January 13^th Wireless Summit Questions

Additional questions for Wireless Infrastructure Team or Wireless Advisory Council can be submitted to: wirelesssummit@osu.edu. Thank You.

Note: WIT = Wireless Infrastructure Team

1. Question: Would hallways be considered common areas?

WIT Response: Defining what constitutes public space on the main OSU campus is a difficult task.  The funding specifies a fixed and finite total number of centrally funded APs. So, we will rely on the Wireless Advisory Council to define what constitutes a common / public space and to put priorities on which of those spaces to cover.

2. Question: There are a lot of new buildings going up around campus. Has wireless been included in the new building specifications?

WIT Response:  This is a good suggestion. To our knowledge, potential wireless locations are identified for new buildings as they are built, if possible.

3. Question: Are residence halls included in the plan at all?

WIT Response: Residence Halls fall under the department of Student Affairs, which would fund the wireless coverage for those areas and determine whether they become part of the University’s centrally managed wireless network. The WIT has been in contact with Student Affairs and has recommended their participation on the Wireless Advisory Council.

4. Question: What if we have a wireless network that meets the Wireless Standards policy, but don’t want to use the OSU backbone?

WIT Response: Our intent is to encourage departments and colleges to move to the University’s centrally managed wireless network. Departments and colleges who elect not to do so and continue to maintain private wireless networks will be unable to take advantage of the features and functionality of the University’s wireless network, which include: tightened security, mobility around campus, integrated AP power management, and others.

5. Question: If OSU Wireless network bleeds over into our department wireless network, does the OSU wireless network take precedence?

WIT Response: Yes. However, the first step would be to work with the department / college to determine how both networks can co-exist. In the event the interference cannot be resolved, in accordance with the University’s Wireless Network Policy, the University’s wireless network would take precedence.

6. For large deployments, like the College of Business, do we have to turn over networks to OIT to control or would you provide the authentication scheme and we point our own network to it?

WIT Response: This item requires further discussion by the team. The overall plan would be to convert existing access points to “University” access points integrated into the centrally managed wireless network.  Steps will be taken to incorporate the needs of the local area network during the process.

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7. Question: If a new subnet is required, do we have to pay for the new subnet, AP’s and turn over control to OIT?

WIT Response: The university wireless project will provide appropriate switch ports and subnets at no charge to the end customer.

8. Question: Has any consideration been made concerning the effect of single user, multiple login / multiple devices on the wireless network?

WIT Response:  Based on discussions with Network Security and Engineering groups, the impact to the network would be minimal.

9. Comment: Management aspect really needs to be more cooperative.

WIT Response: Our intent is to encourage departments and colleges to move to the University’s centrally managed wireless network.

10. Question: How are prioritization of common / pool classroom area locations being determined for Wireless deployment?

WIT Response: The funding specifies a fixed and finite total number of centrally funded APs. So, we will rely on the Advisory Council and its sub-committees to define what constitutes a common / public space and to put priorities on which of those spaces to cover. The 220 AP’s currently in pool classrooms are included in the funding model.

11. Question: Will there be a group created to fight war walkers / war antennae in the parking lots?

WIT Response:  This is an area requiring attention. WIT is reviewing vendor solutions that minimize RF bleed into non authorized areas that may include public parking lots. We appreciate your offer to assist with this, if necessary.

12. Question: When do you anticipate letting departments onto the Wireless Network?

WIT Response:  Specific plans and procedures for letting departments and colleges onto the University’s centrally managed wireless network will be defined over the next few months.

13. Question: To take advantage of roaming, do we have to turn our wireless network over to OIT? OIT doesn’t have to buy AP’s, we do, so we need some control over what is going on.

WIT Response: Yes, if your college / department want the features and functionality the University’s centrally managed wireless network will provide including: tightened security, mobility around campus, integrated AP power management, and others.

14. Question: Will there be allowances for authentication for faculty that need access to departmental resources (authorization vs authentication).

WIT Response: We recognize this is a concern / need in many departments / colleges. This item requires further research by the team but all steps will be taken to maximize the flexibility of the centrally managed wireless network and allow faculty access to departmental resources.

15. Question: Since authentication will be name.#, will we get any identifying information about who is logging into and using our portion of the wireless network?

WIT Response: Colleges and departments choosing not to move to the University’s centrally managed wireless network would need to track this information through their own internal means.

For colleges & departments electing to move to the University’s centrally managed wireless network, the solutions we have researched do provide certain types of identifying information. Logistics concerning how to properly share the information is still being determined.

16. Question: At what point will OSUWeb.net wireless service and charges go away / be turned off?

Additional Comment: We need access to the wireless network immediately for testing before OSUWeb.net service is turned off.

WIT Response: We expect to have an overlap with OSUWeb.net for a period of time until the transition by OSUweb.net users to the University’s centrally managed wireless network is completed. Customers subscribing to OSUWeb.net for personal use will have to cancel service after they have successfully migrated to the University’s wireless network and name.# authentication. Departmental billing for wireless access point management ended January 2005.

17. Question: What will be done with current OSUWeb.net wireless users – will they be automatically switched over to the new wireless network? Will there be a charge to be switched over to the new network?

WIT Response: Customers will not incur a fee for changing services but will be required to cancel their OSUWeb.net subscription. This will not be automatic when the University’s centrally managed wireless network comes online.

