Cisco Cisco MXE 3000 (Media Experience Engine) Information Guide
Customer Case Study
© 2009 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
Page 1 of 3
University Deploys Connected Learning Technology
Wireless and networking solutions help Santa Clara University students collaborate and
learn.
learn.
Business Challenge
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
● Higher Education
● Santa Clara, California, USA
● 8000+ faculty and students
● Santa Clara, California, USA
● 8000+ faculty and students
BUSINESS CHALLENGE
● Upgrade outdated network infrastructure to
support high bandwidth and wireless
standards
standards
● Provide students and faculty with the tools
required to learn and collaborate at a
competitive level
competitive level
NETWORK SOLUTION
● Upgraded campus network from 10 Mbps
connections to 100 Mbps
● Campuswide wireless network solution
● New technology center/library and a new
● New technology center/library and a new
business center, both outfitted completely with
wireless and networking technology, IPTV,
digital signage, and VoIP telephony
wireless and networking technology, IPTV,
digital signage, and VoIP telephony
BUSINESS RESULTS
● Improved network bandwidth and connectivity,
enabling students and staff to work and learn
with the latest voice, video, data, and Web 2.0
tools
with the latest voice, video, data, and Web 2.0
tools
● More interactive and progressive learning
environment that better prepares students for
the technologies they will use in the working
world
the technologies they will use in the working
world
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara
University (SCU) is a 157-year-old Jesuit, Catholic
university with some 5000 predominantly full-time
undergraduate students and approximately 3500
mostly part-time graduate students. Located in one
of the most technologically advanced regions in the
United States, SCU generates high expectations for
availability of technology resources from students
and faculty: graduate students demand an
environment similar to what they experience in their
work in high technology industries; undergraduate
students want exposure to the latest tools, hoping for
a future advantage with prospective employers; and
faculty are eager to employ those same tools to
enhance their teaching and scholarship. SCU’s
communication infrastructure lacked the capacity to
support emerging technologies such as video and
web-based collaboration, and did not provide support
for mobile communications at all. Students, faculty,
and IT staff were all equally frustrated.
University (SCU) is a 157-year-old Jesuit, Catholic
university with some 5000 predominantly full-time
undergraduate students and approximately 3500
mostly part-time graduate students. Located in one
of the most technologically advanced regions in the
United States, SCU generates high expectations for
availability of technology resources from students
and faculty: graduate students demand an
environment similar to what they experience in their
work in high technology industries; undergraduate
students want exposure to the latest tools, hoping for
a future advantage with prospective employers; and
faculty are eager to employ those same tools to
enhance their teaching and scholarship. SCU’s
communication infrastructure lacked the capacity to
support emerging technologies such as video and
web-based collaboration, and did not provide support
for mobile communications at all. Students, faculty,
and IT staff were all equally frustrated.
Recognizing the pedagogical and competitive
benefits of a robust technology infrastructure, SCU administrators resolved to make appropriate
upgrades. They were very sensitive, however, to both the initial and ongoing costs of technical
resources, and wanted to ensure that the new infrastructure they might provide would meet both
current and future needs. To resolve these issues, Santa Clara partnered with Cisco for a
technology overhaul of its communication and network infrastructure with a modular, enterprise-
based model in mind.
upgrades. They were very sensitive, however, to both the initial and ongoing costs of technical
resources, and wanted to ensure that the new infrastructure they might provide would meet both
current and future needs. To resolve these issues, Santa Clara partnered with Cisco for a
technology overhaul of its communication and network infrastructure with a modular, enterprise-
based model in mind.
Network Solution
By far the most common complaint about Santa Clara’s technical infrastructure was the lack of a
wireless network. With Cisco’s technical guidance SCU quickly addressed this by installing, in just
over three months, 650 wireless drops and transmitters. The resulting network covered all campus
buildings and open areas except for athletic and recreation fields. This new resource was
enthusiastically welcomed by students and faculty alike, logging connections by nearly 2000
different users in the first month. Because SCU had only two network engineers on staff, Cisco’s
centralized administration and control capabilities, which allow effective and efficient management
of the new wireless network, were essential to successful implementation and operation.
wireless network. With Cisco’s technical guidance SCU quickly addressed this by installing, in just
over three months, 650 wireless drops and transmitters. The resulting network covered all campus
buildings and open areas except for athletic and recreation fields. This new resource was
enthusiastically welcomed by students and faculty alike, logging connections by nearly 2000
different users in the first month. Because SCU had only two network engineers on staff, Cisco’s
centralized administration and control capabilities, which allow effective and efficient management
of the new wireless network, were essential to successful implementation and operation.