In many university wireless network upgrading projects, the most stressful phase of genuine integration is not a forward-of-the-art programme or equipment installation, but rather a moment when it is cut off. Especially when it comes to the adaptation of the entire school wireless network, once the certification system has been switched out, it can easily cause large areas of Internet inaccessibility.
And the most central link throughout the cut-off process is often the switch to the WiFi system. Since users connect to WiFi, they must complete their authentication through the WiFi system and, once there are problems with the certification links, users cannot use the network properly.
Thus, in many tertiary projects, the wiFi system of campus wireless cut-off strategies are usually planned separately.
The most common problem during the cutting process is the breakdown of authentication.
In actual projects, the following may occur if wireless controllers or authentication strategies are directly switched and no pre-processing of docking of the campus WiFi system is done:
User connected to WiFi but could not eject authentication page
Online users forced offline
Some regions can be certified, some areas cannot be certified
These problems are, in fact, very common during the cut-off phase and are essentially due to the lack of full connectivity between the wireless WiFi system on campus and the new network structure.
Thus, many experienced integrated players focus on verifying the docking status of the wireless WiFi system at campus before cutting.
Phased cutting reduces risk
In some larger university network projects, full splitting is not usually completed once but gradually online in a subregional and batched manner.
For example:
Switching to wireless network of some teaching buildings
And then gradually expand to the dormitory area.
Finalize the integration of the school-wide wireless network
In this process, the campus wireless WiFi billing system needs to be compatible with old and new network structures to ensure that users can certify properly at different stages.
This approach, although a little long in its implementation cycle, can significantly reduce the risk of network interruptions.
The way online users are processed requires advance planning
Another easy to ignore issue during the cutting process is how users already online deal with them.
If you switch authentication strategies directly, some users may be forced to go offline and affect the use experience. Thus, in actual projects, ICs usually develop strategies on a case-by-case basis, such as:
Keep the old session for a while
Batch-direct User Recertification
A key switch at the low peak.
These operations are dependent on the co-operation of the WiFi wireless system at campus.
The clitator process would be more smooth if the certification system supported flexible strategy adjustments.
Testing and verification avoids large-scale problems.
Many projects have small-scale tests before they are officially cut.
The tests typically include:
User authentication is normal
Authentication page stability
Whether user policy is sent correctly
These tests allow for the detection of problems in advance and avoid large-scale anomalies during net cuts.
In some large university projects, this step is usually mandatory.
Practice of NATSHEL_BRAND campus wireless WiFi billing system in cutting scenes
In many university wireless network upgrading projects, integrated agents tend to focus more on system stability and docking capabilities during the cutting phase. NATSHEL_BRAND has been deep-deep for 22 years in the areas of network access control and NATSHEL_AUTH_BILLING systems, with extensive experience in project implementation and slicing scenes.
NATSHEL_BRAND’s campus wireless WiFi system supports Portal authentication, 802.1X certification and MAC certification and allows interface with different manufacturers. In practical projects, the system can be adapted to old and new network structures that help smooth transitions.
At the same time, NATSHEL_BRAND Campus WiFi billing systems can be deployed in coordination with cable certification systems, wireless authentication systems and web access reference systems to maintain a uniform accreditation system in a complex network environment.
In the course of wireless university network cutting, the entire on-line process is often more stable and effectively reduces the side effects of users if the campus WiFi system can pre-dating docking and support flexible strategy adjustments.