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New in Wireless...
1/31/2005
A fast review of what’s next in higher ed wireless networking technologies.
If you’re involved with the care and construction
of campus networks, you know that keeping up with developments in the wireless
world is nearly a full-time job. But what if you cannot devote about 40 hours
each week to keeping informed? To the rescue: A summary of some of the emerging
changes and issues follows.
Ubiquity
Wireless LANs on most campuses consist of islands of coverage. Students, however, now have begun to expect wireless data coverage to be just as available as coverage for their mobile phones—in some cases, even off campus. You may wish to compare your institution to Intel Corporation’s top 100 list of “Most Unwired Colleges.” While 100 percent campuswide coverage isn’t yet widespread, it is out there: For example, Case Western Reserve University (OH) features the world’s largest, free, public wireless network, covering its 90-acre campus with more than 1,315 access points. You can expect ubiquitous wireless, or at least the expectation of it, to head your way soon.
Interference
In an unlicensed arena like Wi-Fi, it’s too easy for a student or staffer to set up a new wireless network without understanding or dealing with the potential interference to existing networks. By now, the controversy generated in September 2004 at the University of Texas at Dallas (about restricting students’ use of Wi-Fi in dorms, due to wireless interference) has subsided, but that’s because the administration backed down from its initial stance. UT’s proposal to prohibit the use of private Wi-Fi networks fizzled due to protests that only the FCC has jurisdiction over the interference of radio signals. In the long run, most higher ed institutions will need to create policies dealing with interference and security. One option: Apply existing Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) boundaries to prevent harm to the university’s network environment.
Security
The first recent development in security—the new IEEE 802.11i standard—was ratified in June 2004 and is available in some products now. The biggest change is support for the AES encryption standard, which although requiring new hardware in access points, can greatly enhance the privacy of wireless communications. Products that meet the 802.11i standard should be labeled as WPA2-compliant.
Another development in this area is the use of centralized “wireless switches” to configure security settings and enforce policies across the entire wireless network, from one point. Aruba (www.arubanetworks.com) and Airespace (www.airespace.com) are the market leaders, but the big networking vendors are moving in. One instance is the Cisco Systems (
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