the challenges of mobile connectivity logistics & infrastructure track

The Challenges of Mobile Connectivity

Logistics & Infrastructure Track

The Challenges of Mobile Connectivity

John Matthews – Alcatel-LucentTom Anderson – Shenandoah Univ

Dempsey Peterson – Abilene Christian Univ

WLAN Trends and Challenges

John Matthews

Senior Systems EngineerAlcatel-Lucent Enterprise, North America

Copyright © 2011 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved.

Migration to .11n

Still supporting a/b/g, but .11n is taking off as an overlay

New dormitory construction with fewer Ethernet ports in rooms

Opting for pervasive WLAN coverage

WLAN expansion into instructional areas

Move from public and outdoor green spaces to academic areas

Dense AP coverage

Proliferation of mobile devices

Behavior of mobile devices vs. computers

WLAN Trends in Higher Education

Copyright © 2011 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved.

Move to structured architecture

Away from COWs with standalone AP/Router.

Need to support 2014 National Core Curriculum Assessment Testing

1:1 Computing expansion

Districts opting for providing laptops or mobile devices

Host Integrity Checking

Districts allowing student owned devices to access the network

Need to confirm alignment with security policies and AV posture

Voice over WLAN

In lieu of Mobile phones – cost containment Still usable outside for lunch/recess or bus duty

WLAN Trends in K-12 Education

Copyright © 2011 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved.

Mobile Learning &Your Wireless

Network

Tom AndersonApple Network EngineerShenandoah University

iMLearningIntegrated Mobile Educational Experience

Planning First Year

Expected significant increasein usage

Existing APs upgraded to 802.11n

Planning First Year

Increased coverage by re-purposing older APs

Increased number of APsfrom 120 to 160

The First Year

Added 1300 devices

MacBook, iPhone, iPod touch

35% load increase

1000 simultaneous at peak

Planning Year Two

Existing APs upgraded to 802.11n

Increased coverage by re-purposing older APs

Now up to 190 APs

The Second Year

Added another 1600 devices

Added iPad & iPhone 4

Traffic peaking at 55 Mbps

Peaked at 1400+ connections

What Did We Learn?

More wireless devices = more demand

Especially in Residence Halls

Make sure you have sufficient internet connection

More time managing the wireless environment

Future Plans

Upgrade Residence Halls to 802.11n

100 Mb internet connection in RHs

100 Mb internet connection for main campus

Cloudpath XpressConnect

Connect

tanderso2@su.edu

Dempsey Peterson

Abilene Christian University

Network Administrator - Wireless

Expectations

• Communicate with your customer• Understand how will your infrastructure be

used• Develop a multi-year plan• Implement improvements before they are

needed

Applications

• Keep track of new technology• Know how your infrastructure will be affected• Baseline your wireless network• Be proactive

Device Density

• “Steer” devices to the 5.8 MHz “a” band• Don’t “over install” access points• Don’t be afraid to reduce AP transmit power• Understand the limitations of your network

The Challenges of Mobile Connectivity

Questions

The Challenges of Mobile Connectivity

John Matthews – Alcatel-Lucent john.matthews@alcatel-lucent.com

Tom Anderson – Shenandoah Univ. tanderso2@su.edu

Dempsey Peterson – Abilene Christian Univ. petersond@acu.edu