In March 2020, in preparation for remote work during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, GlobalProtect VPN was introduced to help handle the significantly larger need for secure connections to campus resources. GlobalProtect and our Cisco AnyConnect VPN played a significant role in streamlining campus operations’ sudden and unexpected closure. As we begin 2023, VPN service usage has gradually decreased to near pre-pandemic levels. Because of this, and to simplify the management of VPN platforms, GlobalProtect service will be discontinued on March 20, 2023, and Cisco AnyConnect will once again be our sole VPN client. Continue reading GlobalProtect VPN Service to End on March 20
Category: Networking
New Fiber Connections Speed Up East Campus
As SMU began developing the East Campus east of North Central Expressway, wireless mesh connections were frequently used to quickly provide SMU network services to buildings. While these connections have been functional, the speed and reliability were not always equal to the wired connections on the west side of US 75. Now, projects have taken place to replace these wireless connections with direct fiber optic connections to the rest of the SMU network!
The buildings that have currently been moved to fiber connections include: Continue reading New Fiber Connections Speed Up East Campus
New Wireless Access Points Beef Up Signals in Commons
The work to continuously improve the speed and quality of our network infrastructure never ends, and the summer is the perfect time for a refresh. As part of our technology repairs and improvements in the lead-up to a new academic year, new wireless access points (APs) have been deployed in several locations on campus. Continue reading New Wireless Access Points Beef Up Signals in Commons
OIT Completes 100G Edge Router Project for R1
Last month, the OIT Networking Team completed the last installation of new equipment in the UDC and Patterson data centers as part of the 100G Edge Router Replacement Project. This project is one of the many building blocks being implemented to increase campus networking speeds specifically for research initiatives. In less than six months, the team oversaw a complete replacement of the core networking equipment to give SMU a tenfold increase in internal and external internet speed.
Dr. Michael Hites, SMU’s Chief Information Officer, shared his enthusiasm for the project Continue reading OIT Completes 100G Edge Router Project for R1
eduroam Provides Secure Wi-Fi When Roaming
If you like your Wi-Fi to be secure when roaming, you are not alone. The eduroam network, short for education roaming, is available here on the SMU campus and now at over 1,000 other colleges, universities, and research facilities in the US. Starting in 2009, this encrypted Wi-Fi network was designed for research and education institutions to allow students, employees, and guests to use their institution’s ID and password to connect securely and seamlessly to the Internet using the eduroam network while visiting other institutions. Continue reading eduroam Provides Secure Wi-Fi When Roaming
