Campus technology services are updating the wireless internet network in the Cokesbury Court Apartments.
Chris Craig, campus network engineer, said the changes have included replacing outdated hardware and adding more access points in Cokesbury. Access points broadcast a Wi-Fi signal, and increasing the number of AP units increases the system’s coverage and signal strength. They prevent bandwidth loss, which can come from many devices connecting to a network simultaneously. Access points were added to the final residence building on Sept. 30, Craig said. At interview time, the clubhouse building had not had hardware changed.
Craig said the updates were planned for the summer, but they were delayed due to the university closure. He said the need to update immediately became apparent due to the increased use of Wi-Fi for Zoom purposes. Updates are being made as hardware becomes available and is shipped to campus, he said.
“The other thing that is challenging now, of course, is that a lot of this hardware is sitting in shipping containers off the coast of California, not being delivered,” Craig said.
Shipping is delayed due to COVID-19.
Craig said the next step for updating Cokesbury will be continuing to replace outdated hardware. He said the university is now able to do this because they recently acquired ownership of Cokesbury. The update will involve more than doubling the number of access points currently in Cokesbury after the recent updates, rewiring the network with increased-bandwidth cables which allow for transportation of more data, and replacing the network switches in the network.
“That place will be lit up like a Christmas tree,” he said. “In fact, I would venture to say that Cokesbury might go from one of the most challenged Wi-Fi areas to one of the best, and I kind of hope we can use that as an example going forward, but we’ll see what comes of that.”
Craig said these updates will occur over winter break because they necessitate ripping out drywall to access the wiring which is currently tied to the studs in the walls. Network switches are hubs for wiring connections that communicate between the access points and the network switches in the campus technology department, which are then connected to internet services. Changing the network switches will increase the network bandwidth, Craig said.
Craig said access points will continue to be added to other residence halls and buildings on campus throughout the semester, but those projects will be less intensive due to the need for hardware replacement.
Craig said much of the timeline for further projects depends on the availability of hardware and where OCU is on waiting lists for those items.
The construction of small closets on the exterior of residence halls is part of the next phase of Cokesbury upgrades, Craig said.
“Those are going to house the network switches. As of right now, our network switches are in one of the rooms in each building, which, of course, provide a nice amount of heat and noise for whoever happens to be living in that room. Not desirable. And of course, if I need to go manage that switch in any way, physically, then I have to ask someone to come into their room, stand on their bed, whatever, ladder, lean over their bed. It’s just not ideal for anyone,” Craig said.
The new network switches will be wired to the external closets so they can be accessed without needing to enter dorm rooms, and so the switches do not cause unwanted noise or heat for residents.
Craig said some of the network outages this semester have been due to the updates for the Wi-Fi because of the software upgrades needed to control the newly installed hardware. Craig said further large-scale outages should not be expected, but some area outages may occur for hardware changes. Campus technology services will work to schedule those after-hours so they don’t interrupt classes.
“I’m pretty excited for a lot of the updates, particularly in Cokesbury, and I hope the students enjoy what they end up with. And as always, especially when we say that we’re through with the updates, we definitely want to hear feedback from the students,” Craig said.
Molly Shottenkirk, English junior, said she has occasionally experienced issues with the Wi-Fi, which can be sporadic. She said she was aware of updates to the Wi-Fi across campus, but not any to Cokesbury specifically.
“I really hope that it helps or that it improves significantly,” she said.
Students can contact campus technology services with any feedback by emailing them at helpdesk@okcu.edu.
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