Complete cloud-managed solution provides streamlined, high-density Wi-Fi for WLAN spread over 4,300 sq. mi.

取代他的机构的遗产accommo WLANdate modern device densities also presented an operational dilemma for Stephen Young: How to efficiently manage thousands of access points spread across 4,300 square miles with a lean IT staff funded by taxpayer dollars.

“我们现有的Wi-Fi使用了覆盖范围模型，”加拿大泰晤士河谷地区学校董事会信息技术服务经理Young解释说。“鉴于流动性的爆炸性增长，我们需要一个适合我们预算的强大，能力驱动，易于管理的网络。”

Goals: Scalability, Reliability & Sustainability

Located in London, Ontario, the urban and rural TVDSB serves approximately 75,000 students, employs over 7,600 staff members and maintains 159 schools along with assortment of specialized facilities.

在每个年级中，TVDSB的学生和教育工作者都越来越依赖无线访问，不仅可以为其地区发行的HP笔记本电脑，而且还用于BYOT智能手机，平板电脑和物联网设备（如Raspberry Pi）。此外，TVDSB正在从教室书桌和固定的计算实验室转移到技术启用的协作学习模型。

“Our district had recently embraced Google Apps for Education, which meant Chromebooks and other devices began accessing the network,” says Phil Hicks, TVDSB’s Supervisor of Infrastructure and Operations.

他补充说：“我们需要一个解决方案，具有能够使数十个异质设备以可预测，可持续的方式同时访问Wi-Fi的解决方案。”

阿鲁巴Instant APs + Central = Bulletproof

通过竞争过程，TVDSB评估了企业WLAN解决方案，并选择了本地合作伙伴Access 2网络（A2N）和Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company的Aruba。

We’re very pleased with our Aruba Wi-Fi and how easy Aruba Central makes it to deliver high-quality educational experiences across such a large and geographically-dispersed network.
Stephen Young,Manager of Information Technology Services, Thames Valley District School Board

在一所小学的成功试点之后，TVDSB选择了Aruba的802.11AC解决方案，以满足当前的需求，并为更大的移动和IoT依赖做准备。它包括大约6300个Aruba即时控制器，无云管理接入点and阿鲁巴中央for streamlined management, strong security and BYOT guest access.

“During the pilot, Aruba’s solution was bulletproof,” says Young. “Our IT staff found it easy to understand, configure and manage. In fact, the biggest surprise was just how easy Aruba’s offering really was to deploy and use.”

完整的，由智能分析的解决方案

和阿鲁巴中央，TVDSB等组织获得了一种简单，安全和成本效益的基于云的企业工具，用于管理和监视Aruba Instant AP，交换机和分支网关。Central还包括高级功能，例如可自定义的访客Wi-Fi访问和智能决策的存在分析。

Central及其直观管理仪表板的另一个好处是能够利用智能网络，应用程序和存在分析以改善教师，学生，管理员和运营经验。

“Central gives us more visibility into application usage than we had before,” Hicks says. “We’ll use it to do traffic shaping, such as giving higher priority to Google Apps for Education than social media sites.”

TVDSB also appreciates the professional reports Central generates. “We can provide our administration and Board with a variety of reports to show how our Wi-Fi benefits teachers and students as well as improves operations,” Young says.

Empowering distant teams with local control

Central’s dashboard, which can be accessed via desktop device or mobile app, also enables TVDSB to extend local control to IT technologists tasked with managing specific facilities.

希克斯说：“赋予我们40个基于学校的技术的能力是我们以前梦dream以求的优势。”“有了Central，我们可以决定每个技术人员将获得哪些知名度和管理水平。”

Becoming proactive instead of reactive

At TVDSB, the combination of robust and reliable Instant APs, combined with Central, enables the district’s IT staff to transition away from a troubleshooting posture. Instead, using Aruba’s robust connectivity insights and business intelligence analytics, they can fine-tune performance in every educational space – whether in classrooms or very high-density areas like libraries, auditoriums and gymnasiums.

“We’re moving from spending most of our time on break/fix hardware chores to becoming more proactive by leveraging analytics to improve educational experiences for our constituents,” Young says.

快速，零接触部署

Deploying Aruba’s Instant APs has proven equally favorable. “Due to the scope of the project, we used multiple installation providers,” says Young. “By spreading the workload, we could complete the deployment faster and more efficiently.”

使用A2N提供APS并管理其他承包商，释放了该地区的IT员工继续执行其他关键任务。此外，Central能够在所有站点上预先配置网络的能力进一步加速部署，使新的系统教室准备就绪。

Young说：“我们的团队只需要执行验证任务并在部署的站点上签字。”

好处in the Classroom, Data Center and Beyond

根据Young的说法，TVDSB的Aruba解决方案正在实现一个关键的计划目标：部署一个像实用程序一样可靠的Wi-Fi网络 - 可靠且高度可用。

Operationally, this means various types of resource savings and cost-avoidance. For example, when capacity needs change, “we can have the AP shipped to the school and a non-IT individual can just plug it in,” says Young.

设施维护人员也更有效。扬说：“无论身在何处，他们都会在他们的地区发行的移动设备上收购工作订单。”“之前，他们必须寻找无线信号。”

Minimizing costs in TVDSB’s HP-enabled data center is another benefit. “With Central, we’ve avoided adding equipment to our data center, which is already at capacity,” says Hicks.

“Managing everything from the cloud avoided running a new electrical feed or requiring more air conditioning,” he continues. “That was a real advantage for us.”

WLAN resiliency minimizes troubleshooting

Similarly, troubleshooting is eased and availability is improved due to the new WLAN’s resilience.

杨说：“如果美联社倒下，我们将不再需要将技术赶到网站。”“其他AP可以接管负载，而不会影响我们的选民，直到我们到达。”

“Considering our geographic size, this resiliency is a huge plus.” he adds.

Educational benefits abound

Most importantly, Young reports a wealth of educational benefits that support TVDSB’s commitment to high student achievement and a collaborative environment.

“Students enjoy seamless roaming throughout their buildings,” Young says. This enables participation in spontaneous learning as well as formal collaborations.

对于教育工作者来说，每天都可以通过无缝，可靠的访问来节省宝贵的学习时间。

Young补充说：“老师很高兴他们可以登录一次，并自动连接所有后续几天。”“而且，我们已经在教室中取消了死亡地点，为教师和学生提供了各地的连通性。”

Next Up: Guest Access, VoWi-Fi, Web Conferencing and IoT

Moving forward, TVDSB plans to leverage a variety of advanced Central features. This includes offering secure guest access to members of the community at large, transitioning to voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) telephony and adopting web conferencing via Skype for Business or Google Hangouts.

Also on the horizon are efficiency gains from enterprise IoT. “We’ll certainly be considering ways to manage our lighting, HVAC, door openers and other systems with IoT,” Young says.

在其中，学区将评估Central的边缘交换机管理功能。希克斯说：“我们以前在阿鲁巴​​的2920开关上进行了标准化。”“测试中心管理它们的优势是有意义的。”

Meanwhile, TVDSB’s limited IT staff can now focus on higher-value projects. “We don’t need to troubleshoot or configure technology on a day-to-day basis,” Young says. “For performance and reliability, we’re very pleased with our Aruba Wi-Fi solution, overall.”