MAN in Krakow
ACC Cyfronet AGH is responsible for all activities related to the maintenance and provision of the Metropolitan Academic Computer Network (MAN) in Kraków for the scientific community, supporting scientific research and development work.
The MAN services in Krakow are provided by Cyfronet to universities, institutions of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and research institutes in Krakow and Lesser Poland. Considering that conducting almost all scientific research and development work is currently impossible without high-quality network services, all these institutions carry out their tasks using the MAN provided by Cyfronet. Therefore, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the network and ICT and computing services in a 24/7 regime (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) is a crucial task for Cyfronet. These scientific institutions thus gain access to national and global computer networks, and through the network, to the computing infrastructure provided by Cyfronet, which is used by the scientific community across Poland, especially in Krakow and Małopolska, in virtually all research areas.
Learn more about MAN in Krakow.
Please send any questions and reports of problems related to the operation of the MAN network to the following address: noc (at) cyfronet.pl.
Fiber Optic Infrastructure
Fiber-optic infrastructure is the foundation of the MAN operation. As the administrator of the MAN in Krakow, Cyfronet continuously expands and modernizes the network, adapting it to the needs and expectations of its users. At the same time, due to the ever-growing importance of modern communication technologies in everyday work, it is crucial that the fiber-optic infrastructure not only offers high bandwidth but also ensures secure communication. In practice, this is achieved through the use of backup links that maintain operational continuity in the event of primary route failures.
Currently, MAN operates its own fiber-optic infrastructure with a total length of over 200 kilometers. The MAN network’s fiber-optic cables are laid in the Old Town area, around the AGH University campus, and extend to Bronowice, Krowodrza, as well as Czyzyny and Nowa Huta. Connections have also been established to remote institutes in Prokocim, the Borek Falecki area, and the Jagiellonian University’s Third Campus in Pychowice. The fiber-optic cables are installed in proprietary ducts, leased telecommunication ducts, and via overhead lines.
PIONIER
The MAN in Krakow is an important node of the academic PIONIER network (Polish Optical Internet); a nationwide broadband optical network that serves as a vital foundation for scientific research and development in Poland.
The PIONIER academic network is connected from Kraków towards Warsaw and Katowice via Nx400 Gbps links, and towards Bielsko-Biała and Rzeszów via Nx10 Gbps links. The installed DWDM system, along with the switches, additionally enables fast configuration of 10/100/400 Gbps connections to any PIONIER network node, and allows for 2x400 Gbps communication with High-Performance Computing Centers in Poland.
Furthermore, in 2024, the connection of the MAN network in Kraków with PIONIER network nodes located in Katowice, Rzeszów, and Kielce via Nx100 Gbps links was established.
Through the PIONIER network, communication is established with many national and international centers. International connectivity is provided via the European research network GEANT with Nx100 Gbps bandwidth. In addition to the main connection to the GEANT network, a backup connection is also provided. A dynamic routing protocol configured at the international connection interface allows automatic rerouting of all traffic through an operational link in case of a failure. To improve service quality, in addition to the mentioned connections, internet traffic exchange with many operators in Poland is carried out through direct connections. Moreover, access to key traffic exchange points is ensured via the PIONIER network.