Colorado College’s Internet and Telecommunications Services (ITS) launched the “Name the Network” competition at the beginning of Block 6 in order to generate excitement for the migration to CC’s new network that will replace the current Wi-Fi network, Tigernet2.
“We wanted students to be involved and to feel some degree of ownership in the process of moving to the new network,” said Chad Schonewill, a member of ITS. “A small group of faculty, students, and staff pored through 445 submissions to identify a winner. We threw out anything that was a variation of Tigernet. We’re just as done with Tigernet as you all are.”
Students were asked to pick from Block9, CatNet, CConnect, CCwifi, ThePromisedLAN and WiOfTheTiger. After voting, WiOfTheTiger won, with 50 percent of the 611 students who voted selecting it as their first choice. ThePromisedLAN and Block9 came in second and third, respectively.
“The new Wi-Fi name is creative, quirky, and perfectly captures the essence of the CC student body,” said junior Marissa Maurelli.
The finalists of the naming competition will receive an Amazon gift-card and the winner will choose either an iPad, GoPro, a gaming console valued up to $500, or a free parking pass for a year.
The network updates will vastly increase the wireless speed and bandwidth at CC. WioftheTiger will provide Wi-Fi coverage inside and outside buildings, allow devices such as Apple TVs, Chromecasts and gaming consoles to connect wirelessly, and prevent the frequent wireless drops that many Mac users currently experience.
Setting up WioftheTiger is a complex four-step process. First, through a contract with Brocade Networks, the ITS department is working on installing new, state-of-the-art network switches. Secondly, the wireless access points, through which your devices connect to Wi-Fi, are being significantly upgraded. The 802.11ac model from Aruba Networks will be faster, more efficient, and have a greater range than current access points.
By running on a different band than our current wireless, it will also minimize interference from neighbors and reduce battery drain.
The number of access point on campus will double, bringing the total to approximately 1,100.
Instead of using the Bradford registration process to connect to the network, the ITS department will start using Aruba’s ClearPass.
It will be easier for first-time users to register, will improve internet connection, and will provide greater network stability across campus.
Finally, there will be improvements in security and speed and reliability of Internet connections. An advanced firewall will be installed. There will also be a new remote access system. This will replace the current SSLVPN.
A final proposition is to bore a tunnel from CC to I-25 in order to lay fiber optic cable. This would provide CC with a new primary Internet connection.
The current speed of 1 GB/sec would jump to 10 GB/sec and would increase the system’s resilience to outages.
“Although there is no specific date for when these changes will be fully implemented, we’re working hard on getting it done as soon as possible, and we want to keep students informed of the progress,” said Shonewill.
The building with the most upgrades so far is Loomis, which has received a great deal of positive feedback.
To see the progress being made in other buildings, follow @itsatcc, check out facebook.com/coloradocollegeits, or check the posters around campus, which are updated with progress reports.