We presently do not permit 802.11a/b devices on our wireless network, but we do allow 802.11g. Luckily, there are only a few dozen 802.11g devices connected at any given time, the rest are 802.11n/ac. The performance hit for supporting g appears to be minimal in our environment.
We’ve been facing issues with special requests on our campus for supporting bizarre end devices. The most recent request was to support a wifi doorbell, which uses PSK and 2.4GHz only. Worse, it was easily stolen and cracked, giving up in cleartext the key. Refusing to support these devices causes new problems, however. Some of these locations instead set up their own access points to serve these special devices, which causes channel interference with our official access points. To set up such devices is against policy, but it causes some angst against IT when we enforce it in these circumstances. How many exceptions do you make for special scenarios? How often do you prop up custom location-specific SSIDs to support unique requests? -- Jason Trinklein Wireless Engineering Manager College of Charleston 81 St. Philip Street | Office 311D | Charleston, SC 29403 trinkle...@cofc.edu | (843) 300–8009 On 4/13/16, 8:45 AM, "The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv on behalf of Frank Sweetser" <WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU on behalf of f...@wpi.edu> wrote: >We were lucky enough here to start off from the beginning with a policy of >wireless being strictly best effort. If it works, yay for you! If it doesn't >work, plug into a wired port and we'll get around to fixing wireless if and >when we can. Obviously we can't get away with that kind of position these >days, but it's been much easier to start there than to have had the wireless >network be priority one from the start. > >Based off of that, we've been able to stick to a basic functional support >requirement, rather than being obligated to twist wireless around to support >critical devices that someone else decided should depend on wireless. In our >case, devices fall into one of three categories: > > - If your configuration is fully supported by CloudPath, we'll back up that >support, including opening vendor tickets on your behalf if you find a real >problem. > > - If you're outside of CloudPath support, but you still support our encryption >and authentication requirements (WPA2/EAP-TLS), we'll pr >work, plug into a wired port and we'll get around to fixing wireless if and >when we can. Obviously we can't get away with that kind of position these >days, but it's been much easier to start there than to have had the wireless >network be priority one from the start. > >Based off of that, we've been able to stick to a basic functional support >requirement, rather than being obligated to twist wireless around to support >critical devices that someone else decided should depend on wireless. In our >case, devices fall into one of three categories: > > - If your configuration is fully supported by CloudPath, we'll back up that >support, including opening vendor tickets on your behalf if you find a real >problem. > > - If you're outside of CloudPath support, but you still support our encryption >and authentication requirements (WPA2/EAP-TLS), we'll provide you with an >identity cert and some general directions, but you're responsible for the >actual >configuration. > > - If your device only supports PSK, then sorry, you're out of luck! This also >happens to rule out all of the devices that we've seen require 1Mbit data >rates, >like the Wii, which has made it much easier for us to trim out those bottom >rates. > >Obviously we've had to dump resources into wireless over the years to keep pace >with actual requirements and user expectations, but starting from the >convinience >only stance has made it much easier for us to manage expectations over time. > >Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution that > >Manager of Network Operations | is simple, elegant, and wrong. >Worcester Polytechnic Institute | - HL Menckenovide you with an >identity cert and some general directions, but you're responsible for the >actual >configuration. > > - > >Frank Sweetser fs at wpi.edu | For every problem, there is a solution that > >Manager of Network Operations | is simple, elegant, and wrong. >Worcester Polytechnic Institute | - HL Mencken > >On Wed, 2016-04-13 at 12:23 +0000, Chris Adams (IT) wrote: >> I think this raises an interesting challenge that I've faced too: should we >> enact a minimum specification requirement (ex. no 802.11a/b) for wireless >> network access? >> >> For student PCs that our service desk supports, we have minimum >> requirements, IE Windows versions, AV vendors, etc. Outside of those >> requirements, they cannot support the machines. Should we do something >> similar for wireless? >> >> Is it fair to potentially reduce the network experience for others >> associated to access point to support devices that only utilize legacy >> wireless methods? >> >> I am certainly sympathetic to allow as much device freedom as possible - but >> at what cost to performance and user experience? >> >> I am interested if any of you may have already crossed this bridge. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Chris Adams, CISSP >> >> Director, Network & Telecom Services >> Division of Information Technology >> University of North Georgia >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELE >> ss-...