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Features
Wireless Networking
12/31/2003
The University of Pittsburgh’s 9,600 employees, including 3,800 faculty members, serve more than 32,000 students through the programs of 18 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.
Wireless Networking Pilot
The demand for wireless network access at the University of Pittsburgh has increased
dramatically over the past several years. In recognition of the need for increased
network access and to keep pace with rapidly evolving wireless network technology,
the University of Pittsburgh launched a pilot project in 2001 that involved
several selected classrooms and a heavily used student area. The pilot program
resulted in the decision to base initial wireless service on the IEEE 802.11b
standard using equipment that could easily be reconfigured to operate under
newer standards such as 802.11a or 802.11g—as support for these were incorporated
into commercially-available equipment.
Central Directory Service
The University of Pittsburgh’s Central Directory Service (CDS) includes
information on all individuals affiliated with the university. CDS provides
the cornerstone for the university’s authentication systems. Because the
role of each individual is maintained within CDS, the infrastructure for wireless
user authorization was already in place.
Bluesocket offered a major advantage for our wireless implementation in that only a Web browser, not client software, is needed to access the customizable user login screen. It is completely compatible with the University of Pittsburgh’s LDAP authentication service and provides the ability to restrict or allow access based upon the user’s role within CDS. Bluesocket is compatible with all of the popular operating systems (Windows, Windows CE, Linux, and Macintosh) and supports multiple security protocols including IPSec, Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Bluesocket allows for roaming, even when using IPSec. Automatic failover is also supported. Finally, Bluesocket supports RADIUS user accounting allowing the University of Pittsburgh to keep user access logs by using the RADIUS accounting services already in place.
Wireless PittNet
Authenticated wireless network access is available to students in various high-traffic
locations on the Pittsburgh campus, including study areas in several academic
buildings, the main library, and the student union lounge. Outdoor wireless
access is available in selected areas. Faculty and students can connect to the
wireless network in designated classrooms. The university departments have the
option to implement wireless network access in administrative offices.
Site surveys include consultation with the department to learn and understand its planned use of wireless technology, monitoring of existing radio frequency signals for interference, measurement, evaluation of signal strength, and delivery of a report that describes the proposed layout of the wireless network.
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