INFRASTRUCTIRE:

LAN/WAN

USF Health network uses Cisco network devices. The name Cisco has been synonymous with quality for years, which is why we trust the brand and the products. USF Health is designed and crafted to the highest standards of networking. USF Health uses Cisco catalyst 6509 switches as core switches, catalyst 4506, 3750, 2600 and other switches as access switches designed with redundancy and failover.

USF Health network comprised of over 25,000 ports and 150 VLANs, with 100 megabit to desktop and gigabit backbone. Due to high amount of data and distance between buildings, USF Health interconnects buildings using single-mode fiber.

WLAN                             

USF Health wireless network provides USF Health faculty, staff, and students, researchers and clinical patients and guests with wireless access to Internet resources without the need of a wired connection. Following a very ambitious year-long expansion and upgrade project, the new USF Health Wireless network is rapidly growing with about 1,000 access points providing convenient wireless access in more than 40 buildings, including the new state-of-the-art South Tampa Center for Advanced Health Care Center and other satellite clinics, centers and Shimberg Medical Sciences Library. The wireless network provides USF Health community with a safe and secure wireless network. Users can take advantage of the wireless network, which will encrypt all wireless transmissions using WPA2/WPA technology.

USF Health uses Meru networks system devices for its wireless. Merus networks system was chosen after exhaustive research and testing of wireless system that will meet our complex and vast wireless requirements such as: scalability, cost-effectiveness, performance, security interoperability and applicability.  One of the advantages of a Meru Networks WLAN environment is the ability to effectively manage 802.11a/b/g protocols on one Access Point simultaneously without degradation in service.  Meru also offers effective channel management for roaming devices called “Virtual Cell Technology”, which allows clients to roam freely across the USF Health Campus with the appearance of being associated to the same Access Point regardless of location.

Currently, the USF Health wireless networks are available on both the 802.11b/g and 802.11a frequencies. USF Health IT recommends the use of 802.11a with equipment that supports it. However, 802.11a is generally faster than 802.11b/g because it does not have to support the older 802.11b protocol and there is less interference. Many new laptops support both 802.11a and 802.11b/g. However, some software drivers, when presented with two networks having the same name, will only allow the user to select the 802.11b/g name. By creating and broadcasting unique names for the 802.11a networks, users will be able to easily select the 802.11a networks.  This is the recommended means of accessing the wireless network. If your laptop or other wireless device doesn’t support WPA2/WPA you can still access the USF Health wireless network in public community locations across the USF Health Campus.

For further information or questions contact:

Marcus Session, B.S., M.S., CCNA, CQS, MCP
Sr. Network Engineer
813-974-6288

Ken DeShong, MCSE
Network Administrator
813-974-6288