Case Study: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign achieves 100GbE research performance, $200K savings, and streamlined secure networking with HPE Aruba Networking

University of Illinois enhances lives locally, nationally, and globally via leadership in learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development

The University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, a leading public research university serving more than 56,000 students and 13,000+ faculty and staff across a 6,370‑acre campus, faced growing pressure as mobility, IoT and high‑performance academic computing outpaced its legacy data center networking. To support research, teaching and campus operations reliably and securely, IT teamed with PIER Group and HPE Aruba Networking to evaluate and modernize its network infrastructure.

The university deployed an HPE Aruba data center solution anchored by the CX 10000 plus Wi‑Fi 6E APs, CX access/core switches, SD‑Branch, ClearPass, Central and UXI—consolidating security, simplifying management and delivering 100GbE performance. The upgrade delivered always‑on resiliency, enabled researchers to include 100GbE in grant proposals, saved over $200K by eliminating discrete appliances, sped troubleshooting and empowered departmental IT while improving IoT support, e911 location accuracy and campus services like shuttle Wi‑Fi.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Uros Marjanovic

Lead network engineer, Technology Services