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== Overview ==
The '''Great Plains Network''' history starts in 1997 with pioneers who set themselves to the task of creating an advanced research and education network through the center of the United States.  Many of these pioneers had been instrumental in bringing NSFnet to the region through the creation of a strong organization known as [http://www.midnetinc.org MIDnet]. 

This is an historical record of GPN through the documents which members created to support and sustain the organization.

== GPN People ==
Ultimately, GPN is a collaboration among people.  Those involved in the early history include staff, board members, scientists, technical advisors and many others.  A partial list is [http://organization.greatplains.net/people.php here]

== 1996 ==

=== June:  Initial Meeting ===
This initial meeting to create a research and education network predates even the formation of [http://www.internet2.edu Internet2].

==1997 ==

=== February:  Proposal to Create GPN Submitted ===
 
This proposed the creation of the Great Plains Network for Earth System Science and was submitted to the National Science Foundation.


[http://www.greatplains.net/other/epscor-proposal.php Text of Full Proposal]

=== September:  Proposal to Create GPN Funded by NSF ===

The proposal was funded for two years by the National Science Foundation beginning September 15, 1997.

=== October:  Meeting Minutes ===

[[History - Minutes from Washington, DC - October, 1997|Minutes from Washington, DC - October, 1997]]

=== November:  RFP for Network Services ===
'''Goals'''

*Facilitate collaboration among member institutions for the purpose of meritorious scientific investigations, especially those dealing with Earth Systems Science. 
*Facilitate the design and implementation of a regional network infrastructure that will satisfy the requirements of the member institutions associated with the Internet2 project. 
*Provide advanced network capabilities for the purpose of aggregating Internet traffic for member institutions. 
*Facilitate inter-institutional collaboration for the purpose of creating and developing advanced network applications. 
*Provide advanced network capabilities to member institutions at the lowest cost by using resources available through grant agencies, corporate partners, and economies of scale. 

'''Purpose of the Solicitation''' 

With this document, the Great Plains Network and the Center for Research, Inc. at the University of Kansas, solicits proposals for the building of a network connecting the EPSCoR states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. This network is to support the EPSCoR grant described above. While connections to the vBNS and the commodity Internet in support of an Internet2 gigapop will be sought at a later date, this current solicitation is only to support the connections between the above named states, and therefore to satisfy the requirements of the EPSCoR institutions within those states. Future RFP's will deal with additional connectivity requirements. 

'''Proposed Architecture'''

This section describes the proposed architecture of the Great Plains Network. It is expected that there will be two routing nodes, one at the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the other in the Kansas City, Missouri area. Each of these nodes will consist of a router and an ATM switch. These nodes will be connected by either a DS-3 or OC-3 dedicated circuit. The two routing nodes will then be connected to the State Networks in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas via DS-3 or OC-3 circuits. See Appendix 1 for a diagram of this architecture and the demarcation points of all sites. (In several cases, multiple sites are presented. Costs estimates should be provided for each of the possible sites. Moreover, in the case of Nebraska, connection to either of the routing nodes should be considered a possibility.)

[http://www.greatplains.net/other/rfp-circuits.php Complete RFP for Network Services]

== 1998 ==

=== January:  GPN First Kansas City Meeting Minutes ===

"Introduction.  Approximately 25 representatives of the Great Plains states and two members of the Advisory Committee attended the meeting, which was chaired by Jerry Niebaum, Principal Investigator of the "Great Plains Networking for Earth Systems Science" grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

"The PACS Connection.  Ken Bishop described the partnership between the National Computational Science Alliance (University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign), NSF EPSCoR, and The University of Kansas...

"Engineering Team Report.  Rick Summerhill reported that WorldCom, Sprint, AT&T and Qwest responded to the Great Plains Network (GPN) Request For Proposal (RFP), which required collocation in Kansas City and circuits to the six Great Plains EPSCoR (6-GPE) states...

"Business Plan Proposal.   Jerry Niebaum distributed a business plan for the GPN.  It described an organization intended to orchestrate
Internet2 services for the next three to five years...The group agreed that one key to success is the ability of an organization to work with state purchasing officers to become an approved service provider...The group questioned whether the proposed organization for the GPN should be a consortium or a nonprofit corporation... Niebaum suggested beginning as a consortium...

"The group discussed who should represent each state on the organization's Board and decided that members in each state should
elect a representative to the Board. The group also discussed whether the organization would need full time technical staff,
whether it could rely on technical staff at the member institutions or in each state, whether staff at both levels are necessary, and
whether there is a need for a paid, executive director...

"Submitted by:

"Barbara Paschke
"K*STAR NSF EPSCoR"


[http://www.greatplains.net/activities/meetings/meeting-19980117/ Complete Minutes]

=== April ===
==== RFP for Connectivity ====
The Great Plains Network (GPN) is a consortium of Great Plains states and universities dedicated to supporting scientific research and high-performance networking. 

