Networking Your Parish and School Site

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Networking Your Parish and School Site
3/24/04
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Lets talk about

• Warm-up exercises
• Demystifying networking technology
• Trends and new technologies
• Strategic importance of broadband
• Designing your network
• Things to do list
• Resources and references

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1. Warm-up Exercises
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Warm-up Exercises

• Goals for today
• Introductions
• Why a network?
• An institutional network

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Goals for Today

• Understand the basics of networking
• Consider new trends and technologies
• Be conversant in network design
• Understand basics of leading an implementation or
  upgrade project

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Who Are You?

• Please quickly let the rest of us know who you
  are, where you work, and possibly what a special
  networking challenge is for your location.
• Also, let us know of any special goals you might
  have for today.

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Trend of Institutional Networks

• Organizations are evolving their networks from
  isolated pockets of networking to single networks
  that span their institutionand sometimes go
  beyond.

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Why an Institutional Network?

• Seamless ability to communicate
• Single set of network resources
• Single set of outside links
• Avoids dialing out
• Eases technology support burden

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Institutional Networks Evolution

• Stand-alone PCs, dial-ups
• Isolated local area networks (LANs)
• Main buildings (parish office, school)
• Campus (nearby buildings)
• Remote buildings (WANs)

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2. Demystifying Networking Technology
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Demystifying the Technology

• How a PC is networked
• Network hardware devices
• Measuring network speed
• Connection options
• Domains and workgroups
• Cabling basics
• Management issues

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How a PC Is Networked
Computer Room
Desk
Communications Closet
Network Jack
PC
File Server
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Hub or Switch
Patch Cable
Network Cabling
Patch Cable
Network Backbone
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Network Hardware Devices

• Network interface card (NIC)
• Hub - collects traffic
• Switch - collects and selects path
• Router - interfaces to another network
• Bridge - connects segments
• File server holds shared files, etc.
• Specialized devices (e.g., firewall)

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Measuring Transmission Speed

• Bits per Second (bps or baud) (e.g., 56,000
  bps)
• Kilobits per Second (kbps) (e.g., 56
  kbps)
• Megabits per Second (mbps) (e.g., 10 mbps -
  Ethernet)
• Gigabits per Second (gbps)

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Internal Protocol Options

• Ethernet 10 megabits per second (mbps)
• Fast Ethernet 100 mbps
• Gigabit Ethernet 1 gigabit per second
• (1,000 mbps)

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Domains and Workgroups

• With the maturity of the Internet, all the
  worlds a networkbut you need to partition off
  your part of it.
• Most sites define one or more domains using MS
  Windows Server (i.e., NT, 2000, 2003)
• Sites of up to 10 PCs can use Windows to define a
  workgroup.

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Cabling Components

• Patch cable to jack
• Jack and face plate
• Network cable
• Communications closet
• Patch panel
• Patch cable to switch

Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Communications Closet
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School Lab and Classroom Cabling

• Desks arent by walls
• Avoid cable on floor
• Some solutions
• Cable in trays under tables
• Poles from ceiling
• Wireless

Table
Table
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Types of Cable
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Investing in Cabling

• Cabling ideally supports both voice and data
• Use of Category 5 cable (now 5e and 6)
• Seek opportunities to start fresh
• Cutting corners

Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Communications Closet
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Ongoing Management Issues

• Selecting an internet service provider (ISP)
• Selecting a network OS
• MS Windows Server (e.g., 2003)
• Novell Internetware
• Network naming/numbering
• TCP/IP and DHCP
• IPX (Novell)

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The Ubiquitous TCP/IP Standard

• Naming standard of the Internet
• Provides postal address for both internal and
  worldwide devices
• Uses now-familiar four part format (e.g.,
  123.456.798.111), and also
• Translates to allow use of names (e.g.,
  archmil.org) rather than numbers
• IDs on PCs usually private (non-unique)

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3. Trends and New Technologies
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Trends and New Technologies

• Wireless networking
• Firewalls, filtering, and security issues
• Voice over IP (VoIP) and telephony
• Video conferencing and instructional video

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Wireless in Your Local Network
Office
Network Jack

• Cabling not needed

Network Interface Card (NIC)
Communications Closet
Patch Panel
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Wireless in Your Local Network
Office

• Cabling not needed
• NIC now wireless PC card
• Also need wireless access point (WAP)

Communications Closet
Patch Panel
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Why Local Wireless?

• Movable devices
• Upcoming moves
• Stray devices in nearby buildings
• Historic or hard-to-wire buildings
• Consider speed requirements

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Building to Building Fixed Wireless

• Spread spectrum can be used to connect buildings
  in your WAN.

