Wireless usability improvement program 2009

Overview

A number of wireless service improvements are planned for 2009 which significantly improve the 1st time installation and ongoing usability of the wireless service for Monash staff, students and guests. These improvements are designed to maximize the business benefits of the 2008-2009 wireless everywhere project which is designed to increase the wireless coverage on all Monash campuses.

2009 Program elements

1. Automated self registration for students

Target date: 01 March 2009

The current device self-registration for wireless users is prone to user error/typos and has been identified as a cause of difficulty for 1st time wireless users getting connected.

This process will be automated for STUDENTS as part of the wireless authentication process. Staff will still need to register their devices via their faculty IT support to ensure compliance with faculty policies.

2. Standardize Monash-Connect and eduroam service

Target date: 01 March 2009

Some staff and students currently chop and change between eduroam and Monash-connect depending on whether they are at a Monash or another university.

This change will allow users to stick to using one or the other and receive an appropriate level of access according to whether they are staff,student or guest.

3. Creation of install-wireless service

Target date: 01 March 2009

Currently all (and in the future only some) devices will need to be configured before being able to use Monash-Connect and eduroam. The creation of a new intuitively named service of install-wireless or perhaps wireless-setup will be created which redirects users the ITS wireless website.The intention of this service is to increase the number of self-help 1st time users and hence reduce IT and faculty service desk calls.

4. Simplified download and run one click installation

Target date: 01 March 2009

With the automation of the device registration process for students and a rework of the install instructions, the installation process will be better targeted to the novice user audience who need a 1-2 step installation procedure.

5. Streamlined wireless website

Target date: 01 March 2009

With the growth of wireless service, the wireless website will be redesigned to better channel the different types of users (ie staff,students and guests) to the appropriate wireless service information.

6. Upgrade of Monash-Conference-Net and Guest Service

Target date: 21 May 2009

Monash-Conference-Net is available at select locations for conferences. This service will be renamed and implemented with the new Cisco WLC technology. Visitors and conference delegates who require only internet and Monash public WWW access will have the ability to use the new "web authenticated" open wireless network called guest-wireless which does not require any configuration: just a valid Monash username (including external accounts) or other university username/password (via eduroam username federation).

7. Zero 1st time configuration service improvement for Monash-Connect & eduroam

Target date: 01 November 2009

Microsoft Vista and MacOSx has the native capability to connect to Monash-Connect and eduroam without any prior configuration if Monash has a Microsoft Active Directory service. A enterprise active directory for Monash will be built Q3-4 this year that will enable this zero wireless configuration support for Vista,MacOSX and enable support for many new PDA's, Blackberry and Nokia Symbian OS phones.

8. Retirement of Monash-Wireless-Net

Target date: 01 December 2009

Monash-Wireless-Net is the original wireless service at Monash and is currently used for 1st time installation of the Monash-Connect or eduroam software and for wireless access via the Monash VPN service. With the introduction of install-wireless for 1st time installation and the improvements to the Monash-Connect and eduroam service, all users of Monash-Wireless-Net can be migrated to the new services and Monash-Wireless-Net retired.