Tom,
CNS policy does not allow for user-installed network equipment on shared
10Mbs networks (some types of equipment may be allowed on fully switched
10/100 networks, however). "Network equipment" here refers to hubs,
bridges, switches or routers. CNS understands that the Apple Airport base
station is a bridge, and as such, can add significant traffic to the
shared net. Also, user-installed network devices that are misconfigured
or malfunction can cause widespread problems on the local network. (The
CNS "User Installed Network Equipment Policy" draft can be viewed from the
CNS web site, http://cns.berkeley.edu. Click on the "Policy" link to get
to the page.)
wrt to a centrally supported wireless 802.11 lan service, a task
force, chaired by Cliff Frost of CNS, was recently created (November) to
oversee the development of a Berkeley campus wireless LAN service. The
first phase will involve a joint project between IS&T and EECS to deploy
802.11 technology at various sites around campus as a way of modeling a
full-scale campus wireless lan.
802.11 products all use the 2.4GHz frequency range, as does the Airport,
and any one of them can potentially interfere with the other. When CNS
rolls out a centrally supported service, it is highly likely that we will
need to restrict the deployment of other 2.4GHz devices that could
interfere with the wireless network. This is the policy adopted by other
universities that have a wireless lan service. One of the major issues
for deployment concerns user authentication to the network and encyption.
From what we can tell, the Airports provide some level of access controls,
but these appear inadequate (e.g., 40-bit encyption vs recommended
128-bit).
If you install an AirPort base station today, it's likely that you'll be
required to remove it from service once a campus-wide service is in place.
Sysadmins and departments looking to network their labs should contact
CNS. We'll work with you to ensure a design that is compliant with the
campus network infrastructure. You can submit a request for consultation
by going to the CNS web page (http://cns.berkeley.edu)and filling in the
form under the Communications Consulting/"Need Help?" link.
Lucia Tsai lucia@ack.berkeley.edu
Communication and Network Services (510) 642-9814
IS&T, UC Berkeley
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Mon, 18 Dec 2000, Tom Colton wrote:
> Dear MAGNet list,
>
> I need advice about choosing wireless ethernet or wired
> ethernet for computers in an undergraduate teaching laboratory in
> Physics.
>
> Goal: Initially I want to create a LAN for printing and exchanging
> files among 8 iMAC dv computers within a classroom. Within 1-2
> years we will want access to the internet.
>
> Constraints: Our lab room has no network wiring and the lab tables
> are freestanding, so cables cannot be run along walls. In one
> year, we will move our labs to a temporary location for 2-3 years
> while our building undergoes a seismic retrofit. We hope to get some
> ethernet ports in the temporary location. My two immediate options
> for creating a LAN seem to be some inexpensive ethernet hubs and
> wires or the Apple Airport wireless network.
>
> Questions:
> 1. Would the Apple Airport cards and base station (or other IEEE
> 802.11 -based system) work reliably to allow 8 computers to print to
> an ethernet laser printer and to exchange files? The specs sound
> good but I don't know anyone who has actually used them.
>
> 2. In a year or so, is the campus likely to be supporting IEEE
> 802.11-based wireless networks so that we can use the base station
> with a 10 or 100 Base-T port to link all 8 computers to the internet?
>
> 3. Is there anything better or cheaper than the Airport devices right now?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Tom Colton
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________
> Thomas F. Colton, Ph.D.
> Director, Instructional Support Group
> Department of Physics
> 366 LeConte Hall
> University of California
> Berkeley, CA 94720-7300
> (510) 642-5515
> Office: 256 LeConte Hall
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