the wireless network at drexel: a study drexel university

The Wireless Network at The Wireless Network at

Drexel: A StudyDrexel: A Study

Drexel UniversityDrexel University

Copyright Drexel University, 2001

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Drexel Wireless Network

Drexel University • Private university founded in 1891

• 10,000 students in five Colleges

• Co-op Education University

• Recently acquired MCP/Hahnemann--largest private school of medicine in US


Ubiquitous tradition • Began as Technical Institute/Applied

Learning

• One of first universities with microcomputer requirement (since 1983)

• One of 50 Connector sites to Internet II, OC 48 Sonet Ring connecting three campuses

• Entire campus is wireless (802.11b)


Wireless pilot • Begun in late 1997—conduct proof of

concept test

• installed wireless in Library and in Campus Center

• set up laptop checkouts in both locations

• extremely successful and well received—looks great for Admissions tours

• also set up wireless classroom with mobile furniture


Hagerty Library Pilot Cyberzone

• Over 600 wired Ethernet ports (100 Mbps switched)

• Pilot building for wireless initiative in ’98

• Library seeded “loaner” laptop program

• Computing Services seeded networking

• Loaner program is extremely popular

• Campus network upgraded (5x faster) at no cost to Library

• Loaner program expanded twice

Drexel Wireless NetworkChoosing Product and Vendor • Sought these company

characteristics:

• Engineering experience

• Standards committee leadership

• Related Product Lines

• Sought these product characteristics:

• Multi-generational—a past and a future

• Breadth—not a “one size fits all” device

• Looked for Market Share


Choosing a Wireless Platform • In 1997, wireless standards were still unset

• Lucent’s WaveLan* product line selected

• Their product was already shipping and another generation was in the works

• Lucent sits on IEEE 802.11 committee; co-founded WECA

• Access Point modularity facilitates easy upgrades

• AP support for two interface cards allows upgrades while supporting backward compatibility

* WaveLan is now the Orinoco product line and is made by Agere and sold by Avaya


Technology Used • Avaya AP-1000

• First product with 100 Mbps uplink

• Power-over-Ethernet cut install costs

• User registration to improve security

• Vast array of external antenna options

• Implemented selected product widely


Keys to a Good Wireless Product

• Access Point

• Radio, 802.11 MAC, antenna should be replaceable when new versions are released

• Power-Over-Ethernet keeps install costs low

• Antenna options

• Different strength omni-directional

• Directional to connection remote buildings

• “Leaky coax” for areas with many walls


Implementation Plan • Full-scale multi-campus wireless plan

• Provide coverage everywhere inside and outside

• Provide additional capacity to better support high-use areas


Network Security • Ubiquity of network requires improved

access security

• Need to prevent access by passers-by

• RF transmits user data in all directions-encryption needed to prevent others from snooping the network

• Developed password secured website that registers MAC addresses

• Established VPN to provide encryption


To Stimulate Interest and Use

• install in high profile locations

• seed locations with loaner equipment

• Target Students—they’re early adopters

• provide infrastructure technology at no

cost


Student Use • An Optional Program:“build it and they

will use it”

• Personal purchase of cards and laptops—laptops and wireless cards now affordable ($130 for cards)

• Purchase through click off website or bundled with laptop from computer vendors

• Once user base reaches critical mass, users “sell” their peers


Publicity • article in Wireless Magazine

• Coverage in Philadelphia Inquirer

• Numerous presentations at high profile conferences and vendor meetings


Goal of Wireless survey • Determine characteristics of users—year

in school, college registered in

• Determine frequency of use

• Perceived value of the resource

• Where is wireless used most often

• How is it used and is it used to enhance academic experience


Committee Designing Survey

• Professor with research interest in wireless

• Associate Dean for IT in medical school

• Director of Institutional Research

• Director of Survey Research Center

• Associate VP, Instructional Technology

Support


Focus Group Conducted • Ten students working in IT department

• To get sense of the kinds of questions to ask and how to phrase them

• To determine if there are items or issues committee overlooked


Created Survey Questions

• Able to be completed online

• Short and concise—able to gather as much information as possible with least amount of effort from respondents


Survey Questions Please enter your Login User ID: [email protected]

