NDO Outside Vendor Policy

This page contains information about using outside vendors for network design.

March 1990

Questions have been raised regarding network design done by outside vendors and their association with the Network Design Office. The following guidelines were established to help define this relationship:

Network Design Office Guidelines for Non-University Vendor Designs (Jan 22, 1990)

The Network Design Office (NDO) is a campus resource. It was created to facilitate computer network design and installation for the University of Illinois campus. It places a strong emphasis on delivering efficient, expandable, low-cost network design to campus units that will enable them to connect to the campus backbone network.

Since there is a great demand from the campus for local area network design and installation, the NDO is willing to work with non-University vendors that can help meet this demand. The NDO requests that non-University vendors follow these guidelines in order to ensure the best working relationship between themselves, the NDO, and the campus unit involved in a project:

1. When a vendor is first contacted by a campus unit interested in a networking project, the vendor will inform the NDO of this contact. The NDO will check to see if this unit is already on their project list.

2. Staff from the NDO will accompany campus users to the vendor's initial presentation. The NDO staff can help determine the networking needs of this unit, especially involving access to the academic and administrative campus networks.

3. If the vendor needs cabling approval for a proposed design, the NDO will arrange with the Office of Telecommunications to have the appropriate staff member do a site visit.

4. When the vendor has completed their final design proposal, they will show it to the NDO. The NDO will verify that the design fits into the overall campus networking plan.

5. Staff from the NDO will accompany the vendor to the final design presentation meeting for the campus unit.

Funds for local area networks come partially through the NDO. Release of these funds is contingent upon NDO approval of the network design.

This NDO policy is not an endorsement of outside vendors' products or services.