Aruba 802.11ac wireless access points deployed to improve Wi-Fi security, coverage and performance
提供超快速的Wi-Fi对大学的体验越来越重要，但对于年长的大学来说尤其具有挑战性。格罗夫市学院位于匹兹堡以北一个小时，成立于1876年。
“在格罗夫市学院，所有学生都享受大学发行的无线设备的好处。我们的主要目标是确保较旧的建筑能够与学生的期望保持同步，同时控制相关成本。”“对我们来说，提高Wi-Fi网络的性能，覆盖范围和灵活性是为我们的2500名学生提供高质量体验的一项业务。”
Extending existing infrastructure
A long-time user of Hewlett Packet Enterprise (HPE) datacenter, core, and wireless solutions, Grove City College had a legacy Wi-Fi network in place but it provided limited coverage in many of the residence halls and meeting areas, such as the campus library. This ageing Wi-Fi network was time-consuming to maintain and could not deliver the ultra-fast Wi-Fi connectivity the college required.
“We wanted to provide a consistent Wi-Fi experience throughout the campus while delivering higher-speed wireless services,” says Michael Aque, Network Architect for the college. As Grove City College was evaluating upgrade options, HPE acquired Aruba, now an HPE company.
他继续说：“我们一直等到我们评估了将Aruba产品集成到HPE中的路线图，然后制定了将我们的Wi-Fi基础设施迁移到Aruba网络产品的策略。”
部署802.11AC连接
格罗夫市学院实施了分阶段的实施计划，首先关注覆盖范围有限的建筑物。“我们想实施一个Wi-Fi网络，该网络可以依靠教师，学生，管理员和客人，这意味着通用无线覆盖范围，” Dissai说。“这就是为什么我们首先专注于较旧的宿舍和校园图书馆，那里的无线表演不如校园其他地方那么强。”
克服障碍
Our Wave 2 APs increase Wi-Fi performance and future-proof our wireless network.
Vince DiStasi,格罗夫市学院的CIO
安装了阿鲁巴波2 802.11ac访问点（APS）连接到7200 Series Mobility Controllersin the Henry Buhl Library, which was built in 1954.
“This older facility is filled with books and had brick-and-mortar obstacles to Wi-Fi performance. Although it’s an essential learning area for students, it had poor Wi-Fi coverage,” says Aque. “We installed 22 APs in the library as a proof of concept, and we immediately went from dozens of coverage complaints per month to zero coverage complaints in the library.”
The college is also expanding its wireless switching infrastructure by deploying5400R Switch Seriesplatforms to augment its existing Aruba switches. This powerful Layer 3 modular switch series delivers high-performance, low latency, and resiliency, and is providing Grove City College with a better mobile-first campus experience.
扩展Wi-Fi连接
格罗夫市学院then added 802.11ac APs to several solid brick cinderblock residence halls, and is now aggressively expanding Wi-Fi coverage across the campus.
“Our goal is to have 802.11ac coverage in every building within the next three months,” says DiStasi. “We’ll also have 802.11ac APs operational by then in about half of our residence halls.” DiStasi expects to have at least 825 Aruba 802.11ac APs operational within this timeframe.
简化网络操作
The college is leveragingClearPass Policy Manager安全地验证用户和空波network managementto obtain a single view of the network to analyze and understand usage trends.
Authenticating users with ClearPass
格罗夫市学院最初部署ClearPass为了简化客人的身份验证并支持新用户的登机，现在正在扩大其用法以使用户能够注册自己的设备。
“ClearPass delivers visibility, policy control, and workflow automation in one cohesive solution, and we’re now using it to improve wireless network security, better understand network usage, and provide a single portal for user authentication,” says DiStasi. Grove City College is enabling a seamless roaming experience across the campus, and giving visitors simple and secure guest network access while enabling students, faculty, and other members of the campus community to securely access college resources over the wireless network.
优化Airwave的性能和覆盖范围
该学院目前正在使用HPE智能管理中心（IMC）来管理其有线和无线网络，但在接下来的几个月中空波管理Wi-Fi基础架构。Airwave是一个功能强大且易于使用的网络管理平台，它将为其在无线网络上运行的设备，用户和应用程序提供颗粒状可见性。
Aque说：“我们将使用Airwave补充HPE IMC，并为我们的无线基础设施提供单一的视图。”通过集中和直观的用户界面，Airwave将为其提供实时监控，主动警报和历史报告。IT人员还将使用它来简化故障排除并连续优化无线覆盖范围和性能。
未来的无线基础架构
“We’ve relied on HPE wireless solutions since 2004 and I think we’ve deployed every solution that HPE has offered,” states DiStasi. “Now we’re focusing on delivering consistently high performance anywhere on campus.”
The Wave 2 Aruba 802.11ac APs have an integratedBluetooth Aruba Beaconthat simplifies the remote management of Aruba beacons while also providing advanced location and indoor way finding, as well as proximity-based push notification capabilities. It is enabling Grove City College to leverage mobility context to support applications that deliver an enhanced user experience.
“We’ll be using theMeridian Mobile App Platformto build mobile apps that can be used across the campus,” states DiStasi. “For example, prospective students will be able to take a self-guided tour, and students will be able to look up the availability of reference materials in the library from their mobile devices.”
Increasing performance and reliability
蓝牙和信标的使用正在帮助格罗夫市学院未来的无线基础设施。
Distasi说：“我们正处于利用这些技术的早期阶段，但将越来越多地利用它们来增强学生的无线体验。”“通过部署Aruba 802.11ac AP，我们已经能够提高50％以上的性能，而我们的管理工具正在提供帮助我们确保可靠，校园范围内的Wi-Fi覆盖范围的见解。”
他总结说：“ Wi-Fi现在正变得越来越融入课堂体验。It’s difficult to captivate students for 50 minutes to an hour-and-a-half in a classroom experience if there are Wi-Fi problems, and by increasing the performance and reliability of our wireless network we are better preparing students to enter the world when they graduate. In the past we viewed Wi-Fi as a matter of convenience, but we now view it as a mission-critical resource that is central to the education of our students.”
