CCFIT > Discussion Topics > Other Discussion Topics
Other Discussion Topics
Wireless Networking
11/14/2005: In his presentation (see “Wireless
@ UC Davis: Extending the Wireless Network” PowerPoint presentation),
Dave Klem, Director of IET-Communications Resources, discussed plans
to increase wireless coverage on campus. Klem provided an overview
of issues with current wireless deployments. He noted that:
• IET manages 150 of the wireless access points around campus.
An unknown number of additional access points are deployed and managed
by campus units and departments. There is currently no requirement
to register departmental access points. Communications Resources
is in the process of identifying those access points so issues of
consistency and conformity can be better understood and dealt with.
• In the current model, coverage is selective and the degree
of consistency (and compliance) with campus standards, access, and
security levels at the departmental level remains unclear.
• Communications Resources has taken a number of steps to
improve the current situation (e.g., upgrading the campus wireless
gateway to increase user capacity; and implementing a centralized
wireless management system). Other steps, such as implementing guest
access via wireless access points and improving security and privacy
through the 802.1x authentication protocol, are pending.
• Klem outlined a number of business, operational, and policy
issues related to the current wireless deployment model
• Klem shared some benchmarking data based on a comparative
analysis of wireless coverage at peer institutions. UC Davis lags
behind in some areas, but is ahead in library coverage (100% coverage,
paid for by the Library).
In light of these issues as well as increasing demand/expectation
for ubiquitous wireless connectivity, a plan is being developed
to extend the centrally-deployed and managed network to additional
locations via additional wireless access points. The goal of this
approach is to enable seamless roaming across campus areas, and
to allow various types of devices (laptops, desktop computers, PDAs,
etc.) to connect securely to the UC Davis network from anywhere
on campus.
There was some discussion of whether wireless could/should be outsourced,
which Klem indicated might be an option if we were to charge users
for wireless access. Peter Yellowlees mentioned that the Health
System currently runs two wireless networks, one of which is made
accessible to patients for a fee. There was also some discussion
about requiring campus departments to comply with wireless standards,
particularly if those wireless networks represent a threat to others
or to campus resources. Dave Shelby indicated that part of the solution
being developed focuses on re-thinking the current campus policy
so it covers situations representing vulnerabilities.
Given the widespread campus interest in wireless, Chair Bledsoe
plans to form a CCFIT Wireless Work Group and will ask this group
to look into many of the issues brought up today and to report back
to CCFIT. Council members interested in serving on this workgroup
should contact Bledsoe directly.
12/12/2005: Chair Bledsoe welcomed IET-Communications
Resources Director Dave Klem back to the Council. Klem provided
an overview of plans to expand wireless on campus at the November
meeting (see “Wireless @ UC Davis: Extending the Wireless
Network” PowerPoint presentation). Klem indicated that since
the last Council discussion of campus wireless expansion, a team
of engineers has completed an analysis of the campus network and
concluded that wireless expansion could be efficiently handled as
part of UCDNet-3, the next phase of upgrades to the campus network
expected by 2008. UCDNet-3 will have the ability to support the
integration of wireless into the network’s electronics, which
in practical terms would ensure a broad and uniform deployment of
wireless across campus. While the next generation campus network
is developed, priority areas for interim wireless deployment will
need to be defined. Klem estimates that providing coverage in all
common areas on campus as part of this interim solution will require
approximately $900,000.
Chair Bledsoe noted that the newly-formed CCFIT Wireless Work Group
will review IET’s wireless expansion plans and help identify
priority areas where wireless should be deployed until the next
upgrades to the campus network are completed. Bledsoe went over
the draft charge letter. She solicited Council’s comments
on the charge to the group and asked for suggestions for additional
representation.
01/09/2006: Chair Bledsoe pointed to the charge
letter in members packets. She announced that the CCFIT Wireless
Task Group will soon get under way under the direction of Professor
Matt Bishop. Membership includes various representatives from CCFIT
(e.g., undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff)
as well as members of IET and other campus units. Support will be
provided through IET-Communications Resources. A report and recommendations
are expected by the June CCFIT meeting.
UC Davis Web Redesign - Craig Farris
12/13/2004: Caroline Bledsoe introduced Craig
Farris, Chair of the UC Davis Home Site Redesign Project Committee.
Farris provided an overview of the project and gave a brief demo
of the new redesign. By way of background, Farris indicated that
this project was initiated in summer 2004 with the intent to create
a new UC Davis home page (www.ucdavis.edu)
and high-level subpages that will "represent the campus positively
and provide an easy user experience to any site visitor." Working
with a very aggressive timeline, the redesign team has focused on
updating the site to reflect growth and changes since the last redesign
4-5 years ago. The team is also attempting to reinforce the campus'
overall brand and identity, and to incorporate current best practices
in design, usability and accessibility. To accomplish these goals,
the Web strategy committee, led by Farris, is using research (including
analysis of 30+ peer institutions), user personas, feedback from
the campus community (by way of a survey conducted this Fall), usability
testing, and the expertise of its members. Farris noted that this
presentation is one in a series of campus consultations to collect
feedback on the protosite before the roll-out of the final version
in late January-early February. (See the project's Web site at http://redesign.ucdavis.edu
for more information and to view drafts of the campus site redesign.)
Council members provided a number of suggestions and comments. They suggested improving the functionality and user-friendliness of the search engine (the campus is using the free version of Google); making it possible to search course pages (a list is already available at http://classes.ucdavis.edu); making parts of the course information in MyUCDavis accessible from the campus site; posting UC Davis facts and statistics (e.g., admissions); adjusting the color palette to add more vibrancy to the site; etc. Both the Library and the Office of Administration expressed interest in being provided an opportunity for further input. Farris welcomed additional feedback, both now and following the roll-out. He encouraged Council members to contact him directly (cfarris@ucdavis.edu).
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