The project objectives included Wi-Fi coverage of the bomb shelter with the ability to connect a large number (up to 600) devices, coverage of the hall area, as well as areas of classrooms up to the third floor. In addition, it was necessary to provide a centralized power supply to Wi-Fi access points to ensure their operation when the primary power source is cut off. At the same time, the chosen solution had to be simple and effective in use and maintenance in order to be transferred to the management of the school’s IT department.

When developing the project, the choice fell on the Cisco Business line as one of the most efficient and affordable solutions while providing a full range of modern technologies.

The selection of access point models is based on the need for a wide coverage area and support for a large number of devices. In addition, support for the modern wireless communication standard IEEE's 802.11ac Wave 2 was taken into account. As a result, a CBW140AC dual-band model with support for this standard was selected. It has a bandwidth of up to 867 Mbps and can support up to 200 connections within a single band. An important aspect was the ability to configure and operate without a dedicated physical Wi-Fi controller - the model is controlled using the convenient and accessible Cisco Business Mobile application.

The selected access points support all modern authentication and encryption protocols to provide secure Internet access to both teachers and students. The installation of two separate subnets was planned. The first is intended for teachers and has no restrictions on access speed and content. The second, with limited bandwidth and moderation of access to content on the Internet, is for students.

Taking into account the parameters of the access points, the CBS220-8P-E-2G switch model was selected to provide gigabit connectivity and power according to the 802.3af standard. The switches were placed in two switching rooms, supplied with power via an ATS, which allows switching to a diesel generator in the event of a main power supply failure. It ensures uninterrupted Internet access in the gymnasium, even in the absence of electricity. The switches are connected to the router via Gigabit Ethernet links for direct access to the Internet.

For more information about these and other Cisco solutions, please contact cisco@muk.group.