ITS fixes wireless problem
David Steffen
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
Information Technology Services resolved wireless Internet problems last week after receiving a student complaint that the wireless network would not let some laptops log on to campus wireless.
Students encountered spotty wireless service during the semester that would connect their wireless devices to the Internet but not the campus network, said ITS Network and Systems Manager Patrick Chartrand.
Senior Heidi Phillips had difficulty logging on a few times during the semester. She said she could not log on to the network.
"I was in A.J.'s, and I tried to log on to the Internet," Phillips said. "A couple other people had problems, and we were like, 'What's going on?' So we tried moving, but we had problems with IP addresses."
Chartrand said a lack IP addresses caused the problem.
"It'd be like a phone number," Chartrand said. "It's like identification on a phone system, but with wireless, it's identification on a network so it can communicate."
He said before this week, the network could only handle 244 unique wireless users per day. To alleviate congestion, ITS changed IP address assignments from one-day to 15-minute cycles. There are still just 244 IP addresses available; however, changing a user's IP address every 15 minutes allows many more users to share the system.
"In a nutshell, we ran out," Chartrand said. "We're experiencing some growing pains with added devices like Playstation Portables, and students with iPhones and iPod Touch."
Last week's Center for Constructive Alternatives attracted a high amount of wireless traffic and contributed to the IP address scarcity, as well, he said.
Junior Zach Howard works the night security shift in Lane and Kendall Halls. He said he encountered IP address problems while trying to log on to wireless Internet with his laptop. He also uses his wireless-ready iPod Touch on the network.
"If I am part of the problem, I hope ITS can come up with a solution," Howard said. "Technology should be adaptive and hopefully improved. The reality is that more people are using wireless and more wireless gadgets like iPod Touch."
Chartrand said he already has a more permanent solution in mind. Since it involves shutting down the whole system for a few days, he doesn't want to do it during the school year. This plan would increase the IP addresses available on the system.
"During Christmas break, I'm going to engineer some of the network to allocate more IP addresses. I've got a lot of work to do," he said, laughing.
Students encountered spotty wireless service during the semester that would connect their wireless devices to the Internet but not the campus network, said ITS Network and Systems Manager Patrick Chartrand.
Senior Heidi Phillips had difficulty logging on a few times during the semester. She said she could not log on to the network.
"I was in A.J.'s, and I tried to log on to the Internet," Phillips said. "A couple other people had problems, and we were like, 'What's going on?' So we tried moving, but we had problems with IP addresses."
Chartrand said a lack IP addresses caused the problem.
"It'd be like a phone number," Chartrand said. "It's like identification on a phone system, but with wireless, it's identification on a network so it can communicate."
He said before this week, the network could only handle 244 unique wireless users per day. To alleviate congestion, ITS changed IP address assignments from one-day to 15-minute cycles. There are still just 244 IP addresses available; however, changing a user's IP address every 15 minutes allows many more users to share the system.
"In a nutshell, we ran out," Chartrand said. "We're experiencing some growing pains with added devices like Playstation Portables, and students with iPhones and iPod Touch."
Last week's Center for Constructive Alternatives attracted a high amount of wireless traffic and contributed to the IP address scarcity, as well, he said.
Junior Zach Howard works the night security shift in Lane and Kendall Halls. He said he encountered IP address problems while trying to log on to wireless Internet with his laptop. He also uses his wireless-ready iPod Touch on the network.
"If I am part of the problem, I hope ITS can come up with a solution," Howard said. "Technology should be adaptive and hopefully improved. The reality is that more people are using wireless and more wireless gadgets like iPod Touch."
Chartrand said he already has a more permanent solution in mind. Since it involves shutting down the whole system for a few days, he doesn't want to do it during the school year. This plan would increase the IP addresses available on the system.
"During Christmas break, I'm going to engineer some of the network to allocate more IP addresses. I've got a lot of work to do," he said, laughing.
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