AST deploys latest technology LAN

AST Vaal Triangle, a Business Unit of the AST Group, has completed the largest implementation in South Africa of a latest-technology wireless LAN for Iscor Flat Steel Products in Vanderbijlpark. Iscor approached AST Vaal Triangle, its strategic IT partner, for assistance in resolving a crisis in implementing SAP training facilities in fourteen venues, in less than three days.

The technology used in the deployment was Orinoco Enterprise Solutions, which provides both robust connectivity and the high performance (11 Mbps) of wired LAN`s, but with the flexibility, mobility and affordability of wireless technology.

Orinoco Enterprise Solutions makes use of the Orinoco PC card and the WavePoint-II Access Point which provides the environment with excellent levels of security, robustness and the roaming features required by a business.

"Iscor`s requirement, to provide classroom connectivity in multiple open space areas while catering for ease of connection, was a major challenge," explains Herman Smit, Divisional Manager at AST Vaal Triangle.

"The project team was further challenged by the limited installation period available to provide traditional LAN infrastructure in the classroom environment, and the physical construction of the building which has steel-plated partition walls and ceiling tiles," adds Smit.

According to Koos Booyse, Departmental Manager at Iscor Flat Steel Products, this was an excellent example of achieving business benefits from technology, combining the correct technology with appropriate technical skills. "This achievement by AST Vaal Triangle ensured that we commenced our training schedule as required by the business", adds Booyse.

The final installed configuration of 14 classrooms with more than 230 desktop PC`s was catered for with seven ORINOCO Access Points with range extender aerials. The wireless coverage of the final design allows for connectivity by each PC to a minimum of two Access Points, ensuring full redundancy. The measured data throughput at true 10BaseT of 10Mbps ensured that the students could work at the normal, wired LAN Ethernet speed.

An added benefit is the fact that the ORINOCO equipment can be fully relocated to other hard-to-cable areas of the Iscor Steel plant at Vanderbijlpark, once the training program has been completed. The versatility of ORINOCO will allow Iscor and AST to cater for instant connectivity, overcoming the traditional UTP`s limitation of 100-meter cable length and the additional time required to install the cable.