18.  Question: Besides Cisco, who are the major players?

WIT Response: According to a Gartner Group report of May, 2004 the 4 companies with the highest ability to execute were Airespace, Cisco, Nortel and Symbol. There are also a number of lesser players.  Within the past few weeks, Cisco has announced that they will acquire Airespace.  Since Nortel was rebadging Airespace, the market (from Gartner's perspective) is shaking out.

Another report by the Burton Group in December, 2004 confirmed Cisco's and Aeronet's market leader positions, but indicated that other niche players may have a chance.

19. Question: What consideration has been given to future unknown end devices, like PocketPC’s etc?

WIT Response:  WIT will continue to research applications that enhance the wireless capabilities of PDA’s, PocketPCs, smartphones and the like.

20. Question: What provisions will you have to allow me to set up wireless in my own IP space & use it for authorization to my departmental resources?

WIT Response: Working together, WIT and the end user should be able to identify solutions that meet the needs of the university and the Department / College.

21. Question: How much of the security and tech support will be 24 x 7? We currently have a NOC that is 24 x 7 operation, if we turn over control to OIT,  24 x 7 service will be an expectation.

WIT Response: Support would be provided the same as with the wired network:  DNA”s would have 24 x 7 access to OIT technical support. End user support would not be 24 x 7; end users would receive support through their DNA’s.

22. Suggestion: May want to consider time of year and move AP’s accordingly as traffic shifts. Example, Winter, most students will be in doors versus in the outdoor spaces.

WIT Response:  We appreciate your suggestion.

23. Suggestion: At some point, accommodation for transient people who are on campus for a short period of time, like for conferences at the Blackwell should be made. A pay for service type deal for them.

WIT Response: We are considering this a requirement of the chosen solution and are currently testing a number of options. Guest access will be provided with implementation timelines yet to be determined.

24. Suggestion: Deploy physical signs that alert a person that “this area is a hot spot”. Today we have to go to UNITS website to find out that information. Should be visible signs while people are out and walking around.

WIT Response: Great idea!

25. Suggestion: May want to expand brainstorming of the public space question to student population.

WIT Response: We appreciate your suggestion.  The Wireless Advisory Council will take the lead on this item. A representative from Undergraduate Student Government has been contacted to participate on the Advisory Council.

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Some of the additional questions received after the Summit on 1/13/05, may be of interest to other college / department representatives:

26. Question: The University’s wireless network will offer 802.11 a\b\g. Will departments that offer additional wireless devices be required to support all 3 standards?

1/27/05 WIT Response:  No; departmental “islands” can operate on their choice of a or b/g.  However, devices operating on the University’s centrally managed wireless network need to support 802.11 a\b\g to insure that services can be provided regardless of whether they use frequencies in the a or b/g spectrum. .

As part of the RFP process, WIT would like to work closely with administrators of existing Wireless Lans to include an upgrade strategy for their access points.  Investment protection is a key component of the wireless initiative.

27. Question: With the RFP still being formed, how will colleges that have deployed wireless with a specific vendor be reconciled?

WIT Response:  If the college or department moves to the University’s centrally managed wireless network, wireless equipment must be compliant. Every effort will be made thru the RFP process to protect existing wireless equipment investments as much as possible.

28. If authentication must be turned over to OIT, this is a huge policy change.

a. How will support be handled on departmental owned access points?

WIT Response:  Access points on the University’s centrally managed wireless network will be managed / supported by the Office of Information Technology.

b. Will tools be released to departmental technical support to assist with trouble shooting and user training?

WIT Response: We appreciate the value in granting University network administrators access to important tools and network health information. We will work closely with the community on acceptable solutions. Training is a key success factor that is under review.

c. Will this ultimately have an impact upon the implementation of all technology in the college (eg. mail, web)?

WIT Response: Please provide further clarification of this item at wirelesssummit@osu.edu.

d. What kind of response time would be guaranteed if a problem occurs during normal working hours and after hours?

WIT Response: We recognize the need for these kinds of service level agreements. Various options for addressing this item are being discussed.

29. Question: If OIT is now going to require that wireless access points must be turned over to them to manage, how will authorization services be handled to limit resources with the college to be accessed by only their faculty, staff and students?

WIT Response: Colleges and departments can limit access to internal resources based on their own criteria (eg. requiring use of a VPN for access to internal resources). Alternative options such as multiple SSID’s are under consideration.

30. Question: Will the departments/ colleges (especially those with extensive investment in wireless deployment) be involved in the development of the RFP, review of bids and any meaningful input in the winner? If so, how can we be certain of this?

WIT Response: The Wireless Advisory Council is being formed to facilitate dialogue and gather feedback from the University community.  We encourage departments and colleges to seek representation and participation on the Council.

31. Question: The arbitration process says that if there is a disagreement between OIT and a unit, OIT is the arbitrator. Is this really the way conflicts are resolved? Moreover, it was stated that if OIT wants, it can unilaterally come into any building on campus and remove equipment that is not in compliance. Again, this constitutes either an enormous policy change or a significant change in how policy is applied.

WIT Response: The policy adopted by the University basically states that the Director of Enterprise Networking is the arbitrator in such cases. The policy also provides for an appeals process up through the Chief Information Officer. 

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