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NACS > Network Services > Modems > Modem Timeout Announcement

Modem Timeout Announcement

February 26, 1997

TO: Modem Users

FROM: Bill Parker, Director
Network & Academic Computing Services

RE: Modem Pool Timeouts

The UCI Modem pools at 824-9000 and 824-8960 continue to be highly congested - recent reports indicate that during the week all 300 modems are in use from approximately 5:00 PM until after 2:00 AM each day. NACS has reviewed the situation with the Computer Policy Committee of the Academic Senate, and we are ready to implement a short-term solution to provide immediate (if only temporary) relief during a three-month trial period effective as of March 3, 1997.

NACS plans to:

  • Reduce the maximum amount of time allowed for any one session on the 824-9000 modem pool from 18 hours to 2 hours. We believe many people log into the modem pool early in the afternoon to reserve a connection for their evening use, needlessly tying up modems. (Note that the 824-8960 express modem pool already limits sessions to 15 minutes).
  • Set the "idle time" (i.e., inactivity disconnect) timeout on the 824-9000 modem lines to 30 minutes. This means any session where no data goes in or out for 30 minutes will be disconnected.
  • Eliminate concurrent logins with the same UCInetid. Only one active login per UCInetid will be allowed.

NACS is also studying several long-term solutions including:

  1. ISPs

    Commercial Internet Service Providers such as Netcom, PacBell and others provide almost busy-free service and many people from UCI are using them with good success. Unfortunately, they do not allow access to certain resources where access is restricted to UCI. NACS staff are looking into technical options to get around this problem, and we will be asking ISPs what they can do to help the situation.

  2. Faculty modem pool

    NACS is investigating the provision of a quality modem service to all UCI members of the academic senate. The issues generated by the service will be discussed with the appropriate senate committee(s).

More information about NACS' future network access plans can be found at: Home Network Access Plan

NACS is interested in receiving any observations you would like to share about the modem situation via email nacs@uci.edu.