Towson University and Cisco Systems, Inc. have recently teamed up for a $3.2 million upgrade to TU?s network, which will include one of Maryland?s largest wireless networks. The upgrades will provide the university with increased reliability, performance, manageability and security.
Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, has worked with TU over the past eight years on other networking projects and will supply Towson University with security software and the hardware for nearly 400 access points in 29 academic and administrative buildings.
The first phase of the project, which kicked off in early May, replaces the university?s existing wired network with Cisco equipment, which provides the foundation on which to build the wireless network.
The new wireless network, slated to be complete by this fall, will provide quality, high-speed connections to more than 18,000 students, faculty and staff from virtually anywhere on TU?s 328-acre campus. It will allow for increased flexibility and mobility by eliminating the restraints of physically wired connections, while maintaining the functionality of traditional local area networks (LANs).
The wireless network will allow students, faculty and staff to use increasingly popular technologies like laptop computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to be able to do online research, download coursework, check e-mail and access the campus network without having to plug into a network port. The access points, strategically placed around campus, will allow for access from up to 300 feet away.
?This is exciting for the campus,? said Dr. Robert L. Caret, president of Towson University. ?Whether or not you?re a ?techie? you?ll reap the benefits of these upgrades. I am personally very eager to try the network out from our ?beach?!?
TU will employ the maximum level of security for the university?s network, including authentication for access. Combined with a Cisco firewall, installed in January 2004, and a Cisco Virtual Private Network client, installed in April 2004, several new security systems will be included to secure the wireless network.
TU opted to use Cisco?s technology because of Cisco?s history of providing excellent networking solutions for the university. TU?s network is designed to serve as a showcase for Cisco?s innovative technologies that are available to institutes of higher education across the nation. In the coming years, Towson University and Cisco engineers plan to work together to develop the network further and provide telecommunications and networking direction.
TU’s Office of Technology Services (OTS) is coordinating the project with Cisco. In the coming week OTS will publish a Web site that provides further information on the implementation and use of the new wireless network.
