Cisco Cisco Aironet 1130 AG Access Point Guía De Información
Customer Case Study
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“The Admissions and Residential Life offices make a
point to let prospective students know that wireless is
now available all over campus. Ubiquitous wireless
access indoors and outdoors is a great marketing tool
that we use to attract new students.”
point to let prospective students know that wireless is
now available all over campus. Ubiquitous wireless
access indoors and outdoors is a great marketing tool
that we use to attract new students.”
– Mark Hughes, assistant vice president for technology resources at Texas State University
Network Solution
After considering a variety of outdoor wireless options, the Texas State IT team decided that the
school would benefit most from an outdoor wireless mesh network. With wireless mesh, the
network dynamically routes packets from access point to access point, using a wireless radio. A
few access points are connected directly to the wired network, via a wired backhaul, but the rest of
the access points share connections with one another over the air. This simplifies wiring and
reduces costs.
school would benefit most from an outdoor wireless mesh network. With wireless mesh, the
network dynamically routes packets from access point to access point, using a wireless radio. A
few access points are connected directly to the wired network, via a wired backhaul, but the rest of
the access points share connections with one another over the air. This simplifies wiring and
reduces costs.
“The driving factor for outdoor wireless mesh was the need for less Ethernet wiring, especially in
outdoor areas that are difficult to cable,” says Mark Hughes, assistant vice president for technology
resources at Texas State.
outdoor areas that are difficult to cable,” says Mark Hughes, assistant vice president for technology
resources at Texas State.
After evaluating several solutions, the team chose an Outdoor Wireless Network from Cisco
Systems that includes weatherproof Cisco 1500 Series Outdoor Access Points (APs) and Cisco
Catalyst
Systems that includes weatherproof Cisco 1500 Series Outdoor Access Points (APs) and Cisco
Catalyst
®
6500 Series Wireless Service Modules (WiSMs). These products provide robust
coverage and enhanced security, while also integrating with the school’s installed base of Cisco
wired and wireless networking equipment.
wired and wireless networking equipment.
“The WiSM controllers slid right into our core switches, which had open slots to accommodate
them,” Bishop says. The Catalyst 6500 WiSM also supports smooth device roaming between
indoor and outdoor access points.
them,” Bishop says. The Catalyst 6500 WiSM also supports smooth device roaming between
indoor and outdoor access points.
“The self-healing aspects of the Cisco outdoor wireless mesh network, and its integration with our
existing Cisco indoor wireless solution, made it very appealing,” Hughes says. “We were looking for
a transparent solution that would allow mobile users to move from building to building on campus
and never lose their IP connection, and the Cisco Outdoor Wireless Network was the best fit.”
existing Cisco indoor wireless solution, made it very appealing,” Hughes says. “We were looking for
a transparent solution that would allow mobile users to move from building to building on campus
and never lose their IP connection, and the Cisco Outdoor Wireless Network was the best fit.”
Hughes was also impressed by Cisco’s previous experience with large outdoor wireless networks.
The Cisco account team working with Texas State had already installed a municipal outdoor
wireless mesh in the nearby state capital, Austin.
The Cisco account team working with Texas State had already installed a municipal outdoor
wireless mesh in the nearby state capital, Austin.
“The greatest challenge that we faced in this implementation was the hilly terrain of our campus,”
Hughes says. “Lessons learned in the Austin effort were applied directly to our campus.”
Hughes says. “Lessons learned in the Austin effort were applied directly to our campus.”
Some university officials voiced concern that the 50 outdoor access points would look strange—a
common challenge for university IT teams. But a comprehensive site survey helped the team
maintain the artistic integrity of the campus. “We exercised discretion and always chose the space
that would be least disturbing to the aesthetics of the older buildings,” says Patrick Brennan, senior
network technician at Texas State.
common challenge for university IT teams. But a comprehensive site survey helped the team
maintain the artistic integrity of the campus. “We exercised discretion and always chose the space
that would be least disturbing to the aesthetics of the older buildings,” says Patrick Brennan, senior
network technician at Texas State.
“We have not heard one complaint about the access points since the mesh network was deployed,”
Hughes says. ”It simply became part of the landscape.”
Hughes says. ”It simply became part of the landscape.”