Networking & Wireless

West Virginia State U Implements 10-Gigabit Switch, Other Network Upgrades

• By Leila Meyer
• 08/28/15

West Virginia State University (WVSU) has upgraded its network infrastructure to include a 10-gigabit core switch, an advanced router, power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switches and PoE access points in an effort to support researchers and to attract and retain top-notch students, faculty and administrators.

Key components of West Virginia State U's existing network infrastructure had reached their end of life. The university had attempted to control the cost of upgrades by making small changes wherever necessary, but when it received a state research grant from the United States Department of Energy's Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the university took the opportunity for a major overhaul. The IT department then worked with Infinit Technology Solutions to find new network infrastructure that would meet the needs of a growing university while controlling costs.

Their search led them to D-Link, which had the right equipment at the right price for the university. They selected a 10-gigabit D-Link DES-7210 chassis switch to support a new high-performance computer in the university's Computational Science Center and connected it to other buildings on campus. "This installation, together with an advanced router, would also provide interconnectivity with other nearby institutions — Marshall University and West Virginia University — enabling our researchers to better collaborate with theirs on state-wide research," said Bob Huston, director of IT at WVSU, in a prepared statement.

In addition to the core switch, the university implemented numerous other network upgrades. "WVSU already had some smaller D-Link unmanaged switches and standalone access points…," said Joe Hamel, senior account executive for Infinit Technology Solutions, in a prepared statement. "We installed the new core switch, they loved it, and they've now begun installing D-Link PoE head switches and enterprise-level PoE access points throughout the campus."

According to information from D-Link, the upgrade to managed PoE switches has eliminated the need to install power outlets for the access points, while adding gigabit speeds and network management capabilities.

In addition to the upgraded network infrastructure, WVSU is also adding managed switches and expanding its wireless coverage. In the future, the university plans to take advantage of the virtual local area network (VLAN) capabilities of the network switches on its network edge to segregate network traffic.