To ISP
Main Building
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Wi-Fi Mobile Wireless LANs

• Wi-Fi wireless is getting tremendous publicity
• Not the answer for heavy WAN traffic, but
• Could connect stray PCs in nearby buildings.

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Wireless Standards
Thanks to Linksys
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Firewalls, Filtering, Security

• Threats and Remedies
• Access Passwords, etc.
• Viruses Anti-Virus Software
• Intruders Firewall
• Problem Content Content Filtering
• Spam Spam Filters
• Spyware Spyware Utilities

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Firewalls, Filtering, Security

• Sophistication of solutions racing to keep up
  with sophistication of problems vendors are
  impressive
• But no panaceas yet
• Solutions are being integrated (e.g., security
  appliances), and
• Software being married with hardware

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Voice over IP

• Three telephone choices
• Traditional switch/PBX
• Voice over IP (VoIP)
• Centrex
• Voice mail
• Telephony

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Voice over IP Good News

• Phone traffic goes over network, single cabling
  plant now serves both
• Remote sites now easier to serve--and potentially
  much cheaper
• PBX-like server sits on network
• Vendors can grandfather in analog phones and
  cabling

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Voice over IP Bad News

• Vendor may be particular over cable, may prefer
  Cat-5e or Cat-6 to Cat-5
• Switches must support quality of service (e.g.,
  prioritizing phone traffic), current switches may
  not work
• VoIP should be cheaper--but not necessarily, and
  you may have to invest to gain ongoing savings

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Video Conferencing

• Allows participants at each end to see, hear
• Traditional method uses leased lines (e.g., ISDN,
  T1)
• Newer techniques combine web casts for video and
  teleconferencing for audio
• Conferencing over the Internet not quite there

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4. Importance of Broadband Technology
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Broadband Technology Issues

• The need for speed
• DSL and cable modem access
• Typical speeds

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The Need for Speed

• The speed of dial-up modem connections has
  increased over the years to almost 56kb
• But thats not enough for many parishes and
  schools

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Typical Speeds

• Dial-up Modem 56 kbs
• ISDN 128 kbs
• DSL 256 to 640 kbs or more
• Cable Modem 256 kbs to 1.5 mbs
• T1 or DS1 1.5 megabits (mbs)
• Wireless Ethernet 11 mbs?

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Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

• DSL is the phone companys popular broadband
  offering
• Speed is 256 to 640 kbs and up
• Problem you must be within a couple miles of
  the central office (CO)

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Cable Modem

• Piggybacks over TV coaxial cable system
• Most popular residential choice
• Probably free to schools

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5. Designing a Network for Your Site
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Designing Your Network

• Network designs vary
• Lets look at various network components,
  considering
• Must-haves
• Nice-to-haves
• Emerging
• And some sample networks

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Network Design Must-Haves

• Collect traffic from devices
• Establish a workgroup or domain
• Issue IDs (e.g., TCP/IP)
• Interface to the Internet
• Route traffic to the Internet
• Share files
• Provide virus protection

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Network Design Nice-to-Haves

• Host multi-user data systems
• Secure using a firewall
• Connect to remote buildings
• Host your web site
• Host an e-mail post office
• Network printing and faxing

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Network Design - Emerging

• Wireless networking
• Voice over IP (VoIP) phone
• Virtual private networking (VPN)
• Content filtering

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Designing a Network

• Lets look at options for handling each of these
  functions and a recommended best bet
• Then well look at some ways these options can
  come together in sample networks

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Collect Traffic from Devices

• Option 1 Router
• Option 2 Hub(s)
• Option 3 Switch(es)
• Best bet
• Very small Router
• Somewhat small Hub or switch
• Otherwise Switches

Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Communications Closet
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Workgroup or Domain

• Option 1 Workgroup using Windows and up to 10
  PCs
• Option 2 Domain using central fileserver and
  Windows NT, 2000, or 2003 (or Novell) Server
• Best bet
• Small Workgroup
• Otherwise Domain

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Issue TCP/IP IDs

• Option 1 Manually enter on each PC
• Option 2 Hardware router
• Option 3 DHCP software on file server
• Best bet
• Smaller Router
• Larger DHCP
• Note that before issuing IDs you first have to
  obtain them from your ISP

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Interface to the Internet

• If cable cable modem
• If DSL DSL modem
• IF T1 DSU, etc.

