Overview of Wireless Network

Steven Fetcie

Infrastructure Manager

Information Services

SUNY Canton is one of eight Technology

Colleges in the 64 campus State University

of New York system

History First began to experiment with wireless

LANs in the summer of 1999. A small pilot test was conducted during the spring of 2000with Electrical Engineering Technology students

First production units installed in support of student laptop programduring the summer of 2001 utilizingCabletron (now Enterasys) RoamaboutAP 2000 802.11b Access Points

Initial areas covered included Electrical Engineering Technology

Labs and Offices Library JT’s Café (Faculty Office Building

Lobby)

No encryption

MAC Authentication using back end RADIUS server ( Livingston RADIUSrunning on Linux)

Students registered their MAC addresses by filling out a registration form

Next major expansion came during the summer of 2002when a decision was made to install wireless coverage in all Residence Halls.

Prior to this project, access in Residence Halls was limitedto 22 dial up lines via Intel Shiva remote access servers.

As more students began to bring PCs to college, demandfor dial up access grew from less than 50 users to over 300out of approximately 800 residents

Separate WAN connection set up to support

Residence Halls (1 T1 initially, later 3 T1s)

Same MAC registration process

Lessons learned from Res Hall rolloutManual Registration did not scale wellneeded to investigate automated process

Tremendous ramp up in Help Desk calls related to installing wireless cards.

Initial computer registration was approximately 300 devices (Fall 2002)

Over the years of wireless access, grew to approx 600

Added an automated registration process

during the summer of 2005 (Netreg) to

support all wireless users on campus

Wireless access was discontinued May

2006 after Time Warner Roadrunner

Installation project during winter break 05/06

Expansion on other areas of Campus

Wireless was added as part of constructionprojects 2002-2005

New Construction Miller Campus Center

Newell Veterinary Science BuildingRenovation project

Wicks HallOld Campus Center

Today’s coverage 40 APs installed, 16 awaiting installation

Library – full coverageWicks Hall – full coverageCheney Dining Hall – full coverageAll large lecture hallsNevaldine Eng Tech Center

North – full coverageSouth – partial coverage

Newell Vet Science Building – full coverageCook Hall – partial coveragePayson Hall – partial coverageDana Hall ( Athletics) – partial coverageMiller Campus Center ( full coverage including Kingston Theater)Residence Halls – center area ( offices, game room, lounge)

Equipment Overview

Roamabout AP 2000

Roamabout R2

Proprietary remote power injector

No 802.3af Power over Ethernet support

All end of life / End of service

Management

Roamabout Manager

Fall 2006 implemented Bradford Networks

Campus Manager

Enterasys Roamabout Manager

Client list of Access Point

Link Test with Client Device

All users of the campus wireless network must register their PCs and allow a security policy check.

What is checked? Are you a valid userWhat operating system do you have (Windows 98 and ME are not allowed)What level of OS Service Pack is installedDo you have an Anti-Virus program

installed and is it currentAutomatic Updates enabled

Network login page

Enter in the username and password of yourCampus network account and type of system

You will see the application in action as it checks your system

PC has passed policy check

Questions?