ITS will begin work next week on a major upgrade of switch hardware throughout many of the buildings on campus. The project involves modernizing networking hardware that allows for the connectivity of all devices within a specific location to the campus network. This type of switch replacement was last completed 12 years ago. The typical maximum lifecycle of this essential hardware is 5 to 8 years, highlighting the critical need for immediate upgrade.
Switch networking hardware will begin to show signs of wear and tear after about five years with reduced speeds, shorter range, and perhaps even signs of heat damage. As such, we’ve experienced recent device failures requiring emergency upgrades in select locations this year.
Proposed Replacement Schedule
To minimize impact to the W&L community, ITS has scheduled the switch replacement project throughout the summer months. While work is ongoing in a specific building, there will be an intermittent loss of internet connectivity (both wired and wireless). This also includes office VOIP phone service. Please refer to the chart below for upgrade locations and dates.
All work will be completed on a designated day for each building starting at 9:00 AM and will continue for a period of time estimated not to exceed the upgrade window hours listed below. Individual users in each location will likely experience no more than 30 minutes of downtime.
Please note Washington Hall work will begin at 5:00 AM instead of 9:00 AM.
Please contact the ITS Helpdesk (X4357 or help@wlu.edu) if you find that the proposed schedule conflicts with an essential business need on that day so that we can work to establish an alternate timeline for your location.
Chart legend: UDH = Upper Division Housing
| Building Name | Date | Upgrade Window |
|---|---|---|
| Chavis Hall | 6/10/2024 | 3 hours |
| Washington Hall | 6/11/2024 | 3 hours |
| Tucker Hall | 6/13/2024 | 3 hours |
| Payne Hall | 6/14/2024 | 3 hours |
| Newcomb Hall | 6/17/2024 | 3 hours |
| Center for Global Learning | 6/18/2024 | 4 hours |
| Elrod-008 (Ground Level) | 6/20/2024 | 2 hours |
| Elrod Campus First Floor | 6/21/2024 | 3 hours |
| Elrod Second Floor | 7/1/2024 | 3 hours |
| Graham Lee Dorm | 6/27/2024 | 4 hours |
| Gaines Dorm | 6/28/2024 | 5 hours |
| Science A110 & A210 | 6/25/2024 | 1 hour each |
| Science A310 & A410 | 7/2/2024 | 1 hour each |
| Howe H109 & H207 | 7/8/2024 | 3 hours |
| Howe H307 & H407 | 7/9/2024 | 1 hour each |
| Parmly 148 & 228 | 7/11/2024 | 1 hour each |
| Parmly 316 | 7/12/2024 | 2 hours |
| Parmly 415 | 7/15/2024 | 3 hours |
| UDH – A, B & C | 7/16/2024 | 1 hour each |
| UDH – D, E & F | 7/18/2024 | 1 hour each |
| UDH – G, H & I | 7/19/2024 | 1 hour each |
| UDH – J, K & L | 7/22/2024 | 1 hour each |
| UDH – M, N & O | 7/23/2024 | 1 hour each |
| UDH – P & Q | 7/25/2024 | 1 hour each |
| Leyburn 320 | 8/5/2024 | 2 hours |
| Leyburn 421 | 8/6/2024 | 2 hours |
| Leyburn LL-1B | 8/8/2024 | 3 hours |
| Leyburn M6 | 8/9/2024 | 3 hours |
