Cisco Cisco Prime Infrastructure 1.4 Information Guide
Results
Excellent Wireless Experience
In late 2013, 168,000 unique devices connected to the wireless network, an average
of three to five devices for every student and university employee. The number of
concurrent users peaked at 28,000. “Half of the entire university population was on
the network at the same time, and performance was excellent,” Sawyer says.
In late 2013, 168,000 unique devices connected to the wireless network, an average
of three to five devices for every student and university employee. The number of
concurrent users peaked at 28,000. “Half of the entire university population was on
the network at the same time, and performance was excellent,” Sawyer says.
New Ways to Learn and Work
UNSW is starting to use the wireless network for “flipped learning.” “High-
performance, high-density Wi-Fi is giving us the opportunity to look at teaching in a
new way,” Sawyer says. “Students watch video lectures before class, from anywhere.
Class time is used for small group activities to reinforce the lecture material.”
UNSW is starting to use the wireless network for “flipped learning.” “High-
performance, high-density Wi-Fi is giving us the opportunity to look at teaching in a
new way,” Sawyer says. “Students watch video lectures before class, from anywhere.
Class time is used for small group activities to reinforce the lecture material.”
University employees use the network for administration and research. It’s common
to see everyone in a large conference room looking up information on laptops and
tablets. Communications consultants no longer need to bring folders of floor plans
to job sites because they can view the plans on an iPad. And researchers can
record data on an iPad instead of having to go to an office and plug in.
to see everyone in a large conference room looking up information on laptops and
tablets. Communications consultants no longer need to bring folders of floor plans
to job sites because they can view the plans on an iPad. And researchers can
record data on an iPad instead of having to go to an office and plug in.
“We anticipate 50 to 100 percent more devices on campus every year,” Sawyer
says. “Whatever next year’s ‘killer app’ is, our network will be ready for it.”
says. “Whatever next year’s ‘killer app’ is, our network will be ready for it.”
Harnessing the Internet of Things
Now UNSW is putting the network to use to make facilities management more
efficient. For example, today, common areas are cleaned and trash bins emptied
based on a schedule, not on need. Unnecessary trips waste staff time and fuel.
Video surveillance cameras can show custodians when common areas need
cleaning. Sensors on trash bins can indicate fill level. Contractors who remove
chemical waste from labs can see when waste needs pickup.
Now UNSW is putting the network to use to make facilities management more
efficient. For example, today, common areas are cleaned and trash bins emptied
based on a schedule, not on need. Unnecessary trips waste staff time and fuel.
Video surveillance cameras can show custodians when common areas need
cleaning. Sensors on trash bins can indicate fill level. Contractors who remove
chemical waste from labs can see when waste needs pickup.
“All of the things that connect to our network can give us a clear picture of the who,
what, how, and when of campus usage,” says Costello. “That helps us create an
engaging, fulfilling, and positive campus experience.”
what, how, and when of campus usage,” says Costello. “That helps us create an
engaging, fulfilling, and positive campus experience.”
Technical Implementation
Wired Network: Each building has a Cisco Catalyst® 4500 Switch that connects to
centralized Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Stackable Switches. “The 10-Gbps uplinks in the
Catalyst 2960-X give us the bandwidth we need for the explosion of mobile devices
on campus,” Sawyer says. “These switches are reliable: they just work and work and
work. And using one vendor for all of our switches simplifies support.”
centralized Cisco Catalyst 2960-X Stackable Switches. “The 10-Gbps uplinks in the
Catalyst 2960-X give us the bandwidth we need for the explosion of mobile devices
on campus,” Sawyer says. “These switches are reliable: they just work and work and
work. And using one vendor for all of our switches simplifies support.”
High-Density Deployment: The IT team uses Cisco Prime™ Infrastructure to
visualize Wi-Fi coverage on a map, looking for any coverage gaps that need to
be filled. All students in a 400-seat lecture hall can connect, thanks to 20 access
points. Each floor of the library has up to 60 access points, enough for 1200 people
to connect at the same time, with a great experience.
visualize Wi-Fi coverage on a map, looking for any coverage gaps that need to
be filled. All students in a 400-seat lecture hall can connect, thanks to 20 access
points. Each floor of the library has up to 60 access points, enough for 1200 people
to connect at the same time, with a great experience.
Security: “Wireless is one of our most secure networks,” Sawyer says. Students
are given free antivirus software, and are encouraged to download the latest mobile
operating systems, which have better protections. The IT team can see which users
are connected and with which device. And Cisco CleanAir® technology, built-into
the access points, detects interference and routes traffic around it.
are given free antivirus software, and are encouraged to download the latest mobile
operating systems, which have better protections. The IT team can see which users
are connected and with which device. And Cisco CleanAir® technology, built-into
the access points, detects interference and routes traffic around it.
Customer Case Study
3 © 2014 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Greg Sawyer
Manager of Infrastructure Services
University of New South Wales