Assisted by the NSF EPSCoR program, the consortium will construct a high speed network connecting the state networks and major universities in the following states: 

*North Dakota 
*South Dakota 
*Nebraska 
*Kansas 
*Oklahoma 
*Arkansas 

The consortium received approximately $1.4 million over 2 years from the NSF EPSCoR program to support Earth Systems Science and connectivity between the states. The grant and the GPN consortium are currently being administered by the Center for Research, Inc. (CRINC) at the University of Kansas. The principal investigator of the EPSCoR/NSF grant is [[GPN:Staff#Jerry_Niebaum.2C_Executive_Director|Jerry Niebaum]], Executive Director of Information Technology Services at The University of Kansas, and the Executive Director of the GPN is [[GPN:Staff#Rick_Summerhill.2C_Executive_Director|Rick Summerhill]]. This current solicitation comes from the Center for Research, Inc. at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. 

[http://www.greatplains.net/other/rfp-i2.php Complete RFP for Connectivity]

==== April:  Bylaws ====
The bylaws developed in 1998 were used to govern the organization until 2003.  These bylaws were written with the expectation that GPN would become a separate corporate entity.

'''Section 1. Membership.''' 

1.1 Regular Members. Regular membership in the corporation is open to United States institutions of higher education, and to such other organizations as may be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors. 

1.2 Additional Classes of Members. The Board of Directors may create additional classes of members, without the right to vote, by resolution. 

1.3 Qualifications for Membership. Organizations may be considered eligible for Regular membership if they are making a definitive, substantial and continuing commitment to the development, evolution and use of advanced networking facilities and applications in the conduct of research and education. 

1.4 Admission to Membership. The Board of Directors by resolution or otherwise shall establish criteria for admission to membership in addition to those stated in Section 1.3., above. The Board of Directors may admit new members to the corporation upon application and successful review of qualifications. Membership shall be continuing, provided that the member maintains itself in good standing with respect to the: (a) payment of dues and assessments as specified in Article I, Section 3 of the Bylaws; and (b) Bylaws and policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors. 

1.5 Member Representative The Executive Director of the member institution shall be the official voting representative of the member institution. The Chief Executive Director shall have the power to assign his or her duties as the official representative to other executives of the member institution either permanently or temporarily.

[http://organization.greatplains.net/bylaws.php Complete Initial Bylaws]

==== October:  Connections Made ====

Connection to Abilene/Internet2 and the commodity Internet was made in October of 1998.  The initial network topology was

[[Image:Gpnoriginaltopology.jpg]]

Notice that Nebraska initially connected via South Dakota.  Each state connected to Internet2 via Kansas City.  '''''GPN was the first gigaPoP to connect to Internet2.'''''

== 1999 ==

=== November:  First Applications Meeting ===
The Great Plains Network hosted an Applications Workshop on November 9 and 10 of 1999 at the University of Kansas.  The meeting was targeted at applications developers and support staff working at universities and colleges served by the Great Plains Network. The goal of the workshop was to allow researchers and educators to focus on building applications that exploit the advanced networking services offered by the Great Plains and Internet2. 

[http://www.greatplains.net/activities/meetings/meeting-19991109/ Agenda and List of Participants]

== Other Milestones ==

=== First Penning with the Pro's Competition (2003)===
This was a very creative idea that was creative writing contest for K-12 schools that was judged by authors from universities in the Great Plains Network that are Internet2 Sponsored Education Participants (SEGPs).  Winning submissions were published (at least one per school). 

Participants also had an opportunity to meet via videoconference with published authors.  

First, second and third place winners of each composition style will win funding for virtual field trips for your schools.

[http://www.greatplains.net/penning/ Winners!]

=== Extending the Reach Award from Educause:  Amy Apon, Ph.D., PI (2004) ===
As part of the National Science Foundation's Middleware Initiative, GPN members partnered under the leadership of Dr. Amy Apon of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, to Extend the Reach of middleware to the GPN region.  GPN was the only awardee that represented a consortium of universities crossing state lines.

[http://archie.csce.uark.edu/gpn/index.html Read more here!]

=== SUN Award for Computer Clusters:  GPNgrid (2005)===
This marked a move to bring regional resources in closer allgnment.  The larger goal is to share technical expertise as well as resources across the membership.

=== Advisory and Working Groups (2006) === 
During 2006 the Executive Council created new advisory structures for both technical networking and research.  In addition, a series of working groups were activated by the Executive Director across a broad range of member-related activities.  The GPN staff was augmented to assist with an increase in engagement and outreach efforts.

=== First Affiliate Corporate Member (2007) ===
In April of 2007, the Executive Council approved accepting ADVA Optical as the first GPN Corporate Affiliate Member.

== Member Reflections ==
[[media:GPN_history_by_Dave_Nordlund_4-16-2007.doc|GPN History by Dave Nordlund]]