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Wireless Networks Procedure

Parent Policy

Wireless Networks Policy

Information Technology Services (ITS) is implementing Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems on major campuses. WLAN's will allow campus users to access computing facilities and information sources from portable and mobile computers including hand held devices. WLAN’s also facilitate extending the network to locations which are hard to wire or require temporary network connectivity. However, wireless networks mean that part of the Monash data network is carried over the radio waves. This has implications for spectrum sharing, for the division of responsibilities for network management, and for security of the network and information resources. Thus, it is necessary to formulate policies to apply to that segment of the radio spectrum on Monash campuses, and to the operation of wireless networks and systems. Because wireless transmissions are broadcast through space (rather than being confined to a conductor or waveguide), they are pervasive throughout the reception area. This pervasiveness greatly increases the opportunity for interference with other services, and for security breaches through eavesdropping. Hence, a common set of standards for all wireless transmission and reception installations is essential for management of the services. The open nature of broadcast transmissions also brings additional security requirements. Registration and regulation of users of WLANs and regulation of access between WLANs and public networks (e.g. the Internet) are necessary due to the University’s potential Carriage Service Provider obligations under the Australian Telecommunications Act.

Definition of terms

ACA : Australian Communications Authority, the body responsible for regulating telecommunications within Australia.
Access Point : wireless "base station" which coordinates communication for wireless clients between each other and with the wired network.
Class-licence : a licensing regime under which an individual licence is not required for each transmitter provided that the equipment meets certain requirements such as maximum power. ("Class licence" is ACA jargon for "unlicensed band")
Client Adapter : wireless network interface card which is inserted into each user's PC to enable participation in a wireless LAN.
IEEE802.11b : widely adopted standard governing access points and client adapters and the protocols for wireless communication at rates up to 11 Mbit/s.
IEEE802.11g: widely adopted standard governing access points and client adapters and the protocols for wireless communication at rates up to 54 Mbit/s.
ITS : vInformation Technology Services Division of Monash University.
Spread Spectrum : A wireless encoding and modulation scheme which spreads the transmitted signal over a relatively large frequency bandwidth. The aim is to make the transmission less susceptible to interference from narrow bandwidth noise sources. Spread spectrum systems can operate at low signal to noise ratios, hence low radiated power levels.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) : Security Mechanism defined within IEEE802.11 standard and implemented as an optional feature. WEP was intended to make the link integrity of the wireless medium equivalent to that of a cable, but it has been shown to be deeply flawed.
Wireless LAN (WLAN) : One or more Access Points and their associated clients which communicate by radio to form a data network. A wireless client is able to roam freely within the range of its Wireless LAN. The useful range of a single access point depends on the building structure, but is typically about 50 metres.

Procedures

1.1  Use and Regulation of Class-licensed Radio Frequency

Spectrum

  1. ITS shall be the sole body responsible for frequency allocation and coordination of the use of class-licensed radio spectrum within Monash campuses.
  2. Class-licensed radio frequency bands at 2.4GHz (ISM) and 5.7GHz shall be reserved on Monash campuses primarily for the use of Monash production services, in particular wireless data network services, and secondarily for research purposes.

In particular:

  1. Monash shall not normally allow third parties to deploy systems in these bands at Monash sites unless approved by ITS (i.e. the leasing of roof-space to third parties shall be restricted to individually licensed radio bands).
  2. The use of these frequency bands for other devices (e.g. cordless phones) is discouraged.

 

  1. Where there is a requirement to use devices on the frequency bands referred to in Clause 8.1b for a specific teaching or research application, ITS will liaise with the faculty/division concerned to determine circumstances under which use of such devices may still be accommodated without causing interference to production wireless network users. This may result in part of the available spectrum being allocated to research purposes in some areas of the university. (See also White Paper).
  2. In cases where specific devices are actually causing interference and disrupting other services, ITS reserves the right to restrict the use of all class licensed radio devices in university buildings and all outdoor spaces on the Monash campuses. Such action will normally be taken only after attempts to resolve the interference by other methods (e.g. frequency allocation, or power management) have failed.
  3. Departments or divisions operating a wireless system or other device using a class-licensed wireless band shall: 
    Register each Wireless system with ITS;
    In the event of interference or potential interference with other services,  accept direction by ITS on frequency allocation, antenna location and radiated power levels.
    Note: Very low power, low range systems (up to 1 milliWatt EIRP) such as those used for "Personal Area Networks" e.g. Bluetooth are exempt from the need to register.
     
  4. ITS will maintain and publish a register of wireless systems within Monash operating in the class-licensed bands.

 

1.2  Standards, Services and System Deployment

  1. ITS shall be solely responsible for the operation and management of wireless network infrastructure in the Monash network. In the case of WLANs the line of demarcation is the air interface at the client (i.e. where the user's antenna meets the air). ITS's responsibility includes all nodes in point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless links.
  2. ITS will develop a set of standards to which WLANs and other wireless networks at Monash must conform.
    Note:  Departments engaged in research networks are free to chooses specific equipment and software for research purposes provided that the production network is not already affected.
     
  3. ITS will progressively deploy WLAN services to cover public (including outdoor) areas at Monash campuses.
  4. For buildings occupied by university departments, ITS will deploy and manage WLAN systems to cover departmental areas (typically a building or part of a building occupied by a department or faculty), on a fee for service basis.
  5. Departments shall not deploy their own production wireless systems because of the security, consistency and interference problems that would entail.
    Note:  This does not apply to very low power wireless systems (max 1 mWatt EIRP) designed for short range "personal area networks" e.g. Bluetooth. There is no restriction on the deployment of such systems.
     
  6. The WLAN service operated by ITS shall provide the greatest possible degree of mobility and uniformity to users, consistent with security requirements and technical limitations.

 

1.3  Wireless Security and Authentication

  1. All WLANs will require each client to authenticate to the network before network access is granted at the start of each session.
  2. ITS will determine minimum security measures to be used on WLANs and other wireless data transmission systems. The standard required may vary from one class of user to another, and will change over time depending on available technology, and the degree of risks and threats. (See White Paper for discussion) The security standards will be published as a section of the ITS Security Framework, and will be binding on all organizations which come under the scope of this policy.

2.  Standards & Procedures

9.1  Wireless System Standard

9.2  Wireless System Registration Procedure.

9.3  Wireless Client Registration Procedure.

9.4  Wireless Security Standard (Work in Progress).

Responsibility

Executive Director, Information Services

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