University Times

In May 2000, the University issued a comprehensive three-year information technology (IT) plan, and wireless technology barely got a mention. Although in the interim Pitt has taken some steps toward making wireless technology available, don’t expect it to take over the campus, a Pitt official says.

“The IT plan said that we’d look into wireless technology as it was emerging, and we’re still doing that,” said Jinx Walton, director, Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD). “The technology wasn’t mature enough at that point, especially in the area of security, for us to say we definitely want to implement wireless. As it started to mature a little more, tools became available and industry standards were developed to make it more secure.”

Since the IT plan’s implementation, Pitt:

• Has completed a pilot wireless program, leading to the establishment of the Wireless Networking Standard (procedures governing the design, implementation, maintenance and security of University wireless network installations, accessible at: www.technology.pitt.edu/standards/wireless_standard.html);

• Is offering advice and assistance to individual units wishing to explore wireless environments.

• Has opened four area wireless “open study spaces” around campus (Hillman Library, the Cathedral Commons Room, the Petersen Events Center food court, and a 2nd floor study area in Posvar Hall), and

• Has begun a security information and education program for students to guide wireless (and other) users in securing their computers against hackers, and is developing a similar program for faculty and staff.

Still, these have been small steps meant to supplement rather than dominate Pitt’s IT environment, Walton said. “Our goal has been to have access across the University, to have access to the Internet and the Pitt network from any location at any time. I believe our wired network is fairly close to that already. The wireless network augments that, the way our campus kiosks and computer labs do. It really doesn’t replace a wired environment, but it does give you convenience and flexibility and the option to get network access in locations that may be difficult or impossible to wire.”

According to the University’s wireless standard, there still are inherent disadvantages to a wireless network environment, including:

• Because bandwidth is shared on wireless networks, performance will decrease as the number of users at a single access point increases.

• Obstructions, such as thick walls, metal partitions and outside sources of radio interference all can adversely affect wireless network performance. Interference can either degrade a wireless transmission or bar it entirely.

• Because wireless network traffic is transmitted over radio waves, wireless networks are inherently less secure than wired networks. Authentication and encryption protocols are needed to secure data, which can be intercepted more easily than data transmitted over a wired network.

In order to access wireless PittNet from a laptop computer, a user needs a compatible wireless network interface card.

Logging on the Internet or PittNet from a wireless access point also requires a University computer account username and password.

Wireless technology at Pitt includes the use of a Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) key, issued by CSSD, that provides encryption of data between wireless access points and end user computers.

Pitt contracts with an outside firm to create security gateways, where network access is secured at the access point, Walton said.

University units with installed wireless access points are assigned unique WEP keys in order to ensure that only individuals authorized by each unit can access the network.

“I think what we’re doing now is a lot more sophisticated than what they’re doing at a lot of other schools, not opening our network up to unnecessary risks,” Walton said. “We didn’t just implement wireless to say we have it. We waited until our network security wouldn’t be jeopardized.”

Walton said that about a dozen units have inquired about wireless network technology since the University’s standard was established in July. “We’re hearing from departments who want wireless in their conference room facility, for example. They might want staff to have access to the network in that type of setting. Or in a lab or classroom currently not wired, they might want students to have connectivity.”

CSSD will do a site survey on request to assess the feasibility of establishing a wireless network environment. Part of the site survey is analogous to the pitchman in the TV commercial who utters ad nauseam, “Can you hear me now?” as he moves from place to place, Walton said. “In fact, when we did the site survey of Hillman library that’s just what we did,” she said. “You don’t just go to the central tables, but to the outskirts, the corners as well, testing network connectivity.”

Among the first Pitt units to install wireless access was the law school, in the Barco Law Library.

George H. Pike, director of the library and assistant professor of law, said, “Really, we’ve been chomping at the bit for this to get underway. Right now in the school our wireless areas are the three floors of the Barco Library and a ground floor lounge area. These are authenticated for student use. We’re now looking into getting faculty and staff involved as well.”

Pike described the library’s wireless environment as the latest phase in the school’s multi-phase development of technology resources. “During renovations at the school over the last couple years, we revamped the classrooms to be more like a combined computer lab space and teaching space. We are hardwired in our four largest classrooms and parts of the library, so wireless is part of a multi-phased approach,” he said.

“We have wired ports at our carrels, but now all our 450 stations in the library have wireless capability,” enabling students to have full mobility for studying both print and electronic material in the library.

“Legal research generally is text-based and the Internet has revolutionized the access of text availability without requiring exorbitant bandwidth,” Pike said.

Pike said that in the last couple years he has seen a proliferation of students with laptops in class and in the library. “Students are very computer savvy and I think they adapt very well to a wireless environment.”

The law school already is touting the wireless network as a recruiting tool, adding information about it to admissions recruitment publications, he said.

—Peter Hart