Virginia District Consolidates Wireless Network

Harrisonburg City Public Schools, a 4,400-student K-12 district in Harrisonburg, VA, has centralized and consolidated its wireless network using gear from Aerohive Networks.

The new network replaces a system of wireless access points, which created constant problems with regard to reliability, security, and system management. In addition, the district said it expects the system to solve its previous resiliency problems, which caused repeated network failures and wasted valuable time. The Aerohive network offers wireless mesh networking capabilities, which automatically route around network failures at all access points, known as HiveAPs.

"Aerohive has given us a highly resilient wireless network that's both easy to deploy and manage, with the capabilities to meet our needs far into the future," said Dwayne Hottinger, network administrator for HCPS. "Considering all the features we sought, Aerohive was the most cost-effective solution."

Hottinger also noted the network's ease of deployment and management using the company's HiveManager network management system. "If someone reports an issue," he explained, "I can look at the HiveManager, see where they are connected, review the log files, view the topology, and determine whether I need to add or move a HiveAP for better coverage."

The LAN is accessible from all 10 district buildings, including eight schools, a special education center, and an administrative office.

About the Author

Scott Aronowitz is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas. He has covered the technology, advertising, and entertainment sectors for seven years. He can be reached here.

Featured

  • The First Steps of Establishing Your Cloud Security Strategy

    In this guide, we'll identify some first steps you can take to establish your cloud security strategy. We'll do so by discussing the cloud security impact of individual, concrete actions featured within the CIS Critical Security Controls® (CIS Controls®) and the CIS Benchmarks™.

  • Human Error Remains the Leading Cause of Cloud Data Breaches

    Human error is still one of the biggest threats to cloud security, despite all the technology bells and whistles and alerts and services out there, from multi-factor authentication, to social engineering training, to enterprise-wide integrated cybersecurity platforms, and more.

  • Abstract illustration of a human news reporter interviewing an AI with a microphone

    AI on AI in Education: A Dialogue

    Scholars are doing lots of asking and predicting about the risks and rewards of generative artificial intelligence in school, but has anyone asked the all-knowing chatbots?

  • Pattern of desks with interconnected circles, triangles, and lines

    Classroom Furniture Giveaway Seeks Dream Learning Space Design

    Educators have a chance to design their ideal K-12 learning space in a contest recently announced by classroom furniture manufacturer KI.