A DDI upgrade sets the stage for future-ready networking at FSU.
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the FSU network, Information Technology Services is upgrading the current FSU network infrastructure to BlueCat. Upon completion, BlueCat will provide the critical backbone of the FSU network, making the network more resilient, manageable and secure.
What is Changing?
FSU is transitioning to an enterprise-grade DDI (DNS, DHCP and IP Address Management) solution provided by BlueCat. The upgrade will unify the university domain name system (DNS), dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) and internet protocol address management (IPAM) under a single, automated platform. The upgrade, which will be completed in two phases, is not expected to cause any major network outages and should be seamless to the FSU community.
Why is it Changing?
This next-generation platform replaces the current DNS and DHCP infrastructure, providing a fully supported environment with enhanced capabilities, faster deployments, improved scalability and advanced features that surpass those offered by our existing systems. The new, centralized platform will enable more cohesive management of the FSU network and offer deep insights into network traffic and behavior.
Schedule
Network services will be upgraded in planned maintenance windows spanning several weeks. Below is a tentative schedule. Final dates and times will be published to the FSU Service Status webpage prior to each window.
Phase 1 | DHCP and IPAM
Phase 2 | DNS
Scheduling TBD
FAQs
Who will be performing the migrations?
The ITS Network Communications and Technologies Group (NCT) will lead this project. Depending on the size and complexity of a department or college, we may request additional on-site support during the planned maintenance window to ensure a smooth migration. While most transitions are expected to be seamless, we want to proactively coordinate and prepare for any issues that may arise.
When will I be migrated?
Migrations will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 5PM. Migration will be organized by virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) groups. FSU has about 120 VRFs encompassing 2,800 networks (prefixes/VLANs). NCT has grouped departmental and college VRFs to facilitate a single migration for entire units.
How long will my migration take?
DHCP moves to production will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 5PM, with most completing within a three- to four-hour window (by 8–9PM).
Will my DHCP lease time change?
Yes. DHCP lease timers will be reduced to one hour, facilitating migration and ensuring more frequent communication with DHCP servers.
What can I do if I have issues after migration?
A reboot should resolve most issues you may experience.
Otherwise, please contact the ITS Service Desk and provide your username, location/building and IP information. To retrieve your MAC address:
- Open a command prompt and type ipconfig /all.
- Type getmac.
Support
If you experience any issues with connectivity or service availability after the maintenance window, try restarting the device. If the issue persists, please contact the ITS Service Desk at 850-644-4357 or visit its.fsu.edu/help.
