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The Rice Thresher
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by J. Cameron Cooper thresher staff Wireless networking is now available on the first floor of Fondren Library to anyone with a wireless network card, a portable computer and a Rice account. Because the library stacks interfere with the signals, the rest of Fondren can't be similarly outfitted. The system at Fondren - which will eventually be installed throughout campus - uses an industry-standard wireless networking scheme designated 802.11b, which allows connection speeds similar to those of the Ethernet connections around campus. The networking scheme is compatible with Apple's AirPort technology. A computer with a compatible network card set up to automatically detect DHCP network settings will be directed to a Web site to register the card. After verifying that the user has a Rice account, the computer will have networking as usual - without wires. The wireless networking installation in the library cost about $2,000 and was financed by part of a state grant for information infrastructure improvements. A few buildings on campus have wireless networking already. These include Brown College and Duncan Hall, which is equipped with an older, yet-to-be-updated system called Proxima. The Humanities Building has built-in wireless networking that has not been turned on yet, and all new and renovated buildings will be similarly equipped. "Part of what we're doing is ensuring the 802.11 standard across campus," Information Technology Specialist for Fondren John Ferro said. Although several other wireless networking protocols exist, the 802.11b specification is the most common of the new practical and mature generation of wireless technologies, and Ferro said Rice plans to standardize based on it. "Eventually, you'll be able to walk from Fondren, through the quad and into Duncan and always be connected," Ferro, also the university-wide Wireless Committee chair, said. Ferro said the next step will be to add wireless networking to the residential colleges. "In about two years we should have all of them wireless-enabled. But we haven't decided on a pecking order yet," Ferro said. Although the IT department will be setting up the networks, it will be up to the college computing associates to help users get their computers working properly. The Wireless Committee was formed six months ago to discuss how to implement wireless networking at Rice in the future. Composed of IT directors, students and faculty, the committee's long-term goals include wireless information kiosks on the shuttle buses.
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