IT: Wireless Connectivity Policy

NEW TO CMU? COMMUNICATING LEARNING TEACHING RESEARCHING INFRASTRUCTURE

Related Links
(outside this site)

CMU Home

IT: Policies:
Wireless Connectivity Policy


	What does my tech fee pay for? »» What happens when I violate an IT policy? »»

Effective: January 24, 2002
ATAC committee

Policy
Information Technology must approve any use of wireless services when connecting to the university wide network. Unauthorized connections to the university network will be terminated and the user may lose their network privileges.

Rationale
There is becoming more interest in using wireless LAN technology to attach to the university network. More so than with normal network equipment, it is imperative that all requests for wireless service go through Information Technology. Unauthorized wireless access points will not only conflict with the university wireless service, but will provide unauthenticated, insecure network access to the university’s network infrastructure. The WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol) is insecure and many free wireless sniffers exist. Additional measures must be used to ensure that wireless LAN access is only for authenticated CMU faculty, staff and students as well as the data secured while being transmitted. Due to these security issues, the wireless network will employ authentication, 128 encryption and dynamic WEP. To date, this is the only secure method to transmit data over a wireless LAN.

Guidelines
Information Technology will extend the university network to provide wireless service to any area based on the application need, demand and funding. Wireless LANs are not a replacement but a supplement to the existing university network. The current 802.11b wireless LAN standard allows for up to 11 Mbps (7.5 Mbps max usable) of shared network bandwidth.

The 802.11b wireless LAN standard is based on the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency range. While this allows for inexpensive network devices and adapters, many other devices also use this same frequency range. Due to this interference, wireless 2.4 GHz telephones and other 2.4 GHz devices will not be allowed in areas of wireless technologies.

While the 802.11b standard allows for other vendor equipment to interoperate, the standard only covers the communication between the wireless LAN adapter and the access point. It does not cover any communication between access points. A single vendor solution for access points is the only way to provide seamless roaming over the wireless infrastructure. CMU has standardized on Cisco’s 350 series Aironet Access Points. While any WiFi compliant wireless LAN adapter may work, the Cisco 350 series Aironet wireless LAN adapter is recommended.

Appropriate site surveys are critical to the success of the wireless infrastructure. As requirements and usage patterns change, it may be necessary to resurvey the wireless coverage areas. This is a necessity in order to provide the appropriate level of service and maintain seamless roaming between wireless cells.

If you have existing wireless equipment or are planning to purchase items, please contact IT at 989-774-3611.