Wireless Technology at Utep

Wireless network technologies have become very popular in recent years, offering a mix of very appealing features, such as high speed, roaming, quick deployment, and applicability in areas that are impractical for wiring. The standardization of wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11 and supplements 802.11a and 802.11b) has brought interoperability between vendors and driven the prices down. At the same time, new proprietary solutions for point to point connectivity offering increased performance were appearing on the market.

UTEP recognized the potentials of these exciting new technologies, and early experiments were soon followed by permanent solutions that provide or complement campus network infrastructure. Several key buildings on the campus and their surrounding areas are covered with wireless LAN signal, allowing roaming with wireless enabled laptop computers. A newly added off campus building is connected to the main campus with a stationary wireless link, eliminating expensive leased line charges, and several more buildings will be connected soon. Most notably, a wireless connection is established with UACJ (Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez) that is located across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. This link provides UACJ with connectivity to Internet 2, a large consortium of universities and research institutions throughout the United States, and with CUDI (Corporaciуn Universitaria para el Desarrollo de Internet), its counterpart in Mexico.

Experimenting with new technologies can sometimes prove difficult for public universities like UTEP due to various budgetary constraints. The solution was found in forming partnerships with equipment manufactures and system integrators who offered their expertise and either donated equipment or provided significant discounts. Once pilot projects show success, it becomes easier to secure funding for later stages of deployment. It is in the initial phases of these projects where such partnerships created most impact.

Enterasys Networks is UTEP's long term supplier of network infrastructure equipment. Western Multiplex is a new partner of UTEP. It specializes in high speed wireless point to point connections. Integrated Systems Group is a system integration company from El Paso with references across the United States and Mexico.

Wireless LANs

The involvement with wireless networking technologies at UTEP began when the University Bookstore was looking for ways to enable network connectivity for outdoor book fair events in popular and frequented places such as in front of major campus buildings. The temporary nature of these events and the outdoor ambient made wiring very impractical. Wireless LAN seemed to be the perfect solution.

To evaluate this technology, UTEP launched a pilot program with the help of Enterasys Networks, who donated a RoamAbout 802.11b wireless LAN access point, 16 laptop computers, and a larger number of wireless PC cards. The access point was placed in the Student Union, a popular building that houses the University Bookstore, along with several eateries, lounging areas, and other facilities. The computers and the wireless PC cards were used in a checkout program in which students could borrow the equipment and use it to access network resources and services in the covered area.

The program was very successful, and it was soon decided to expand the area covered with wireless signal to other major buildings. There were still some donations, but the expansion was very slow until UTEP was able to secure regular funding of this project and buy its own equipment rather that rely on donations. At the moment, several buildings are covered with wireless LAN signal including the library, the flagship Undergraduate Learning Center, the Information Technology department, and the Union Plaza, the outdoor area between the two wings of the Student Union. Beside students, faculty and staff are also using this wireless network.

The Union will be upgraded soon with 802.11a based access points that will enable data rates of up to 54 Mbps, which will also be downward compatible with existing 802.11b based 11 Mbps data rates. New 802.11a PC cards will be required to take advantage of the faster rates.

There are a lot of requests from various departments and individuals for further expansion of this network. An interesting suggestion is that the one entire campus street where several already covered major buildings are located should be covered with signal, enabling users to walk from one building to another without breaking a connection. It is planned that the whole campus should be covered with wireless LAN signal eventually.

Point to Point Wireless Links

The university recently acquired a small off-campus building. The building was to house the Center for Inter-American Border Studies with about 15(?) employees. The applications in use are e-mail, access to the student information system and other information services, and web access, similar to the majority of other campus offices. In addition, the office hosts a web server that is accessed mostly from outside campus.

The location of the building is specific in that it is very close to the main campus, only a few blocks away, but far enough for the local area network to reach. Pulling fiber was not an economical option, and besides, there was no time for such a solution - the building had to be equipped in a very short period of time. Another option was leasing one or more T1 or ISDN lines from an ISP, a solution that is currently used with some other off-campus buildings. It was ruled out because the monthly charges would soon have surpassed the cost of a wireless solution, while offering a fraction of the bandwidth.

Cable modem and DSL services were also considered because of their acceptable bandwidth and low monthly charges, but were rejected for similar reasons. In addition, they would require network traffic to go through the ISP and through the university's already saturated commercial Internet connection. There would also be privacy issues, requiring the use of virtual private networks (VPN). It was clear that a wireless connection would provide much better performance than any other solution except fiber, while avoiding all their problems and difficulties. Higher bandwidth, more control, no monthly charges, no expensive and time consuming installation, and no adverse impact on the university's commercial internet connection made wireless an obvious choice.

Enterasys RoamAbout 802.3b wireless bridges were used on both sides, operating at 11 Mbps in a point to point configuration. A directional antenna was