Tuesday, September 29, 2009

USS Abraham Lincoln First Carrier to Get LAN Upgrade

NNS090929-04. Lincoln First Carrier to Get LAN Upgrade
September 29, 2009

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is serving as the test-bed for a new local area network (LAN) that will provide Sailors unmatched network reliability and user capacity at sea.

"We were chosen to be the first for this install because [the Navy] knew we could pull it off," said Senior Chief Information Systems Technician (SW/AW) Darren Counts, automated data processing (ADP) leading chief petty officer.

The new LAN replaces old hardware with a much more efficient 2007 configuration, which includes the use of blade servers. Should a server fail, these will allow Lincoln's ADP division to get the server back up in a matter of minutes. It would previously take ADP two to three hours to get an old server back online.

"On the old system, we had to restore the system from a backup," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Hermino Cotto, ADP server supervisor. "On the new system, we can instantaneously move the data [from the downed server] to another server and quickly get it up and running again."

Aside from reliability, approximately 1,215 users will be able to log-in to Lincoln's network making internet more feasible for Sailors on board. The previous limit was 932.

One of the keys to making the new LAN work as efficiently as possible is the use of upgraded software and computers.

Lincoln has received all-new personal computers to enhance the new network experience. The new PCs operate using Windows XP instead of Windows 2000, and will use Microsoft Office 2007 for productivity instead of the previously-used Office 2003.

According to Cotto, the new PCs have dual-core Intel processors instead of single-core Pentium 4 processors, and a 150 gigabyte hard drive installed. The network and computers also feature the use of common access card (CAC) cards for logging in.

In addition to increased reliability and speed, the new LAN will be more secure from outside attacks and viruses, featuring numerous layers of advanced network protection.

To ensure the new LAN is in place on time and is effective for the crew, ADP has been working tirelessly since PIA began.

"All hands have been working on this every day, after hours and even weekends," said Counts. "Every person in the division is involved; we have to be to be successful."

Counts said that so far the LAN install is on schedule and ADP is happy with how it's working out.

"Without the dedication of everyone in ADP with the help of electronic data processing (EDP), we wouldn't be on track like we are," said Counts. "The troops here have done just a fantastic job."

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