Wireless Network Upgrade Project on NAU Flagstaff Campus

Sponsored by:

Information Technology Services

Wireless Upgrade to Latest 802.11n Standard Across NAU Mountain Campus

A Request for Proposal was issued and a resulting contract was executed for new Wi-Fi network equipment manufactured by Cisco at the end of the spring 2012 semester. Funding was approved to install the new system in all buildings on campus, including those currently without Wi-Fi coverage.

The new wireless Access Points (APs) support the latest Wi-Fi standard, 802.11n, which is capable of client connections up to 450 mbps, along with the older standards. The system has several features that improve client performance, such as beam-forming and band-steering, in addition to supporting the faster standard. It also provides robust management capabilities, providing troubleshooting of client connections, performance information, and the detection and mitigation of environmental factors that can affect the Wi-Fi performance. 

The Network Operations Center (NOC) is designing the AP placement and installing new switches that provide Power over Ethernet with gigabit connections to the APs, and the Telecom team is installing additional cable where needed and the APs themselves. You can expect to see them in your building when your wireless network is upgraded.

Announcements

Academic Buildings Are Complete and Work for the Final Phase, Administrative Buildings, is Underway

Work has begun in the Administrative Buildings following the completion of the Residence Halls and Academic Buildings. Administrative buildings without existing wireless coverage are being prioritized. The planned order and tentative dates have been added to the Project Timeline section below. This will complete the project.

Academic and Administrative Buildings Upgraded with 802.11n Wireless

Non-resident buildings that have already been upgraded:

  • Gammage (1)
  • Bury Hall (8)
  • Old Main (10)
  • Ashurst (11)
  • Geology/Geology Annex (12/13)
  • Riles (15)
  • Communication/Extended Campuses (16/16A)
  • Science Lab Facility (17)
  • Liberal Arts (18)
  • Physical Sciences (19)
  • Chemistry (20)
  • Biological Sciences/Annex (21/21B)
  • Wall Aquatic Center (21A)
  • Peterson Hall (22)
  • Babbitt Academic Annex (23)
  • Plateau Center (24)
  • Health and Learning Center (25)
  • Adel Mathematics (26)
  • Eastburn Education Center/IHD (27/27A)
  • Cline Library (28)
  • The University Union (30)
  • HRM North/HRM East/HRM West (32/33/33A)
  • Bookstore (35)
  • Performing Arts/Ardrey (37/37A)
  • Gateway Student Success Center (43)
  • Observatory (47)
  • ROTC/Property Administration (047A)
  • Anthropology Laboratory (49)
  • Babbitt Administrative Center (51)
  • Bilby Research Center (52)
  • Information Systems Building (54)
  • Advanced Research Development Building (56)
  • Duplication Services (57)
  • Learning Resource Center (61)
  • du Bois Center (64)
  • SBS-Raul H. Castro (65)
  • Health Professions (66)
  • Rolle Activity Center (68)
  • Engineering and Natural Sciences (69)
  • SBS West (70)
  • Nursing (72)
  • Skydome (73)
  • Renewable Energy Test Facility (74)
  • Avian Cognition Lab (76)
  • Greenhouse (79)
  • Ceramics Complex (80)
  • W. A. Franke College of Business (81)
  • Southwest Forest Sci Complex (82)
  • Sculpture Studio (84)
  • Wettaw Biology and Biochemistry Building (88)
  • University Services Building (90)
  • Ponderosa (92)
  • Engineering (98C)
  • Anthropology (98D)
  • South Beaver Elementary (L0010)

The list of completed buildings will be updated as they are finished.

Who will be Affected?

Students in On-campus Housing

Residents will notice little change other than improved performance. The wireless names (SSIDs) remain the same: ResNet is the SSID for the WPA2 secure/encrypted network and ResNet-Alt is the SSID for the open network.

All Users in Academic and Administrative Buildings

Once a building has been upgraded, the old Wi-Fi system will be turned off. At that point the SSIDs for the Wi-Fi network will change from NAU-Secure to NAU for the WPA2 secure/encrypted network and from NAU-Public to NAU-Guest for the open network.

Project Timeline

Wifi-admin-bldg-only

DateActivity
2013-07-18Building 67 South Heating Plant upgrade complete.
2013-07-18Building 83 KNAU and Bus Barn upgrade complete
2013-07-29Building 58 High Country Conference Center upgrade complete
2013-07-30Building 2 Blome upgrade complete
2013-08-05Building 3/3A North Union/Prochnow upgrade complete
2013-08-06Building 14 Native American Center upgrade complete
2013-08-07Building 91 Centennial upgrade complete
2013-08-07Building 98A NAU Police Department upgrade complete
2013-08-08Building 98B Purchasing upgrade complete
2013-08-14Building 30 Field House upgrade complete
2013-08-23Building 77 Capital Assets upgrade complete

Contact Information

ITS Solution Center 928-523-1511

Project Team

Project Director: Chris Michels; Functional Lead: Dave Russell; Technical Lead: Armand Ramirez; Installation Team Lead: Ralph Sedillo

Project Links

Wireless Internet Access