Download PDF
Walsh University creates a divine wireless experience for students with Arista Networks
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - WiFi
- Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Industries
- Education
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
- Business Operation
Use Cases
- Building Automation & Control
- Building Energy Management
- Remote Control
- Remote Collaboration
Services
- System Integration
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- Training
The Challenge
With a steady increase in student enrollment, Walsh University's Office of Information Technology (OIT) realized that their existing controller-based wireless network could not maintain adequate throughput for the growing number of devices connecting to it. This inadequacy was particularly evident in the residence halls, where students experienced connectivity issues, especially during peak evening hours when streaming and gaming activities surged. The IT team, led by Brian Greenwell and Rick Seivert, identified the need for better connectivity to ensure a positive experience for students, whether they were studying, streaming, or gaming. Additionally, security concerns were paramount, as universities have become prime targets for hackers seeking valuable personal identifiable information (PII).
About The Customer
Walsh University is an independent, coeducational, Catholic Liberal Arts and Science institution located in North Canton, Ohio. Founded in 1960 by the Brothers of Christian Instruction, the university has grown significantly over the years, now enrolling nearly 3,000 students from 40 states and 35 different countries. The main campus features 26 buildings, including 10 residence halls that house approximately 1,100 students during the school year. Walsh University is dedicated to developing students' minds, bodies, and spirits, and has seen an 80% increase in enrollment since 2002. The university also includes four satellite campuses, three in Ohio and one near Rome, Italy, which serves as a primary location for their global learning experience.
The Solution
To address the connectivity and security challenges, Walsh University partnered with Arista Networks to upgrade their wireless network. The IT team, led by Network Administrator Rick Seivert, sought a secure, cloud-managed solution that could support high-density demands, allow for simple upgrades, and scale for future needs. After comparing various vendors, including Meraki, Aruba, Aerohive, and Ruckus, Arista Networks was chosen for its scalability, security, and cloud technology. Walsh University deployed Arista's 802.11ac W-68 access points in student residence halls and Arista's C-120 and C-130 802.11ac Wave 2 access points in common areas with higher traffic. The deployment process was efficient, taking only six weeks, and was facilitated by Arista's easy-to-install access points and responsive support team. The new network allows IT staff to manage and troubleshoot the system remotely, significantly reducing the time and effort required for maintenance.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
Related Case Studies.
Case Study
IoT platform Enables Safety Solutions for U.S. School Districts
Designed to alert drivers when schoolchildren are present, especially in low-visibility conditions, school-zone flasher signals are typically updated manually at each school. The switching is based on the school calendar and manually changed when an unexpected early dismissal occurs, as in the case of a weather-event altering the normal schedule. The process to reprogram the flashers requires a significant effort by school district personnel to implement due to the large number of warning flashers installed across an entire school district.
Case Study
Revolutionizing Medical Training in India: GSL Smart Lab and the LAP Mentor
The GSL SMART Lab, a collective effort of the GSL College of Medicine and the GSL College of Nursing and Health Science, was facing a challenge in providing superior training to healthcare professionals. As clinical medicine was becoming more focused on patient safety and quality of care, the need for medical simulation to bridge the educational gap between the classroom and the clinical environment was becoming increasingly apparent. Dr. Sandeep Ganni, the director of the GSL SMART Lab, envisioned a world-class surgical and medical training center where physicians and healthcare professionals could learn skills through simulation training. He was looking for different simulators for different specialties to provide both basic and advanced simulation training. For laparoscopic surgery, he was interested in a high fidelity simulator that could provide basic surgical and suturing skills training for international accreditation as well as specific hands-on training in complex laparoscopic procedures for practicing physicians in India.
Case Study
Implementing Robotic Surgery Training Simulator for Enhanced Surgical Proficiency
Fundacio Puigvert, a leading European medical center specializing in Urology, Nephrology, and Andrology, faced a significant challenge in training its surgical residents. The institution recognized the need for a more standardized and comprehensive training curriculum, particularly in the area of robotic surgery. The challenge was underscored by two independent studies showing that less than 5% of residents in Italian and German residency programs could perform major or complex procedures by the end of their residency. The institution sought to establish a virtual reality simulation lab that would include endourological, laparoscopic, and robotic platforms. However, they needed a simulator that could replicate both the hardware and software of the robotic Da Vinci console used in the operating room, without being connected to the actual physical console. They also required a system that could provide both basic and advanced simulation training, and a metrics system to assess the proficiency of the trainees before they performed surgical procedures in the operating theater.
Case Study
Edinburgh Napier University streamlines long-distance learning with Cisco WebEX
• Geographically dispersed campus made in-person meetings costly and inconvenient.• Distance-learning programs in Malaysia, India, and China required dependable, user-friendly online tools to maximize interaction in collaborative workspaces.• Virtual learning environment required a separate sign-in process, resulting in a significant administrative burden for IT staff and limited adoption of collaboration technology.
Case Study
8x increased productivity with VKS
Before VKS, a teacher would spend a lot of time showing a group of 22 students how to build a set of stairs within a semester of 120 hours. Along with not leaving the teacher much time to provide one-on-one support for each student to properly learn carpentry, it also left a considerable amount of room for error. Key information would be misinterpreted or lost as the class was taught in the typical show-and-tell way.
Case Study
Scalable IoT Empowering GreenFlex's Sustainable Growth
GreenFlex, a company that supports sustainable development, decarbonization, and energy efficiency, faced several challenges in its quest to expand its business. The company needed to deploy a robust and sustainable IoT technology to support its growth. It was crucial for them to monitor and control devices at customer sites in a safe and reliable manner. They also needed to integrate devices across a range of communication protocols and gather and act on data to meet efficiency targets. GreenFlex had previously built IoT capabilities into its digital platform, GreenFlexIQ, to monitor and manage customer sites remotely. However, they soon realized that they needed a new platform to support their ambitions. They needed a platform that could scale to connect more devices for production management and make it easier for the operations team to manage devices in the field.
