UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION
Information Technology (IT) Position Statement on Connecting Devices to the Campus Network
Background: The standard practice for connecting a PC to the campus network is for a department to arrange for IT's Telecommunications & Technical Services (TTS) unit to install a network connection. The department is charged $282 for each new network connection.
IT has become aware that some departments are instead turning to devices such as mini hubs for their new network connections. Mini hubs are inexpensive devices ($40-$190) that allow multiple connections (2, 8, or 10) to the campus network. The hub is attached by the purchasing department rather than TTS.
IT Position Statement: Ethernet devices such as hubs, bridges, routers, switches, and EtherWave type cards that extend or alter the topology of the campus network are under the jurisdiction of the Information Technology division. Such devices may not be connected to the campus network without authorization of IT.
Requests for the addition of hubs, bridges, routers, switches and similar devices to the campus network must be submitted to the Director of Telecommunications and Technical Services. Approval for the new device may be granted following investigation of existing topology and expected use of the new device. Any hubs, bridges, routers, switches and other ethernet equipment that have been approved may be used only in the authorized location and in the authorized manner.
Unauthorized devices discovered on the campus network will immediately be removed and the network port will be disabled.
Rationale for Position Statement: Mini hubs are attractive to departments because they reduce the costs of new network connections. Nevertheless, after considerable discussion, the IT Division has endorsed the recommendation of the Security CQI Team that unauthorized mini hubs and other devices should not be allowed. Despite the attractiveness to users, there is an unacceptable probability that mini hubs will cause increased and unnecessary network problems and service calls. Since it is not possible for IT to conveniently interrogate the network as to what is out there, IT would slowly lose all sense of "what's out there" and spend hours diagnosing user-inflicted network and performance problems. The University requires a known network architecture and an accurate record of who is connected and where.
Ethernet standards require strict adherence to specifications in order to provide availability and top performance to all devices attached to the network. Distance limitations and rules governing the number and types of ethernet devices that may be linked together prohibit indiscriminate additions of ethernet devices.
The Position Statement is similar to statements in other UW network policies, for example:
"All devices connected to any part of the campus network must be approved by OIT [Office of Information Technology]." UW Platteville, "Acceptable Use of Computing and Information Technology Resources," 9/15/95.
"Unauthorized connections to the University network are prohibited." UW Stevens Point, "Computing and Network Use Policy," 5/21/96.
IT Guidelines for Approving Mini Hubs and Other Devices: Mini hubs and other devices may be approved for connection to the campus network if all of the following conditions are met:
1. Ethernet standards such as distance limitations and repeater rules are strictly adhered to.
2. The device must be connected to a managed port. A non-managed device may not be connected to another non-managed device.
3. IT must approve all connections extending from the mini hub or device.
4. The error rate on the network segment to which the device will be connected must be under 0.01%.
5. Traffic on the network segment to which the device will be connected is under 30% utilization for 80% of the time.
6. The device may be used only in authorized location(s).
7. Any network problem caused by any device connected to the original device will cause the entire original device to be disconnected.
8. The department installing the device is responsible for all maintenance and troubleshooting of the device.
September 19, 1996
Last updated: February 24, 1997