Minimalist architecture+optical PoE, creating a "smart dragon outside" green campus network

Wi Fi 6, derived from 5G, enables ubiquitous network access
Full coverage, stable connection, and fast download are the three key words of the upgraded Wi Fi 6 network in this phase, and they are also the consistent feelings of the first batch of Wi Fi 6 network users outside of Longwai.

In areas such as the teaching building, gymnasium, cafeteria, and security office, AirEngine 6761-21 installation type Wi Fi 6 AP and AirEngine 5762-15HW panel type Wi Fi 6 AP are selected for deployment. These two APs have built-in smart antennas that allow Wi Fi signals to move with users like searchlights, providing high concurrency and large bandwidth access to meet the needs of teachers and students. The actual test data shows that the download speed of a single user can reach 300Mbps, giving people a feeling of the high-speed access capability of Wi Fi 6. At the same time, both APs have built-in Bluetooth and support USB, allowing for on-demand expansion of IoT applications such as asset management, temperature control, and light control in the future, without the need for separate deployment of IoT networks, saving network construction and management costs.

In the dormitory area for teachers and students, there are mostly small rooms with many partitions. Therefore, AirEngine 5762-15HW panel type Wi Fi 6 AP was deployed directly into the room, with one AP per room, to ensure signal coverage and user bandwidth while building a continuous Wi Fi 6 network. Experimental data shows that when teachers or students use Wi Fi to connect to the network and make video calls with distant "TAs", they can quickly move around the entire dormitory area without screen flickering or voice lag. The connection is very stable and the experience is very good.

In the open area of the campus, to meet the demand for outdoor wide coverage, the AirEngine 5761R-11E outdoor Wi Fi 6 AP is deployed. The AP is installed on a pole, and due to the design of an external smart antenna, it can achieve stronger and farther signal coverage, allowing teachers and students to quickly find the Wi Fi network called "HIU" and complete one click access. Actual test data shows that even at a distance of 100 meters from the AP, the user's download speed can still reach 100Mbps.

The students from Longwai said, 'The Wi Fi 6 experience feels great.'. The Wi Fi signal is everywhere, and there has been no disconnection after connecting to the network. However, the most profound feeling is the improvement in network bandwidth. Now our live courses are very smooth, and downloading hundreds of MB of courseware is also very easy

Minimalist architecture+optical PoE, creating a green and low-carbon campus network
After a comprehensive analysis and comparison of POL, all-optical Ethernet, and Huawei's asteroid solutions, it was found that the first two use local power supply, which greatly limits the deployment of access devices. In addition, POL has problems such as insufficient user bandwidth and closed network architecture; However, the cost of building a comprehensive all-optical Ethernet network is high, and the operation and maintenance management are also more complex.

In the end, Longwai chose the Huawei Asteroid Low Carbon Intelligent Park Network Solution, which introduced two major innovations: minimalist architecture and optoelectronic PoE, making the above problems easily solved.

The minimalist architecture redefines the network architecture of the park, transforming the Longwai campus network from an access+aggregation+core three-layer architecture to an access+core two-layer architecture. The core switch is the CloudEngine S12700E frame switch, and the access switch is the CloudEngine 25731-H optoelectronic hybrid switch. The access switch flexibly expands ports through remote modules, which can meet the 4K+wired terminal access needs of the entire school. This architecture greatly simplifies network management, reducing the number of wired device management nodes (core+access) by about 80%; The remote module adopts multiple energy-saving designs, with an average single port power consumption of less than 1W, which can save more than 30% energy compared to the industry. According to calculations, network deployment based on the new plan can save more than 20000 kWh of electricity bills for Longwai in one year.

As an innovative power supply solution, optical PoE allows access switches to provide full gigabit/10 gigabit data access to remote modules or Wi Fi APs through optical hybrid cables, while also providing long-distance, high-power PoE power supply. The problem of local power supply for remote modules is no longer difficult, and they can be placed wherever they want; Due to the remote module being pushed to the desktop and the terminal being connected nearby, a building only needs one weak current room, which can save the cost of weak current room and supporting construction, as well as the cost of cable layout from the weak current room to the terminal. According to calculations, based on the new plan, only the wired terminal access part has been used, saving over 60% in cable layout and reducing the length of network cable wiring by over 100000 meters.

It should be noted that this solution not only reduces equipment energy consumption, but also significantly reduces the deployment of copper cables, making it possible to build a green campus network.

The project integrator, the project manager of Harbin Century Optics Valley Network Company, said, "The asteroid solution greatly simplifies campus network planning and deployment, with plug and play remote modules directly deployed to the desktop, reducing the amount of wiring from weak current rooms. The long-distance power supply capability of optical PoE makes it easy to power remote modules and Wi Fi 6 APs.