Coppin State Trusts C1 and Extreme for a Major Overhaul

Coppin State University, a Historically Black University (HBCU) founded in 1900, in Baltimore, Maryland, serves a multicultural and multigenerational student population. Coppin State provides educational and experiential learning opportunities that foster leadership, social responsibility, civic and community engagement, cultural diversity, inclusivity, and economic development. The University was in a period of growth and evolution when it hit one little snag: a network infrastructure that was nowhere near as modern and forward-thinking as the student population depending on it.

Building a Network to Enable Academic Excellence

Coppin’s team was dealing with some aging hardware that was soon-to-be going out of support and lacked essential software updates. With 12 buildings and a number of smart classrooms to connect, the team didn’t want to the aging infrastructure to risk becoming a barrier for staff and students.

“We were looking for a complete refresh from end to end,” said Taha Mohammed, Assistant Director of Campus Infrastructure at Coppin State University. “The equipment we had was out of support, end of sale.”

Coppin’s legacy network setup also posed some operational inefficiencies, requiring manual processes for updates and configuration. This made day-to-day administration more time-consuming and error prone. Coppin knew that the ability to balance limited funding while tackling such an important project would require the right networking provider—one that understood how to optimize their existing network infrastructure and upgrade the areas of greatest concern.

Finding the Right Partner and the Right Solution to Embrace Change

Coppin chose partner C1 to help champion their every need during the process, from providing professional services to helping Coppin make their final decision on a solutions provider. After a “bake-off,” with several other major players in the networking industry stacked up against Extreme’s solution, Coppin made their decision to move forward with Extreme.

“Extreme fit multiple bills,” said Mohammed of the decision to trust Extreme. “We were already running Extreme Fabric in our core, and looking at other vendors and technologies, Extreme was the simplest solution that would fit all our needs.”

Simplified, Solid Networking Sets Coppin Up for Success

Working with C1 and Extreme, the team on Coppin planned and executed this overhaul in three phases:

• Phase 1: Replacement of data center switches was foundational, building upward from the technological basis of Extreme Secure Network Fabric and Extreme 7520 switches.
  
  
• Phase 2: Core switches across four main buildings were upgraded, ensuring seamless integration with all access switches.
  
  
• Phase 3: Completion of a refresh of all edge switches across 12 campus buildings, enhancing connectivity and performance with 295 edge devices.
  
  A core part of this implementation and its inherent integration: ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine, a centralized management platform that automated routine tasks like configuration backups and updates. The platform delivered significantly simplified network operations, allowing Coppin's internal team to focus on strategic initiatives.

Quantifying Results for a Future-Focused Network Upgrade

In harnessing a trusted partnership with C1 and Extreme, Coppin was able to gain remarkable improvements in network performance, including:

• The university experienced a dramatic 50–60% reduction in time spent on network management tasks, freeing up valuable resources for innovation.
  
  
• The network's performance saw substantial gains, with the data center and core backbone upgraded from 40 Gbps to 100 Gbps, and edge uplink performance doubled from 10 Gbps to 25 Gbps.

Coppin's smart classrooms and IP-based devices now operate seamlessly, supported by an infrastructure designed for future growth. The project was completed ahead of schedule, with full implementation achieved by December, well before the initial January timeline.

Reflecting on the experience, Taha Mohammed praised the collaboration: “C1’s professional services were tremendous. Their expertise and patience with implementation were key as we transitioned to Extreme’s fabric technology and automated central management tools.”

Coppin Steps into a New Era of Network Performance

Thanks to the strategic partnership with C1, Coppin State University now boasts a state-of-the-art network that aligns with its mission of educational excellence.

“C1’s professional services were tremendous,” said Mohammed of the completed project. “And now with Extreme Fabric on all 300 switches, it’s been tremendously helpful for us to manage and configure our edge closets and switches. Now, we don’t have any issues. This project was highly successful.”

Looking ahead, the university is well-equipped to support its diverse student body and continue its legacy of fostering inclusive education, with superior network performance that will last for years to come.