From Internet
Switch
Router
Modem
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Route Traffic onto the Internet

• Option 1 Routing software on PC (must connect
  directly to modem)
• Option 2 Routing software on file server
• Option 3 Hardware router
• Best bet - Hardware router

From Internet
Switch
Router
Modem
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Share Files

• Option 1 Workgroup sharing among PCs
• Option 2 File server
• Best bet
• Smaller Workgroup
• Larger File server
• Plan individual, workgroup (e.g., Ms. Smiths 7th
  grade), and common logical drives

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Provide Virus Protection

• Option 1 Anti-virus software on each PC
• Option 2 Centralized software on server
• Option 3 Anti-virus hardware appliance
• Best bet
• Smaller On each PC
• Larger Centralized

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Host Multi-User Data System(s)

• Option 1 Run shared database in background of
  PC
• Option 2 Host database on shared file server
• Best bet
• Shared file server

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Firewall

• Option 1 Software on each PC
• Option 2 Software on hardware router
• Option 3 Hardware firewall
• Best bet
• Smaller Router
• Larger Hardware firewall

From Internet
Firewall
Router
Modem
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Connect to Other Buildings
Main Building
Router
WAP
Router
Wi-Fi Wireless to Individual PCs
Network Backbone via Trench or Overhead
Spread Spectrum Radio Link
Leased or Dial-Up Phone Line (or VPN via ISP)
NIC
Campus Building
Router
Hub or Switch
Router
Campus Building
Nearby Building
Distant Building
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Host Web Site

• Option 1 Install Web server hardware and
  software
• Option 2 Use services of Internet service
  provider to host
• Best bet
• If small or medium, contract with provider
• If large, possibly host own Web server

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E-Mail Post Office

• Option 1 Run post office software on file
  server
• Option 2 Contract with ISP
• Best bet
• If small or medium, contract with provider
• If large, possibly host own mail server

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Printing and Faxing

• Printer sharing, allowing fewer, more powerful
  printers
• Networking multi-function copy machines
• Network faxing

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Wireless Networking - Inside

• Do you really need wireless access within your
  buildings? If so, this would require
• Wireless cards on participating PCs
• Wireless access points (WAPs) residing on the
  traditional network
• You may need specialized help in designing your
  WAP placement, to allow for interference from
  girders, etc.

To Network
WAP
Wireless NIC
Switch
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IP Telephony and Voice over IP

• Your VoIP vendor will lead the way in system
  design
• Consider good news/bad news of VoIP

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Virtual Private Networking

• VPN technology creates secure communication over
  the public Internet
• Option 1 use VPN software on servers at each
  end
• Option 2 Use VPN software running on each ends
  firewall or router
• Best bet software running on firewalls or
  routers

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Content Filtering

• Option 1 run content filtering software on
  server
• Option 2 employ a content filtering appliance
  (e.g., SonicWall)
• Best Bet probably an appliance
• Requires ongoing subscription with vendor

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Sample Network - Very Small Office
Link to Internet
Modem
Router
Note ability to employ cheap router (e.g.,
Linksys), which doubles as firewall and WAP
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Sample Network - Small Building
Patch Panel
Link to Internet
Modem
Router
Hub/Switch
Communications Closet
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Sample Network - Large Building
Patch Panel
Patch Panel
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Hub or Switch
Hub or Switch
Communications Closet
Computer Room
Hub or Switch
Network Backbone Using Fiber Optic or Twisted
Pair Cable
Router
Link to Internet
File Server
File Server
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6. Things to Do List
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Things to Do List

• What must you do to bring about more effective
  computer networking?
• Recruit needed in-house staff and vendor partners
• Ensure stable operations
• Plan future network projects
• Structure and carry out projects

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Recruit Staff and Partners

• You may benefit from a preferred provider network
  administration vendor
• You might use volunteers in this capacity.
• Buy everyone needs an employee responsible for
  this area

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Ensure Stable Operations

• Develop service standards for your network (e.g.,
  no more than x minutes of downtime per y)
• Set up a help desk and log and monitor network
  problems
• Apply quality management principles to improve
  performance and stability

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Plan Future Network Projects

• Carry out a planning effort to set goals and
  strategies, identify projects, etc.
• List, prioritize, and begin implementing projects

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Structure and Carry Out Projects

• Set the scope
• Develop a budget
• Develop a task plan
• Develop a strategy (e.g., what sort of broadband
  access?)
• Select a vendor(s), probably via bid or RFP
• Design the network
• Implement

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7. Resources and References
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Periodicals

• Network Computing - http//www.networkcomputing.co
  m/
• PC Magazine - http//www.pcmag.com

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Downloadable Books

• Cisco Networking Essentials http//www.cisco.com/w
  arp/public/779/edu/build/network_development/netwo
  rking_essentials/
• A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools
  http//www.netc.org/network_guide/

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Reference Web Sites

• Consortium for School Networking http//www.c
  osn.org
• NetDay http//www.netday.org
• Cable Installation Guide http//www.netday.org/ins
  tall.htm
• Wired for Good http//www.wiredforgood.org
• TechSoup http//www.techsoup.org