@listserv.educause.edu] On Behalf Of Osborne, Bruce W (Network >> Services) >> Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 8:18 AM >> To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU >> Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Turning off 2.4 on a select SSID? >> >> We have some management with Visio TVs that requires 802.11b rates in order >> to associate. That presents a challenge too. >> >> >> >> Bruce Osborne >> Wireless Engineer >> IT Network Services - Wireless >> >> (434) 592-4229 >> >> LIBERTY UNIVERSITY >> Training Champions for Christ since 1971 >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Gogan, James Patrick [mailto:go...@email.unc.edu] >> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 8:08 AM >> Subject: Re: Turning off 2.4 on a select SSID? >> >> I'm unfortunately seeing that we may actually start to experience an >> INCREASE in 2.4GHz-only devices ..... when we asked about this on campus >> recently, I received this reply ... and this is from a central IT person: >> >> " I wanted to point out that many brand new phones don't speak 5GHz such as >> the Motorola Moto G (3rd generation) which just began shipping late last >> summer. In fact, none of the generations of Moto G have a 5GHz >> radio. Motorola has reserved 5GHz wifi for the Moto X which is their >> premium spec phone. The Moto G is a pretty common phone - I know of >> several folks (in our department) that have such including myself and a >> coworker who just bought a brand new one Friday. Republic Wireless sells a >> ton of these. The Moto E, which is the base model, also doesn't speak >> 5GHz. Several folks in our building also have that phone." >> >> Don't know whether to blame Motorola or folks that go for the cheapest stuff >> possible. >> >> -- Jim Gogan / Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELE >> ss-...@listserv.educause.edu] On Behalf Of Earl Barfield >> Sent: Monday, April 11, 2016 4:07 PM >> To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU >> Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Turning off 2.4 on a select SSID? >> >> > >> > On 04/07/2016 09:24 AM, Hector J Rios wrote: >> > > >> > > >> > > I guess this brings up another good question, and that is, what is >> > > the percentage of 5GHz vs 2.4GHz you all see in your institutions? >> > > For us is still 50-50. And it’s been like that for a while. I still >> > > see new laptops that only come with 2.4GHz adapters. >> > > >> >> While it can be useful to track what percentage of connections use 5GHz >> radios, we've found that a better question to ask is "What percentage of >> 5GHz-capable clients are actually connecting at 5GHz". >> >> In our environment, it varies wildly by building: some as high as 95% of >> sessions and others, such as our outdoor spaces, down close to zero. >> >> We focus our resources on improving the 5GHz coverage in the buildings with >> the lower percentages. >> >> All this data is in the Airwave Management Platform database. It just >> takes a little gentle coaxing to get it out. >> >> In our high density spaces, we have many many APs on 5GHz with directional >> antennas, along with turning of lower data rates and >> raising RxSOP to limit the cell size. We turn off 2.4GHz >> radios on all but a few APs in the room, From the user side, this >> should look about like APs with multiple 5GHz radios. >> >> We're using Cisco AP3702Es right now but we're anxious to take a look at the >> upcoming AP3802Es that should allow us to use fewer APs to but the same >> number of 5GHz antennas serving a room. >> >> >> >> -- >> Earl Barfield -- Academic & Research Tech / Information Technology Georgia >> Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 >> Internet: earl.barfi...@oit.gatech.edu e...@gatech.edu >> >> ********** >> Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent >> Group discussion list can be found at >> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwIFaQ&c=7MSSWy9Bs2yocjNQzurxOQ&r=AuveJXIorHW4s-aGSHEbnQZt5LubWGCZik-5HxxaRqU&m=aT15Yz-lMtOrU2rxTLo7F6LlZRuyTkPWUMAHokr4IXc&s=Tw9w9P8HI6xCmHgUCr8EkE1kp6en3hm5Nhysgq9iIqc&e= >> . >> >> ********** >> Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent >> Group discussion list can be found at >> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwIFaQ&c=7MSSWy9Bs2yocjNQzurxOQ&r=AuveJXIorHW4s-aGSHEbnQZt5LubWGCZik-5HxxaRqU&m=aT15Yz-lMtOrU2rxTLo7F6LlZRuyTkPWUMAHokr4IXc&s=Tw9w9P8HI6xCmHgUCr8EkE1kp6en3hm5Nhysgq9iIqc&e= >> . >> >> >> ********** >> Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent >> Group discussion list can be found at >> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwIFaQ&c=7MSSWy9Bs2yocjNQzurxOQ&r=AuveJXIorHW4s-aGSHEbnQZt5LubWGCZik-5HxxaRqU&m=aT15Yz-lMtOrU2rxTLo7F6LlZRuyTkPWUMAHokr4IXc&s=Tw9w9P8HI6xCmHgUCr8EkE1kp6en3hm5Nhysgq9iIqc&e= >> . >> >> >> ********** >> Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent >> Group discussion list can be found at >> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwIFaQ&c=7MSSWy9Bs2yocjNQzurxOQ&r=AuveJXIorHW4s-aGSHEbnQZt5LubWGCZik-5HxxaRqU&m=aT15Yz-lMtOrU2rxTLo7F6LlZRuyTkPWUMAHokr4IXc&s=Tw9w9P8HI6xCmHgUCr8EkE1kp6en3hm5Nhysgq9iIqc&e= >> . >> > >********** >Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group >discussion list can be found at >https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwIFaQ&c=7MSSWy9Bs2yocjNQzurxOQ&r=AuveJXIorHW4s-aGSHEbnQZt5LubWGCZik-5HxxaRqU&m=aT15Yz-lMtOrU2rxTLo7F6LlZRuyTkPWUMAHokr4IXc&s=Tw9w9P8HI6xCmHgUCr8EkE1kp6en3hm5Nhysgq9iIqc&e= > . ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
