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2 Silicon Valley Colleges Deploy High-Performance Wireless Networks

By: Dian Schaffhauser

4/17/2009

Onwiler said the network was quick to install. "And Meru's antenna technology makes it easy to control where the signal goes," he added. "We can dynamically adjust signal direction from the AP so we're keeping signals inside the buildings and not sending them into the parking lot, where a hacker could get onto the network and launch a denial-of-service attack."

The district uses about 200 Meru AP311 access points, each including one 802.11n radio and one 802.11a/b/g radio (software-upgradeable to 11n); MC1000 controllers provide management for all access points.

Since the student wireless network is intended to be "wide open," Onwiler said--and because it is completely physically separated from the wired administrative network--password-protected sign-ins for specific applications (such as Moodle, Blackboard, and Datatel ActiveCampus) and software to block downloading of copyrighted materials are deemed sufficient security mechanisms for the WLAN.

The district's two campuses serve 20,000 students.


Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business. Send your higher education technology news to her at dian@dischaffhauser.com.