1. In a typical week, how many hours do you use the wireless capability of your laptop?

Please choose only one of the following:For personal work only, or For coursework only, or For job related work only , or Combination of the above:

• 5 or fewer

• 6 to 10

• 11 to 15

• 16 to 20

• 21 to 25

• 26 to 30

• More than 30


Survey Questions 2. Where do you use the wireless feature of your laptop? (Please select

all that apply)

• Off-campus residence (receiving DragonFly signal)

• Off-campus residence with personally owned wireless network

• Computing Center

• On-campus residence

• Office

• Library

• Cafeteria/Café

• Outdoors

• Classroom

• Labs (computer and/or science)

• Other


Survey Questions 3. How important is the wireless capability to you?

Not At All Very Well

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

For your personal use:0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Don't know

For your academic use:0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Don't know

For your job related work:0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Don't know

4. How well is wireless capability provided on campus?

Not At All Very Well

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


Survey Questions 5. Describe any unique or important academic/research uses you have

found that would not be possible using standard network connection or modem.

6. What would you like to do with the wireless that you are not able to do today?

Thank you for your time and cooperation and have a good day.


Implementation of Survey • Survey posted on website; Access database

collected data

• Email sent to all those with registered wireless cards

• Asked to indicate email address so we could determine who was responding

• Website link included in email

• Guessed we would receive most response in first 48 hours

• Email sent Friday morning –by Monday at noon 255 completed surveys


Information Gathered

1157 in list of those with registered wireless cards

355 students responded

Also sent to all faculty and staff -104 responded

Since survey was administered 45 have registered new cards

Most Students:-- used the wireless network for a combinationof personal, coursework, and job related work

-- Indicated that they used it 5 hours per week or less

•18% indicated they used it over 30 per week

•263 students used the wireless network in clasrooms (78%)

•203 students used it in the library (60%)

•182 students used it outdoors (54%)

•141 students used it in the cafeteria/café (42%)

•103 used it in the residence halls (31%)


Students FacultyFor Personal UseNot at all 4% 41%Fairly important 32% 8%Very important 41% 18%

For Academic UseNot at all 3% 42%Fairly important 34% 15%Very important 46% 22%

For Job related useNot at all 23% 38%Fairly important 15% 16%

Very important 20% 24%

How Important is Wireless Capability to You?


•Look up information being talked about in lectures

•Makes research easier and faster

•Have all work and resources available anywhere

•Problem based learning medical curriculum—download photos or diagrams to enlighten discussion

•Spontaneous meetings or group work

•Commuter felt it extremely helpful-could use own laptop and not have to carry cables—can even work in the car

•Never have to depend on availability of lab computer or free jack

What unique use do you make of wireless? (most common responses)


How well is wireless provided on campus? Students FacultyNot well at all 1% 6%Fairly well 45% 27%Very Well 11% 8%Don’t know 3% 31%

•Greatest number of students using wireless are enrolled in Colleges of Business, Engineering, Science, and Information Studies

•More males students than female have wireless cards

•More freshmen and sophomores than upper classmen have wireless cards. (this freshman class was first one to whom we promoted wireless)


Additional Information

• Survey revealed areas where signal is low and we canadd access points to increase coverage and improve performance

•Faculty complained they did not have laptops so couldnot take advantage of wireless

•faculty upgrade program this year•expect majority of faculty will choose laptops

•One faculty member didn’t have any interest in it -- said money should have been spent on something ‘important’


Students used wireless most:• In class to access professor’s notes • For group work or collaborative learning• Looking up reference material in class• Access notes, assignments and homework in class• Robot communication in robot lab• Laptop travels with the experiment



Conclusions Drawn

Use of and interest in wireless increasing

As with microcomputers, students areearly adopters and will stimulate use

Once you use it, difficult to imagine beingwithout it

Gives entirely new dimension to UbiquitousComputing

The Dragonfly Network


Recommendations Regarding Wireless

Wired network must be robust and stable

Pilot project to gauge interest and value

Wireless can be localized but optimal is Everywhere

Slides will be posted at www.drexel.edu/irt/educause/Wireless.htm

the wireless network at drexel: a study drexel university

Documents

drexel wireless network

wireless standards

wireless initiative

wireless classroom

wireless platform

study drexel university

copyright drexel university

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