January 2006 — Features
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A World Without Wires
| 5 Steps to Wireless Security |
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• Leverage existing security mechanisms and credentials, such as a directory service or user authentication database.
• Ensure all client operating systems in the wireless network support the WPA or WPA2 standard. • Ensure your vendor supports EAP in an effective manner. • Select an authentication server that will work with the selected user credentials database and matching EAP types. • Confirm that all access points and client devices to be used in the deployment are WPA-Enterprise or WPA2-Enterprise Wi-Fi Certified as applicable. |
While most traditional WLANs are based on Wi-Fi standards (typically 802.11a, b, or g), wireless mesh networks can extend to broadband standards such as UltraWideband. As this story went to press, Cisco and other major wireless providers were developing specific strategies to catch up with mesh industry pioneers Motorola (which acquired MeshNetworks Inc. in 2004; www.motorola.com), Firetide Inc., Tropos Networks (www.tropos.com), and Strix Systems (www.strixsystems.com).
Firetide specifically targets K-12 schools with its wireless mesh systems that can blanket an entire campus. In addition to supporting educational applications, Firetide’s wireless connections can allow schools to monitor parking areas, public facilities, walkways, and other areas on a K-12 campus.
Despite their growing popularity—particularly in urban settings—mesh networks aren’t for everyone. Mesh routers can cost $2,000 or more, quite expensive compared to traditional wireless access points ($400 or less).
Answering the Call
Meanwhile, many schools are aggressively converging voice traffic onto their wireless infrastructures. Just ask North Point High School in Charles County, MD. In October, the school debuted a 21st-century learning environment, aimed at providing rich educational opportunities for both high school students and vocational “career tech” students.
In addition to rolling out wireless notebooks, North Point deployed wireless IP phones from Cisco to each classroom, enabling teachers to check voicemail, schedule teleconferences with parents, and even access 911 services in an emergency. The wireless IP network allows streaming video, video clips, and other multimedia to be delivered right to the desktop, enabling students and teachers to tap into virtually unlimited educational content. During fall 2005 classes, videoconferencing over the IP system was easily integrated into teachers’ lesson plans, according to North Point Principal Peter Cenenini.
North Point High isn’t alone. Roughly 31 percent of North American organizations—including schools—will deploy voice-over-wireless LANs by 2007, predicts Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) of Campbell, CA. Prices for wireless VoIP systems vary greatly, but generally run about $50,000 to $75,000 or more for a system that includes a dedicated server, voicemail software, and handsets, according to BuyerZone.com, a Web portal that helps businesses make informed buying decisions.
Fast ROI
School districts that embrace wireless VoIP have seen rapid returns on investment. Just ask administrators in Syracuse, NY, where a massive Wi-Fi rollout is expected to save $200,000 annually because the VoIP system will eliminate the need for expensive phone-line changes and recurring voicemail service charges.
The project, which spans 23,000 students and 2,000 faculty members, includes 300 Cisco access points, deployed by IBM Corp.’s (www.ibm.com) Global Services division. All of the school district’s 41 buildings will leverage the Wi-Fi system by spring 2006. Roughly 30 buildings are already online.
Once the wireless foundation is in place, Syracuse will build extensive services to run atop it. Wireless cameras will come online in 2007, allowing administrators to monitor school property over the IP network. And IP phones will be integrated with Microsoft Corp.’s (www.microsoft.com) Exchange Server, unifying voicemail and e-mail onto a single system.
Southern California’s El Monte Union High School District also is answering the call for wireless VoIP. Through a partnership with Foundry Networks Inc. (www.foundrynet.com) and Mitel (www.mitel.com), the district recently upgraded its infrastructure to support 10-Gigabit Ethernet, VoIP, and wireless networking. Foundry is supplying backbone switches and wireless access points, while Mitel is delivering VoIP services to more than 8,000 users on seven high school campuses.
“Over four years ago, we selected Foundry as our networking partner for implementing a districtwide Ethernet network,” recalls Garett McKay, director of Information Services Technology for El Monte Union High School District. “It was natural that we turned to Foundry again as we planned our network upgrade to address new and emerging requirements, including wireless access and converged voice-data networking.”
A mesh network allows wireless access points to communicate with one another without routing traffic through a central switch. This creates self-healing networks: If one wireless access point goes dark, data is automatically diverted to the next nearest access point.
When deploying wireless voice, schools should choose an infrastructure that supports SIP (session initiation protocol) trunking, which allows them to mix and match vendors; sufficient RF (radio frequency) coverage to ensure 802.11 wireless phones work in all designated areas; and load balancing among access points to ensure voice and data traffic is spread equally over the system. Schools should also keep a close eye on the 802.11e standard, which addresses quality of service for voice and other types of wireless traffic, according to Jeff Ridley, director of Product Marketing at ShoreTel (www.shoretel.com), an IP PBX supplier.
