29 Facts About Merit Network

Merit Network, Inc, is a nonprofit member-governed organization providing high-performance computer networking and related services to educational, government, health care, and nonprofit organizations, primarily in Michigan.

From 1987 until April 1995, Merit Network re-engineered and managed the NSFNET backbone service.

In 2003 Merit began its transition to a facilities based network, using fiber optic facilities that it shares with its members, that it purchases or leases under long-term agreements, or that it builds.

Merit Network staff wrote the software that ran on the CCs, while staff at each of the universities wrote the mainframe software to interface to the CCs.

In 1986 Merit Network engineered and operated leased lines and satellite links that allowed the University of Michigan to access the supercomputing facilities at Pittsburgh, San Diego, and NCAR.

Related searches

Under its cooperative agreement with NSF, Merit Network remained ultimately responsible for the operation of NSFNET, but subcontracted much of the engineering and operations work to ANS.

In 1993 Merit Network started what would become an eight-year phase out of its aging PCP and SCP technology.

In 1994 the Merit Network Board endorsed a plan to expand the MichNet shared dial-in service, leading to a rapid expansion of the Internet dial-in service over the next several years.

The Hubs and Merit applied for and were awarded funding from the Ratepayer fund, which as part of a settlement of an earlier Ameritech of Michigan ratepayer overcharge, had been established by Michigan Public Service Commission to further the K-12 community's network connectivity.

Merit Network was involved in a number of projects in cooperation with organizations throughout Michigan, including:.

In 1994, as the NSFNET project was drawing to a close, Merit organized the meetings for the North American Network Operators' Group .

Also starting in 1994, Merit Network developed the Routing Assets Database as part of the NSF-funded Routing Arbiter Project.

In 1996 Merit became an affiliate member of Internet2, in 1997 established its first connection to the NSF very high-speed Backbone Network Service, and in February 1999 began serving as Michigan's GigaPOP for Internet2 service.

In 2000, Merit spun off two for-profit companies: NextHop Technologies, which developed and marketed GateD routing software, and Interlink Networks, which specialized in authentication, authorization, and accounting software.

Merit Network was appointed President Emeritus by the Merit board.

In July 2008, Merit began upgrading its core backbone network to 10 gigabits and installing five new Juniper MX480 routers.

Merit Network is partnering with the State of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, and others to provide this invaluable learning environment, which trains students and IT professionals to be better prepared for cyberattacks and how to react to Internet security situations.

In May 2013, Merit Network hosted its 15th annual Merit Network Member Conference and its first annual Michigan Cybersecurity Industry Summit in Ann Arbor.

In June 2013, Merit honored as both a 2013 Computerworld Honors Laureate and 21st Century Achievement Award Winner for its REACH-3MC fiber-optic network project.

In September 2013, Merit Network launched Merit Network Secure Sandbox, a secure environment that can be used by organizations for educational purposes, cybersecurity exercises, and software testing.

In October 2014, Merit Network completed the REACH-3MC fiber-optic infrastructure project, which built fiber-optic infrastructure across Michigan and in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Merit Network connected 141 community anchor institutions, which includes schools, libraries, health care, government, and public safety.

In October 2015, Merit Network selected Jason Brown as the organization's first chief information security officer .

David Behen, chief information officer for the State of Michigan, presented an honor from Governor Rick Snyder to Joe Sawasky on behalf of Merit Network, recognizing the organization's historic achievements.

In 2016, Merit began one of its largest projects; managing the implementation of the Michigan Statewide Education Network, a private transport based network.

Related searches

Merit Network continues to manage MISEN, which gives Michigan ISDs the ability to leverage the multi-gigabit infrastructure for services like Internet access, student information systems, and other critical services, putting Michigan's schools at the forefront of technology and innovation.

In 2019, Merit Network launched the Michigan Moonshot, an approach to impact the digital divide statewide.

In 2019, as part of the Michigan Moonshot, Merit Network partnered with national broadband organizations to create the Michigan Moonshot Broadband Framework.

In 2019, Merit Network partnered with MISEN and MAISA to develop Essential Cybersecurity Practices for K12.