Wireless network expands
By Matt Sanders
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
This year the information technology division has added wireless hot spots in all major academic buildings, and is now working to expand those hot spots, according to officials.
Wireless signals in the air around UTC have increased during the last four years, Monty Wilson, assistant vice chancellor of information technology, said.
"We are always looking to enhance the network," Wilson said.
"We are working on an improved identity management system, we are working on making faster backbone connections from 100 megabit to one gigabit between some buildings," he said.
According to Wilson, UTC operates about 130 core servers that support e-mail, file storage and the identity management system. Without a fully operational network, the school would close down.
"There are about 1,300 computers in computer labs stretched across campus that students use on a daily basis," Wilson said.
"If you think about all the things you do just with the MocsNet portal and that's how you register for classes, that's how you check your e-mail," Wilson said. "The key to accessing things online is to be online."
Wilson said it's important for students to keep their computers up-to-date with software and other applications. Computers that are not up-to-date are not permitted to join the wireless network. He said students need to be aware of these problems so the network will be more stable.
Faith Bush, a Georgetown, Tenn., senior, said she doesn't think the campus networks are reliable.
"The wired connection is good, but the wireless, if you can get on, you have to go through the system of security stuff," Bush said.
Bush said she thinks the network connections for the computer labs seem to work properly.
George Campbell, a Cleveland, Tenn., junior, said the networks do not seem to meet student demands.
"During the day, the Internet can be rather sluggish, which is probably a good time for it not to be sluggish, because people are going to be trying to get projects and their homework done," Campbell said.
Campbell said he has had some problems connecting his computer in his dorm room.
"The advertising for campus housing says high-speed Internet, and that seems a bit misleading," Campbell said.
Wireless signals in the air around UTC have increased during the last four years, Monty Wilson, assistant vice chancellor of information technology, said.
"We are always looking to enhance the network," Wilson said.
"We are working on an improved identity management system, we are working on making faster backbone connections from 100 megabit to one gigabit between some buildings," he said.
According to Wilson, UTC operates about 130 core servers that support e-mail, file storage and the identity management system. Without a fully operational network, the school would close down.
"There are about 1,300 computers in computer labs stretched across campus that students use on a daily basis," Wilson said.
"If you think about all the things you do just with the MocsNet portal and that's how you register for classes, that's how you check your e-mail," Wilson said. "The key to accessing things online is to be online."
Wilson said it's important for students to keep their computers up-to-date with software and other applications. Computers that are not up-to-date are not permitted to join the wireless network. He said students need to be aware of these problems so the network will be more stable.
Faith Bush, a Georgetown, Tenn., senior, said she doesn't think the campus networks are reliable.
"The wired connection is good, but the wireless, if you can get on, you have to go through the system of security stuff," Bush said.
Bush said she thinks the network connections for the computer labs seem to work properly.
George Campbell, a Cleveland, Tenn., junior, said the networks do not seem to meet student demands.
"During the day, the Internet can be rather sluggish, which is probably a good time for it not to be sluggish, because people are going to be trying to get projects and their homework done," Campbell said.
Campbell said he has had some problems connecting his computer in his dorm room.
"The advertising for campus housing says high-speed Internet, and that seems a bit misleading," Campbell said.
