Networking the 7th Continent McMurdo Station, Antarctica Sep 2000 Steven Pollock, CCIE #3148 Cisco Systems Engineer, US Antarctic Program

"Men wanted for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success. - Ernest Shackleton " Recruiting advertisement for Shackleton's 1912 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

Start Here 6 weeks here Processing Here Flew United to Christchurch US Airforce to McMurdo Landed on the Ice

When you land in Christchurch, they tell you to follow the penguin tracks to the Antarctic processing Center.

Everyone gets a red parka. Easy to spot you on the ice .

Christchurch New Zealand

The Christ Church

US Airforce Accommodations No first class here. Flight to the ice.

Land on the ice at dawn .

McMurdo Station

Radio Room

Dormitories

Propane Toilet Stand up before Flushing!

Medical

Dental

Scott’s Cabin Where he stayed prior to leaving for SP

Marked route, if you stray you may fall into a crevasse Never to return.

I got out for a nice run when it got up to -10 degrees F

Networking This team installed a state of the art Cisco network to support the science activities. I was the Cisco Systems Engineer supporting the effort.

Jeff Thompson, USAP

Catalyst 6500’s Were installed in the Core of the network

Making Cables

VoIP Pilot worked well.

Voice and Data over ICE? The TMWU (Tupperware Mounted Wireless Unit) Extreme situations calls for extreme measures..

Voice and Data over ICE?

New Zealand has a very small base down the “road” from McMurdo Station

Herbie Hurricane Blizzard

The reason we are in the Antarctic Science

Antarctic Cod

Scientist Office

Divers hut, they dive down under the ice for scientific Project support.

Sea Ice I never knew there that many kinds of ice…

Required survival training

No bugs, just seals.

Ice Cave