Challenges
• Aging lab needed
refresh
• Ease-of-use a
weakness for
previous platform
• Updated network
needed to train
students in SPB
Prairie View Networking
Academy (PVNA)
Embraces Powerful
Avaya Networking
Platform
Providing Students with a Strong Foundation in
Networking Technology
• No IP multicast
with existing
network
Value Created
• Lab equipped with
powerful new
network
• Students learn
practical skills
involving SPB, IP
multicast
• Simplicity of
network
accelerates
teaching of
advanced
concepts
Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), with an enrollment of
some 8,500 students, is a historically African American
university located northwest of Houston, TX. For students
studying Engineering technology in Prairie View’s Roy G. Perry
College of Engineering, the Prairie View A&M University
Networking Academy (PVNA) offers skills and knowledge in the
areas of telecommunications, computer networks and the data
computing — preparing students for an industry that is
fast-paced and rapidly evolving.
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“We were pleased to be in a position
to help Prairie View, one of Texas’
original land grant universities,” said
Danny Poindexter, Sales Manager at
Shamrock Communications. “We
were able to provide Prairie View with
capabilities they didn’t have before.”
“One of our challenges was that the
previous network was difficult to use,”
said Musa. “Even graduate students
found it complicated. Commands
involved in set up and configurations
were not intuitive or straightforward.”
“One of our challenges
was that the previous
network was difficult
to use. Students found
it complicated.
“The aim of Prairie View A&M
University Networking Academy is to
give students a strong foundation in
networking technologies for real
world applications,” says Dr. Sarhan
Musa, PVNA Director and Associate
Professor & Boeing Welliver Fellow,
Department of Engineering
Commands involved
Technology. “We want them in a
in set up and
skills — and also to understand
configurations were
position to be utilizing practical
leading edge technologies.”
— Dr. Sarhan Musa, Director,
Prairie View A&M University Networking
Academy (PVNA)
Infrastructure Update
improves time-to-service/time-tomarket,” commented Avaya Network
Sales Specialist Mike Bagby.
“Students will learn first-hand how our
open standards technology supports
innovative solutions for customers
across the globe.”
PVAMU did indeed find the Avaya
ease of installation and maintenance.
“Simplicity is very important,” Musa
commented. In addition, he is looking
laboratory outfitted with networking
forward to the advanced capabilities
gear that has begun to show its age.
the new platform will provide.
Stepping up to assist Prairie View,
Communications, a full service voice
and data converged communications
company based in Katy, TX, in 2014
donated a new Avaya Fabric Connect
network infrastructure with which
Prairie View Network Academy could
update their lab.
| avaya.com
network complexity, and drastically
For years, the school relied on a
Avaya business partner Shamrock
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virtualizes the network, reduces
network solutions appealing for their
not intuitive or
straightforward.”
“Avaya has taken an approach that
Important Trend
One capability in particular was key to
PVNA. “Shortest Path Bridging is
important. Students need to know
SPB,” said Musa. “That’s the future.”
IP multicast, a method of sending
“Learning technology that was once
boring and cumbersome,” Musa adds,
“can become exciting and
exhilarating. The effects of this new
proposed Academy will draw students
to PVAMU and companies to our
students for future employment.”
Internet Protocol (IP) datagrams to a
group of interested receivers in a
single transmission, is another part of
the Avaya platform that excites Musa.
Looking to the Future
“This is the first phase for our new
lab,” says Musa. “I am excited about
“IP multicast is a very hot area,” he
says. “I want students to be exposed
this phase. I look forward to the lab
evolving over time.”
to that.” He expects to set up the lab
with IP multicast cameras without the
Reflecting on the future for the lab at
operational complexities of the
the Prairie View Network Academy,
previous networking platform being
excitement was apparent in Musa’s
retired. The Network Academy plans
voice. “It’s a very powerful
to expose students to practical ways
technology that Avaya has.”
that IP multicast can be used to
address security issues in real-world
applications.
“Avaya has taken an
approach that
virtualizes the network,
reduces network
complexity, and
drastically improves
time-to-service/
time-to-market.”
— Mike Bagby,
Avaya Network Sales Specialist
ABOUT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY
NETWORKING ACADEMY (PVNA)
Prairie View A&M University Networking Academy (PVNA) is part of
the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University.
Founded in 1876, Prairie View A&M University was the first state supported
College in Texas for African Americans, established during the Reconstruction
Period after the Civil War. It is the second oldest public institution of higher
learning in the state of Texas. A member of the Texas A&M University System,
PVAMU is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of achieving excellence in teaching,
research and service. See http://www.pvamu.edu/.
ABOUT SHAMROCK COMMUNICATIONS
Shamrock Communications is a Silver Avaya Business Partner serving the
Houston area, located in Katy, Texas. Shamrock specialize in the design,
implementation, and maintenance of converged voice and data
communication systems, including Voice over IP.
avaya.com | 3
Solutions
•Avaya Virtual Services Platform 4000
•Avaya Virtual Services Platform 7000
•Avaya Virtual Services Platform 8000
•Avaya WLAN 9100
•Ethernet Routing Switch 4000 series
About Avaya
Avaya is a global
provider of business
collaboration and
communications
solutions, providing
unified communications,
contact centers,
networking and related
services to companies
of all sizes around
the world. For more
information please visit
www.avaya.com.
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| avaya.com
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