As a result the University Computing Service, which runs the wireless service, issued a tender for a replacement network. Aruba was selected for the project because its centralized management minimized deployment and support costs, and its Remote Access Point (RAP) technology created an extensive "private" network with local bridging to IT resources and services within each college. The University also plans to implement voice applications leveraging Aruba's voice quality of service (QoS) feature. Support services are being provided to the University by Vanix, an Aruba-authorized integrator.

The University of Cambridge, founded almost 800 years ago, is one of the world's oldest universities and is today a leading academic center comprised of 31 colleges. Each college is an independent institution with its own property and income. The Network Division of the University's Computing Service Department acts as a service provider and works with the colleges and departments to provide a wireless hotspot service, "Lapwing," through which students and faculty members access the university's administrative and learning resources.

"Since we serve many masters, it is paramount that the University Computing Service's wireless network be adaptable to a wide range of needs, simple to manage with minimal staff overhead, self-adjusting to accommodate dynamically changing local conditions, and cost effective for our clients, the colleges," said Bob Franklin, Network Division, University Computing Service. "Aruba's wireless architecture minimized the time required for our initial deployment and has delivered robust Wi-Fi performance ever since. The network's centralized management and RAP technology are supremely scalable with a minimum number of controllers, and have cut our support overhead costs by minimizing field visits. As a result the University's Network Division can support a greatly expanded network with its existing staff while simultaneously passing operating expense savings directly to the colleges."

Aruba's secure mobility solutions deliver networks to users by integrating adaptive wireless LANs, identity-based security, remote networking and fixed mobile convergence, and multi-vendor network management into a cohesive, high-performance system. Adaptive wireless LANs deliver robust connectivity to roaming users in need of high-speed data, toll-quality voice, and streaming video applications. Identity-based security associates policies with users instead of network hardware, delivering follow-me security that enhances mobility regardless of how or where the network is accessed.

"The University Computing Service has a challenging role to play as a service provider because they must accommodate a wide range of needs -- and therefore need a feature rich architecture with tremendous flexibility -- all the while keeping a lid on costs," said Bob Vickers, Aruba's UK sales director. "Aruba's centralized architecture, RAP technology, VLAN pooling, and scalability address both today's and future needs, at a highly competitive price. We're delighted to welcome the University of Cambridge into our fast expanding universe of higher education customers, and look forward to serving their growing wireless requirements."

Keywords: aruba networks inc, wireless lan equipment, university computing service, wireless hotspot, legacy network, initial deployment, wireless architecture, university of cambridge, bob franklin, minimal staff, independent institution, nasdaq, Wireless Security

By Robert Hoskins

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