Spotty wireless traced to bugs in Cisco software

Persistent wireless interruptions on campus have been traced to a suspected bug in the vendor software. Cisco, the vendor in charge of nearly 600 wireless access points on campus, has acknowledged the software malfunction and assembled a team to investigate the problem.

"They have given it a high priority for service and attention but because they don't know immediately what has caused the problem, they haven't been able to give us an estimate of a date of when it would be fixed," University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt '96 said.

The problem has remained largely the same since it first began a month and a half ago.

"Basically, what we know for sure is that there continue to be pervasive sporadic interruptions for some people using wireless service," Cliatt said. "During those interruptions, it appears that users are connected as they would be normally but there is no traffic flowing due to the wireless connection."

OIT Networking has been sending data to the vendor in the hopes of finding the source of the problem.

"After our OIT has received and established what the problems are from the vendor, that will put the University in a better position to evaluate what possible options there are in terms of continued service," Cliatt said.

On its website, OIT explains that tests of an older version of the software found no problems, increasing suspicions that a bug might exist in the new version.

Cliatt stressed that any wireless problems were being fixed immediately upon detection and that students should use the more stable Ethernet connections.

"Except for certain occasional elements in the product that are causing this disruption, those elements are blocked as soon as obstructions are located," she said. "Meanwhile, students should know that Ethernet is exceptionally reliable."

A return to Ethernet

Students who discarded their Ethernet cords after wireless was expanded campus-wide may now be regretting that decision.

"It just goes in and out," Danielle Wolfe '08 said of her wireless connection. "You'll still get a webpage but then you have to sign off ... I mean, you'll lose webpages and stuff so that's kind of irritating. It does the same thing in my dorm. So I just got an Ethernet cord."

Some frustrated students, including chemical engineering graduate student Yesim Igci, have resorted to carrying around their Ethernet cords.

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"It used to come and go frequently and my work requires a fast Internet connection, so I started to carry an Ethernet cable," she said. "I was annoyed that I had to carry it all the time. Now when I need a fast connection I prefer staying in my office or in my room."

Some suggested that heavy reliance on newer, faster technology has aggravated the problem.

"Once they implemented it, people started not caring about having their cords ready," Karen Bailey '08 said.

"Now everyone is dependent on wireless and now whenever you need help or need to talk to someone, you can't get into contact with them because you don't have wireless."