Campus Network Upgrades

GW networks are used by thousands of people daily for research, business, studying, gaming, and even streaming Revolutionaries athletic events.  We understand that this creates unique demands with varying and ever evolving requirements. This is why GW IT is committed to providing the best experience through continued investments in our network infrastructure and exploring ways to bring new capabilities to better support the world-class education and research being done at GW.

Summer 2024 Network Initiatives

Distribution Node Replacement 

• Distribution nodes are large network devices that serve multiple buildings and support connectivity to devices within each building, such as wired and wireless connections. Replacing distribution nodes across campuses will remove aging hardware and make GW networks more reliable and efficient.

GW Wireless Network Updates

• Streamlining of GW Wireless networks
  • To reduce confusion of our multiple networks, GW IT will be reducing the number of network names (SSIDs). The end goal is to have three SSIDs: eduroam, GWdevice, and GWguest. We will be working to update documentation and IT help articles to support the transition.
    
    Which GW Network Should I Choose?
     
• Announcing a New Wireless Network: “GWdevice” for Internet of Things Devices 
  • Hardware upgrades, implemented in the summer of 2023, included new features to create networks that use Pre-Shared Keys (PSK)  for Wi-Fi access, allowing for a more at-home feel to the network. This will allow internet of things (IoT) devices to better communicate with each other. 
  • GWdevice was piloted for residents in West Hall during the spring semester and will be available this fall with a focus on residential use. GW IT will also be working with departments to identify and support academic and research use cases.

Ongoing Replacement of Access Switches

• Access Switches are local devices within buildings that enable network access to wireless access points and your end point devices (e.g. desktop computer, laptop, etc).
• With 1100 Access switches on campus, we have a lifecycle program that replaces approximately 20% of these switches every year.  This approach helps to minimize impact, spread investments and ensure stable network services.
• Starting in July, we will be upgrading the access switches in the Thurston block of campus. 
  • To minimize impact, maintenance will happen daily from 6:30 AM until 8:30 AM, focusing on only a few floors at a time. While a floor’s switches are being upgraded, network services will be unavailable.
    
    Network Maintenance Schedule

Timeline

GW IT is focused on modernizing wired and wireless access infrastructure, which includes replacing aging critical infrastructure that serves network connectivity across all our campus locations, and delivering the latest capabilities to all connected devices.

Summer of 2024, GW IT will be replacing distribution nodes that support the connectivity of wired and wireless access devices. These changes will require impacts to network services. In an effort to minimize disruptions, we will be working closely with our university partners to coordinate and communicate the equipment upgrades. 

These upgrades have paved the way for the launch of our new enterprise wireless network, GWdevice, which is now available. This new network is designed to provide a seamless at-home network experience while maintaining bandwidth and security. The upgrades enhance network capabilities, provide integrated solutions in classrooms and labs, support broader Internet of Things (IoT) adoption across the university, and simplify technology customization for academic innovation.

• Streamlining of GW Wireless networks

  • GWireless will retire on January 2, 2025. 
    • Join eduroam now to avoid a service interruption. 
  • GWconnect will  retire on August 16, 2024.  
    • GWdevice is available now and provides an at home network experience for all your streaming devices
    • GWguest will be available on August 16. 
       

• Distribution Node Upgrades - Summer 2024

  • As the distribution nodes are being upgraded, there may be temporary network disruptions across campus. Maintenance windows and impacts are outlined in the Distribution Node Replacement Schedule and posted to GW status. 
    
    Distribution Node Replacement Schedule

Completed Upgrades

During the summer of 2023, GW IT completed a full refresh of all Wi-Fi hardware across all campus locations and the system that supports those devices.  Additionally, older switches supporting wired network access were replaced in the Science and Engineering Hall and other targeted high priority areas that include life safety and classrooms.

GW IT will continue to make investments in our network to enable better reliability, offer more capabilities to our campuses and support greater innovation for the future.

GWdevice - Network Pilot in West Hall - COMPLETE

Update: GW IT has completed the pilot of GWdevice in West Hall. We appreciate the residents of West Hall’s help in designing our new Private Pre-shared Key (PPSK) network.  On May 28, 2024, GWdevice was implemented across campus.

GW IT piloted a new wireless network that was exclusively available in West Hall during the Spring 2024 semester. The new wireless network aimed to make it easier to add streaming, gaming, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices and allow residents to connect more devices to GW’s wireless network.

The feedback and results from this pilot were used to prepare for the campus-wide roll-out of the GWdevice wireless network.