West Virginia State U Implements 10-Gigabit Switch, Other Network Upgrades
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.
About the Author
Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].