Wireless networking can be an asset to
the campus community. However, it is a shared medium, so those that use it must
be good neighbors. Establishing standards and guidelines for wireless networking
on campus helps ensure ease of use, consistency, reliability, availability,
and mobility across campus.
Sometimes, even standards are not enough. Since the IEEE
802.11b standard uses the unlicensed 2.4 Ghz band, there is the potential
for interference from other devices using this same band. For example, someone
using a 2.4 Ghz cordless phone can walk by a room where someone is using a laptop
with wireless networking and break the connection between the laptop and the
access point. These types of concerns may lead to the management of RF bands
as an institutional resource. Because wireless networking is less predictable
and less stable than wired networking, you should be careful before relying
on the wireless transmission of mission critical data/services.
Another area of concern is security and
unauthorized use of the campus network. Although these issues apply to both
wired and wireless networks, there are additional vulnerabilities with wireless.
It's relatively easy for someone to "break" into unprotected or inadequately
protected wireless networks.
With the assistance of IT partners across
campus, ITS is addressing these issues through a
campus
policy on wireless networking. Topics covered in this policy include:
- Guidelines so departments can experiment with wireless
networking while campus policies are evolving
- Information needed by ITS/TNS if you plan to install
a wireless network
- Institutional concerns about RF interference between
devices in the 2.4 GHz band (the unlicensed band used by 802.11b)
- How to set up a wireless network to reduce security
and interference issues
- Under what conditions a departmental wireless network
will be shut down
