Brandeis University Brandeis University Network RegistrationNetwork Registration

Joshua WestJoshua West

03/15/201103/15/2011

LTS Staff MeetingLTS Staff Meeting

What is Network Registration?What is Network Registration?

The process of registering your device The process of registering your device with the network it wishes to use.with the network it wishes to use.

Simple way for organization to manage Simple way for organization to manage who is using the network.who is using the network.

We prefer to allow only those affiliated with We prefer to allow only those affiliated with the University to use our network – people the University to use our network – people who have a Brandeis account.who have a Brandeis account.

A brief historyA brief history

Once used a system called NORM.Once used a system called NORM. Managed our network for 10 years!Managed our network for 10 years! Homegrown by previous employees.Homegrown by previous employees. Was great, but technology had advanced Was great, but technology had advanced

quite a bit in 10 years.quite a bit in 10 years. Determined time for a replacement.Determined time for a replacement.

EvaluationEvaluation

Examined commercial and open-source Examined commercial and open-source solutions.solutions.

Determined didn’t meet our needs, way Determined didn’t meet our needs, way too expensive, or didn’t work as too expensive, or didn’t work as advertised.advertised.

Decided to write our own NORM Decided to write our own NORM replacement.replacement.

So… what is “Netreg”?So… what is “Netreg”?

Wrote something new, called “Netreg”.Wrote something new, called “Netreg”. Wouldn’t have been possible without all Wouldn’t have been possible without all

that we had learned from NORM.that we had learned from NORM. Everybody must use it to register their Everybody must use it to register their

device when they first enter the network.device when they first enter the network. Handles all IP address assignment for the Handles all IP address assignment for the

entire campus – both wired and wireless.entire campus – both wired and wireless. Uses lots of free/open-source software.Uses lots of free/open-source software.

Why is network registration Why is network registration important?important?

Helps administrators keep track of what is Helps administrators keep track of what is on our network and who is using it:on our network and who is using it: Helpdesk and troubleshooting.Helpdesk and troubleshooting. Security – who owns this device?Security – who owns this device?

Statistics – what type of devices are on Statistics – what type of devices are on our network?our network?

Acceptable Use Policy / Terms of Service.Acceptable Use Policy / Terms of Service.

ImplementationImplementation

Beta tested Feldberg in September 2010.Beta tested Feldberg in September 2010. Cutover campus November 2010.Cutover campus November 2010. Didn’t notice? That was the point!Didn’t notice? That was the point!

Transitioned all existing registrations to the Transitioned all existing registrations to the new system, so users didn’t have to re-new system, so users didn’t have to re-register.register.

Approximately 20,000 registrations were Approximately 20,000 registrations were migrated from NORM to Netreg.migrated from NORM to Netreg.

Netreg User FeaturesNetreg User Features

Simple, clean, and efficient registration process.Simple, clean, and efficient registration process.

Users can now manage their own devices with a Users can now manage their own devices with a web page. Just visit web page. Just visit https://netreg.brandeis.eduhttps://netreg.brandeis.edu

Nicknames! You can nickname all of your Nicknames! You can nickname all of your devices (“iphone”, “laptop”, etc) so you can keep devices (“iphone”, “laptop”, etc) so you can keep track of which registration is which device…track of which registration is which device…

LoginDevice

InformationSecurity

AgreementCongratulations!

Netreg AdministrationNetreg Administration

Biggest users of Netreg is not the end Biggest users of Netreg is not the end users themselves; they use it once and users themselves; they use it once and move on with their lives move on with their lives

Instead, it’s the Helpdesk and Instead, it’s the Helpdesk and Administrators/Engineers across campus Administrators/Engineers across campus who use Netreg the most.who use Netreg the most.

Was important to develop a fully featured Was important to develop a fully featured administrative console.administrative console.

Major Administration FeaturesMajor Administration Features

Server health/status – everything OK??Server health/status – everything OK?? Registrations browser – what’s registered?Registrations browser – what’s registered? Network configuration – lets us add and define Network configuration – lets us add and define

characteristics of different networks for buildings characteristics of different networks for buildings across campus.across campus.

Stats ‘n graphs – everybody likes pretty pictures!Stats ‘n graphs – everybody likes pretty pictures! Subnet layout – we can view the current state of Subnet layout – we can view the current state of

a network and all of its devices, on one screen.a network and all of its devices, on one screen.

High Availability InfrastructureHigh Availability InfrastructureGoldfarb

Netreg

Feldberg

A

B

DHCP1

Secreg

DHCP2

DDNS

How does Netreg help Brandeis?How does Netreg help Brandeis?

End-user experience is good.End-user experience is good. Average of 40-70 seconds for a user to register their Average of 40-70 seconds for a user to register their

device on our network.device on our network. Opposed to, on occasion, hours! to get on the Opposed to, on occasion, hours! to get on the

network with the previous system.network with the previous system. Helps to keep authorized users in and unwanted Helps to keep authorized users in and unwanted

visitors out; safer for Brandeis computer users.visitors out; safer for Brandeis computer users. Helpdesk/Admins/Engineers can troubleshoot Helpdesk/Admins/Engineers can troubleshoot

issues with more efficiency.issues with more efficiency. We have a much better understanding of who We have a much better understanding of who

and what is on our network.and what is on our network.

What’s next for Netreg?What’s next for Netreg?

Next version being planned & developed.Next version being planned & developed. Bug fixes Bug fixes Improvements and new features for the Improvements and new features for the

administration interface.administration interface. Updates to components “under the hood”.Updates to components “under the hood”. Sharing with other Universities.Sharing with other Universities.

Questions?Questions?