Secure Wireless Connections across Multiple Facilities

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The Challenge

The Numerical Algorithm Group (NAG) specializes in the development of software for the solution of mathematical, statistical, and data mining problems. Founded in 1970, the organization develops solutions used by companies and institutions in a diverse range of industries spanning the globe. Corporate growth, and an executive mandate to make the company’s offices wireless caused Computing Support Technician Paul Mitchell to investigate potential solutions. His goal, and the company’s goal, was to blanket the company’s two story office building, as well as a satellite facility 100 meters away, with a secure wireless network.

The Solution

A review of the Wireless MAXg Router in a leading computing magazine led NAG to contact USRobotics. After consultation with the USRobotics team, it was determined that the USRobotics Professional Access Point (AP) was also ideal for their wireless network. The product’s range, enhanced security, and management features provided them with the functionality they required, and allowed the APs to be clustered for easy configuration.

Three APs were placed in the company’s main office and a fourth in the satellite facility. In addition, USRobotics Power over Ethernet (PoE) kits allowed the APs to be placed without consideration of electrical outlets; a USRobotics Wireless MAXg Router would serve as a gateway to the company’s LAN; and a 9 dBi Patch Antenna ensured strong wireless signals to the satellite facility.

Using the AP’s clustering feature and automatic import/export of configuration files, NAG was able to properly configure the first AP and merely introduce the remaining APs to the network for security settings, configuration files, and other device settings to be downloaded and made ready for use.

Considering the sensitive nature of the work at NAG, security for the wireless network needed to be the best available. The AP’s built in 802.1x radius server and WPA2 security was used to ensure documents and files sent across the network were secure. Load balancing and dynamic channel planning features on the AP were used to ensure optimum wireless speeds and connectivity during times of peak usage. Also, the AP’s built-in rogue detection feature alerts the NAG IT staff to other APs active within range of the network (this could lead to channel conflicts and reduced network efficiency).

The Benefits

With complete coverage across both facilities, fast and secure wireless connections, and enterprise-level management tools, the Professional Access Point and other USRobotics’ products provided NAG with the ideal wireless networking solution. Installation time and management of the network was kept to a minimum with automatic configuration features, and the range of products available ensured devices would work seamlessly.

Additionally, the USRobotics Professional Access Point’s ability to cluster up to eight APs provides NAG with the ability to increase the size and coverage of their wireless network should a new facility be developed or additional users come online.

“The range and performance of the USRobotics equipment is excellent. I’ve had 25 clients on the remote cluster using the Internet and transferring files back to the main office and have heard no complaints about speed or connectivity,” says Paul Mitchell. “The set up was simple, as the clustering worked perfectly, sharing the configuration among all the access points, even in the remote building.”

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