Network Management. (cisco wlse)

Network Management

Early on, the university identified the need for dedicated WLAN management capabilities. As such, and in line with their selection of Cisco infrastructure, the IT staff selected and deployed the Cisco Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE), a dedicated wireless network management appliance. The WLSE provides the university IT staff with visualization, configuration, and image management, dedicated wireless reporting capabilities, and RF management features.

The Cisco WLSE is also used to provide graphical traffic and usage reports for the service portal, thereby offering IT staff and users intuitive and friendly information on service availability and trends.

Additionally, because a VPN overlay plays a fundamental part in the solution, regular reporting is undertaken for the following:

• Total number of unique users on a monthly and cumulative basis

• Total number of logons on a monthly and cumulative basis

• Average VPN session time on a monthly and cumulative basis (varies between 60 and 100 minutes per logon/session)

The university is also in the process of implementing a comprehensive network operations center that will manage not only the wireless but also the wired network.