanding human health, designing new materials, and developing new therapies and drugs.

The building also houses the ASU Biodesign Clinical Testing Lab. Known as ABCTL, the lab was critical for the pandemic response for the university and much of the state. In fact, the nation’s first saliva-based COVID-19 test was housed inside the lab space. The lab is now conducting COVID-19 research and genomic sequencing. 

“ASU plans to continue expanding its network capabilities to power cutting-edge research and innovative learning opportunities,” De Cossio continued. 

The next step involves upgrading the university’s metropolitan ring, the fiber optic network that connects all ASU campuses across the Phoenix valley. Over 400 buildings are in the works of being upgraded.