Academy to begin AFNet migration Dec. 5

  • Published
  • By Don Branum
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Airmen who use computers on the Air Force Academy's "dot-mil" network should expect changes when the 10th Communications Squadron here migrates to the Air Force Network in early December, the squadron's project manager said Oct. 6.

The migration will not directly affect users on the Academy's "dot-edu" network, David West said.

Users' email addresses will change as part of the "Email 4 Career," or E4C, initiative, West said. The new email addresses will follow Air Force employees even when they move to other bases. Additionally, users will be able to login to any computer on the AFNet once the migration is complete.

"When the AFNet migration is 100-percent complete, Airmen will have a single account, always active and accessible at any Air Force location worldwide," West said.

Users whose computers run Windows XP must have their operating systems upgraded to Windows Vista or Windows 7 before Dec. 5 or must request a waiver if applications on their computers will not run under newer operating systems, West said. Some users running Windows Vista will also require operating system updates depending on what version of the Air Force Standard Desktop Configuration is loaded onto their PCs.

The 10th CS is working with each organization to update computers through an automated process, but some PCs may not take the automated upgrades, West said. The 10th CS helpdesk, located on the second floor of Fairchild Hall, can upgrade these PCs manually. Some client support technicians can also reimage computers with the newest SDC.

The first step in the migration process took place Oct. 4 when the 10th CS implemented size limits on dot-mil users' email boxes. Most users on the dot-mil network are restricted to 80 megabytes, with higher limits set for senior officers and mid-level commanders.

AFNet migration seeks to reduce Air Force operational costs while improving network security, said Vince Ross, program manager for the Air Force Electronic Systems Center's Cyber Integration Division, in a March 23 Air Force report. The consolidated network will greatly reduce the number of potential vulnerabilities.

At Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., one of the first bases to migrate to AFNet, the only thing users are noticing is "a lot less spam," Ross said.

The Air Force Network Integration Center, headquartered at Scott AFB, Ill., is the lead agency for implementing the AFNet migration and a direct reporting unit aligned under Air Force Space Command.

AFNet Q&A

Q: Whom do I call if I have problems during or after the migration?
A: Users should continue to call 719-333-HELP (333-4357). The automated call tree will route dot-mil callers to the Enterprise Service Desk. Dot-edu callers will still work with the Academy's Help Desk.

Q: Can I still access my email account through Outlook Web Access?
A: Yes, but the webmail address will change from https://webmail.usafa.af.mil to https://usafa.mail.us.af.mil/owa.

Q: How can I prepare for the AFNet migration?
A: If your computer is not already running Windows Vista or Windows 7, contact your client support technician or the Academy Help Desk to have your operating system upgraded or to obtain a waiver from the upgrade.