Campus Wi-Fi solution: Keeping it simple and connected

When it comes to creating a solid Wi-Fi network on a campus, you’re not just plugging in a few routers and calling it a day. It’s about building something reliable, strong, and capable of handling everything from students streaming videos to professors uploading massive research files.

If you’re tasked with setting up or managing campus Wi-Fi, you’re in for a ride, but don’t worry – we’re here to make it a bit easier.

Let's dive in!

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🚨 Before we dive in, please don't self-host your UniFi Controller if you take care of client networks. Sooner or later this will cause issues! It's fine for home users, but definitely not recommended for IT service businesses and MSPs. If you want secure, reliable and a scalable hosting solution check out UniHosted.

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Table of Contents

• The challenge of campus Wi-Fi
• Start with the right equipment
  • Access points (APs)
  • Switches
  • Controllers
• Planning your network
  • Site survey
  • Placement of access points
  • Bandwidth requirements
  • VLANs and SSIDs
• Security matters
  • WPA3 encryption
  • Private pre-shared keys (PPSK)
  • Network segmentation
  • Regular updates and monitoring
• Keeping it manageable
  • Centralized management
  • Cloud hosting
  • Guest networks
  • Troubleshooting tools
• Scaling up
  • Future-proofing
  • Training and support
• Final Thoughts

The challenge of campus Wi-Fi

First off, let’s talk about the challenges. Campus Wi-Fi isn’t just about giving everyone internet access. It's about making sure that access is fast, secure, and available all over the place – in classrooms, dorms, libraries, and even those tucked-away corners where students love to study (or nap).

You’ve got to think about a lot of things:

1. Coverage: Making sure every square inch of the campus has a strong signal.

2. Capacity: Handling hundreds or thousands of devices at the same time.

3. Security: Keeping the network safe from hackers, unauthorized users, and other threats.

4. Management: Making it easy to monitor, update, and troubleshoot the network.

Sounds like a lot, right? It is, but with the right approach, it’s totally doable.

Start with the right equipment

To build a solid campus Wi-Fi network, you need the right gear. This isn’t the place to cut corners. You need access points (APs) that are designed for high-density environments, like the ones made by Ubiquiti. Their UniFi range is a good place to start – they’re known for being reliable, easy to manage, and scalable.

Access points (APs)

These are the backbone of your Wi-Fi network. You’ll want to place them strategically around the campus to ensure complete coverage. Look for APs that support the latest Wi-Fi standards (like Wi-Fi 6), as they offer better performance and can handle more devices.

Switches

Your APs need to connect to something, and that’s where switches come in. In a campus environment, you’ll need switches that can handle a lot of traffic and provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) to your APs, so you don’t have to worry about plugging them into power outlets.

Controllers

A central controller is essential for managing your network. With UniFi, you can use a UniFi Controller, either hosted locally or in the cloud. This lets you monitor your network, push updates, and manage everything from a single dashboard. Plus, it’s scalable, so as your campus grows, your network can grow with it.

Planning your network

Before you start installing anything, you need a solid plan. Here’s what to consider:

Site survey

Start with a site survey. This helps you understand where you need to place your APs to ensure full coverage. You can use tools like Ekahau or even UniFi’s own planning tools to map out signal strength across different parts of the campus.

Placement of access points

Based on your site survey, you’ll place your APs in areas that need the most coverage. This might be in hallways, large common areas, or classrooms. Make sure there’s some overlap in coverage between APs to avoid dead spots.

Bandwidth requirements

Consider the bandwidth needs of your users. Students streaming video, faculty members uploading large files, and IoT devices all need bandwidth. Plan your network to handle peak usage times – like during class changes when everyone is checking their phones.

VLANs and SSIDs

To keep your network organized and secure, set up VLANs (Virtual LANs) for different user groups – students, faculty, and guests, for example. Each VLAN can have its own SSID (network name) and set of rules, like bandwidth limits or access restrictions.

Security matters

Security is a huge deal for campus Wi-Fi. You don’t want unauthorized users hogging your bandwidth or, worse, accessing sensitive information. Here’s how to lock things down:

WPA3 encryption

Make sure your network is using the latest security protocols, like WPA3, which offers better protection against hacking compared to older standards like WPA2.

Private pre-shared keys (PPSK)

For added security, you can use Private Pre-Shared Keys (PPSK). This gives each user or device a unique password, making it much harder for someone to gain unauthorized access. With UniFi, setting up PPSK is straightforward and can be managed easily through the UniFi Controller

Network segmentation

By using VLANs, you can segment your network so that different types of traffic (like student internet access, faculty resources, and security cameras) don’t interfere with each other. This not only improves performance but also adds an extra layer of security.

Regular updates and monitoring

Your network is never really “done.” It’s important to regularly update your hardware and software to protect against new security threats. With a UniFi Controller, you can push updates to all your devices from one place and monitor the network for any suspicious activity.

Keeping it manageable

A campus Wi-Fi network can get pretty complex, especially as it grows. You need tools that make it easy to manage all this complexity.

Centralized management

With a UniFi Controller, you can manage your entire network from a single dashboard. This includes monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, and pushing updates. Whether you’re on-site or managing the network remotely, you’ve got full control.

Cloud hosting

For even more flexibility, consider hosting your UniFi Controller in the cloud. This way, you don’t have to worry about hardware failures or on-site maintenance. Cloud hosting providers like UniHosted offer reliable, scalable solutions that are perfect for campus environments.

Guest networks

Setting up a guest network is essential for campuses that host events or have a lot of visitors. With UniFi, you can easily create a guest network that’s separate from your main network, keeping your core resources secure while still offering internet access to visitors.

Troubleshooting tools

When something goes wrong – and it will – you need to be able to fix it quickly. UniFi’s tools make it easy to diagnose issues, whether it’s a downed AP or a device that’s hogging bandwidth.

Scaling up

As your campus grows, so will your network. The good news is, with a scalable solution like UniFi, you can expand your network without starting from scratch. Adding new APs, upgrading your switches, or even expanding to new buildings is a breeze when you’ve got a solid foundation.

Future-proofing

When planning your network, think ahead. Choose equipment that supports the latest standards and offers room for growth. This way, when new technologies come out (like Wi-Fi 7 or beyond), you’re ready to upgrade without a massive overhaul.

Training and support

Make sure your IT staff is trained on how to use the UniFi system. There are plenty of resources available, from online tutorials to certification programs. And if you’re using a hosted solution like UniHosted, you’ve got support available whenever you need it.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a campus Wi-Fi network might seem daunting, but with the right tools and a solid plan, it’s totally manageable. Focus on getting the right equipment, planning your network carefully, and keeping security and management at the forefront.

As your campus grows, your network can grow with it, providing fast, reliable internet to everyone who needs it.

If managing all of this sounds like a lot, remember that services like ours at UniHosted can help you out. We offer cloud-hosted UniFi Controller that make managing even the largest networks easy. Whether you’re just getting started or scaling up, we’ve got you covered.

If you would like me to personally walk you through UniHosted, you can schedule a call with me here.