Igor Zagatsky – Systems Admin
Howard – Director of Technology
Melanie – Laptop Facilitator
They have 10 servers (all but 2 were Windows) Active Directory, Print (LPR) and File Server, FirstClass, WinSchool, Raisers Edge and FileMaker, Voicemail, Web Server; Apple Remote Desktop Task Server; Internet monitoring; Fundware (accounting) and Avaya IP Office for phone and voicemail. Teachers get their Voicemail to email so they do not need as many phones since teachers share rooms. They use Extreme IP for file server connections (50 users). Only need 50 since most files are saved on FirstClass. They have at least a 1.4 TB of storage. Each student has about 80 MB although they want to have it be around 1 GB of FirstClass storage.
Wireless 22 Proxim AP-700 APs or one for every 2 or 3 classrooms. They use MAC address authentication using a Radius server. No WPA or WEP. Unmanaged otherwise , 802.11A to G protocols, Use POE or outlets where needed,
Over build the wireless so that there is overflow of coverage in case two classrooms close to each other are using the network. Not too much trouble with interference although they have reduced signal strength if needed.
Flat network – no VLANs, 2 HP ProCurve 4000M in remote closests, HP ProCurve 5308xl (lifetime warranty) backbone, Layer 3 Switch (evidently Cisco has one as well but they do not tell you about it). DHCP, Ethernet ports are in classrooms.
Internet Access: Upgrading to 10 Mbos (fiber), increase has been dramatic with streaming audio and video, Allot Net Enforcer (traffic shaper) it allows him to set web sites getting any more then a certain amount of bandwidth, SonicWall firewall. They do block P2P.
Classrooms: ceiling mounted projectors with SMARTboards. Power in floor and along wall. Put in power where you can. They have an AV box on the wall with a 25 foot VGA cable. They hang the projectors as low as possible so they do not have to use so much keystoneing. They fight with installers due to ADA. Keep it at the level of the door. They use an Extron controller in AV box.
Laptop Prep: Unpack and barcode scan all attributes and enter into FileMaker database. Check if boots, Upgrade memory, STOP sticker and label, Software Image done by summer intern. Image using Local FW hard drives 10 at a time (~ 20 minutes), NetRestore (ASR front end by Bombich) Not bound to network, Disk Image created by NetRestore Helper, 2 images (student and teacher), Remiage all machines once a year before school starts, data transfer only for teachers, students deal with their own back up and restore, No major updates throughout the year, they turn off Automatic Update.
Software: FirstClass, iLife, Office, CS3, Inspiration, iWork, Comic Life, iFlash, iStopMotion, and a couple others I did not get
Tech support is an conference in FC, Tech Office for in person help, loaner and troubleshoot, restore software, hardware issues go to Apple, students will go home and back up if necessary. After a 3rd repair, look at lemon law.
Backup is done with FireWire and a script called Folder Synchronizer
http://blue.urbanschool.org/laptop
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