This summer, RUCS will be performing a complete overhaul of our dorm network infrastructure. This overhaul will standardize all of the equipment in our dorm network on HP ProCurve technology, allowing us to reduce complexity and increase reliability for our students. This change is more than an upgrade, it is a completely new network for our dorms. Between this overhaul and our previously announced Internet bandwidth upgrades, students should expect a much improved residential network come August 2009.

Last summer, RUCS did a partial upgrade to Xavier-Loyola Hall, which served as the template for this project.

This overhaul will remove all previous switches, hubs and wireless access points from the dorms and replace them with HP ProCurve equipment. All of the new switches will feature full duplex 10/100Base-TX connectivity between system to switch, and full 1 Gig-T connectivity from switch to switch. Previously, the network consisted of mostly hubs which are slow and inefficent. In addition, all previous 802.11b access points (11 mbps) will be replaced with 802.11g (54 mbps) access points. These upgrades should allow for maximum access to the bandwidth upgrades the entire campus will receive.

We will also be increasing the number of wireless access points to most of the dorms. The move from 802.11b to 802.11g will also give us greater range per access point. This should allow us provide coverage in all dorm rooms.

• Xavier-Loyola Hall will double the amount of wireless access points it currently has.
• Town House Village complex will double the amount of access points it currently has, we will also be using larger antennas to help penetrate all rooms.
• McGee will go from six, to nine wireless access points, with coverage on every floor.
• We will also be adding wireless coverage in the THV Community Center.
• Corcoran, in addition to having a complete renovation done by Physical Plant, will have all access points that were previously missing or broken, all brought back online.
• Student Activities Hall will now have a dedicated access point, instead of pulling signal from Corcoran Hall or the Fieldhouse.

We will also be utilizing new monitoring software to better track outages, and be proactive about issues. We'll be installing new rack mount power surge suppression systems on all equipment points to help prevent electrical storms or issues from damaging this new equipment. All of the new HP equipment feature lifetime warranties, so this investment will provide future Rockhurst students with a reliable network without additional service contract costs; it will also allow us to replace failed or malfunctioning equipment much faster than was possible with the previous network.