Scots university to install first node network

University of Abertay Dundee will use a network of relay stations connected via Wi-Fi, GPRS and WiMax

A Scots university is to become the first site in the UK for a distributed computing network that aims to do away with large server rooms.

The campus at University of Abertay Dundee will hold the first wide-scale deployment of the technology, which uses a network of relay stations connected via Wi-Fi, GPRS and WiMax.

Each station can store 4GB of information in an encrypted hard drive and is alarmed against tampering.

"For Abertay, being involved with this leading-edge technology has obvious crossovers with our development of new degree courses and research interests in smart systems, and with our new campus developments in innovative teaching space and upmarket new student residences," said Lachlan MacKinnon, Professor of Information & Knowledge Engineering at Abertay.

The concept is to shift the computing power and data handling capabilities out to the edge of the network and cut the need for a massive central server room.

Students at the front end of the system will communicate with the nodes via Wi-Fi only but the nodes themselves communicate using the full spectrum of radio technologies.

Installation will take around six months and the nodes will run long term to assess strength and scalability. It could conceivably be extended across the whole city.

"Dundee has developed a reputation for innovation, and our technology has the potential to provide a backbone for the delivery of local services and information well into the future," said Antony Abell, chief executive at node builder LastMile Communications.