Knox College is again at the "leading edge" of providing computer network resources to students, faculty and staff. Upgrades to Knox's high-tech facilities this summer are boosting connection speed, strengthening network security, and providing wireless coverage for all campus buildings.

More than 100 wireless "access points" have been installed, covering all academic and residential buildings, as well as much of the 80-acre Knox campus that occupies approximately 20 square city blocks in Galesburg.

"Wireless users will be able to check e-mail or look up references on the Internet, while sitting on the Gizmo patio or outside under a tree," said Steven Jones, director of Knox's Ferris Computer Center. Students and faculty will be able to borrow wireless laptop computers for use in the library.

The computer center is testing the various configurations of wireless cards and software used in personal computers. "We support standard wireless cards, but we have advised students not to bring their own access points, because they won't work with the campus network," Jones said. A wireless connection is a radio link between a special card in the user's computer and an access point attached to the campus network.

Someone who is "wardriving" -- the term used to describe searching for vulnerable wireless networks -- might be able to detect Knox's wireless signal in the area around campus, but the college network is restricted to authorized users.

"Security has been a major issue, a huge issue," said Don Hickey, Knox's network manager. "You don't want unknown users connecting to your network, which could happen if you haven't set up your wireless security correctly."

The basic network --  the underlying infrastructure that most users never see  -- has also been upgraded. The installation of switches instead of hubs to control traffic on the network and the conversion to a higher capacity gigabit Ethernet system have given the campus network a substantial speed boost.

"You can think of hubs like stop signs -- if there's traffic you have to wait your turn," Jones said. "A switch is more like a cloverleaf -- traffic flows more quickly."

Security is also being improved, to insure that computers connected to the campus network don't cause problems, such as spreading viruses. "Computers that are infected or otherwise misbehaving won't be able to affect the campus network and other users's systems," Jones said.