IT Advisory Board meeting - October 28, 2022

IT Advisory Board meeting – October 2022

Does network support include remote sites?

  • Yes, all networks connect back to main campus. There used to be a site in Huntsville which has closed.

Can more bandwidth be allocated to a specific geographic area to limit getting kicked-off the network?

  • Not necessarily, each access point can support approximately 125 client devices but that also depends on the type of activity each of those devices are engaging in (ex.Youtube vs. email).
  • At one-point STC had 400 students in the space and there were 780 unique devices.
  • There is a known authentication latency issue that IST is investigating. The main cause of being kicked off the network is reauthentication intervals which is when users get the message ‘failed to join Eduroam’.

Where can students find out about network issues?

When moving between spaces the wi-fi disconnects. One user turned off randomized Mac and finds this better but is wondering if it is a privacy concern?

  • Privacy mac is great when there are no other things to identify you by (ex. If you were walking through a mall). At the university, you are already identified using your log in credentials.
  • This improvement is likely a coincidence, randomized mac will stay until you forget the network.
  • Solution: When moving to a new location, disconnect and reconnect to the network. The device controls which access point connects to. The device will stay connected to the access point in hallway even if the connection in the lecture hall is stronger.
    • Looking to have this information share publicly

Why does residence recommend physically connecting to the printer versus using wi-fi?

  • Radio frequency has a limited amount of spectrum to use, additional wi-fi routers not owned by the university or printers utilize this and prevent other devices from using it.
  • It’s best to always connect with a wire if available for a better connection.

Would it be possible to have a room in co-op with a guaranteed connection that could be utilized for secure virtual interviewing?

  • Dave to explore this with co-op

There is a challenge with professors utilizing cloud iClickers and users cannot connect to respond to quizzes.

  • IST does not have much say in course delivery, but with advance notice from professors, they could complete assurance levels. This is dependent on what activities those connected to the Access Point are engaging in, as this could exceed the bandwidth the Access Points could withhold. Three main determinants are bandwidth use, additional interference, and the Access Points location.

Where is logged network activity stored?

  • ISS logs the network activity and stores it in the Data Center on-campus. Information on how long this data is stored would need to be posed to ISS.

Is there a potential to add additional access points to areas that may see more traffic than typical due to an event?

  • It is possible but perhaps not probable, they would need to assess the current design, run cabling, get approval for the purchase of additional access points, and complete a network design. There is a current chip shortage, and it is taking approximately 400 days for new access points to arrive.

Is there a potential to provide more bandwidth for course selection?

  • As most users are not on-campus for course selection it is likely a server issue not a network issue.

Can AP unit concurrency capacities be published?

  • Raw numbers would not be published as these are subjective to the type of activity users are engaging in. The networks team is piloting a tool called “Space” to see device count. If this goes well and it was a useful tool, they could work with the portal team to discuss integration.

How do you submit a request for help?

  • IST JIRA help portal
  • Please include location, details of the device, UserID, Mac Address, symptoms of what is happening, data and time of issues.

Download the Eduroam app

  • Eduroam is an SSID but also a federation of academic and research institutions. CANARIE managed Eduroam for Canada.
  •  Can utilize the app to configure setting to be anonymous@uwaterloo.ca when you join the Eduroam network at other institutions.

Security measures for network

  • 2 ISSPS – Beanfield and Rogers; Can withstand routing failures and natural disaster