Connectivity For School

As part of strategy and planning, review your technical infrastructure, particularly the following areas. We created this section in collaboration with 9ine Consulting, who work closely with schools at each step of the implementation process.

<b>Wired Network and LAN</b>

Evaluate the age, capacity, capability and connectivity in your existing LAN. With many Schools having a limited IP range, the addition of mobile devices will use up these addresses. Addresses are usually assigned by the Regional Broadband Consortium (RBC) and a request will need to be made with your ISP for an addition or extension.

Also, students will be roaming with their tablets, varying the demands on the network. And tablets still need to send and receive data, even when not in use. Deal with this with the following:

<ul>
<li><b>Hardwired Topology:</b> Document your existing network to identify how each edge switch or switch stack is connected back to the core. Remove “daisy-chaining” of switches, and ensure that the connection from each switch or stack is at least 1GB, with the connection being fibre.</li>
<li><b>Configure Network to Monitor Usage:</b> Install network monitoring software on a server and configure each switch or switch stack with a fixed IP. This will help you baseline current data usage, and use this information for improvements and capacity planning.</li>
<li><b>Proper Configuration:</b> This ensures that data is routed efficiently across the network. Identify and fix bottlenecks (ie, the primary switch in a stack, the core switch, the filtering solution, and internet connectivity).
Wireless</li>
<li>It’s important to get the wireless infrastructure in place, and then look at devices that fit into that infrastructure. Make sure wireless performance is not constrained by the following:</li>
<li><b>Coverage:</b> Get complete wireless coverage: allow for one WAP per classroom, and two or more for larger spaces and enough external access points for communal external spaces. The optimum number of WAP points will depend on the number of devices, the type of apps downloaded, and building configuration. For an average school, calculate the number needed text in <a href='https://tutoriage.com/chicago-formatting-guide'>chicago essay format</a> by either multiplying the number of classrooms by 20%, or dividing the number of students by 20. Too many WAPs can increase interference, so seek solutions to mitigate this.</li>
<li><b>Density:</b> Your wireless system should be able to accommodate over 100 simultaneous connections. You’ll need more than 100mb/s to deal with all the devices on the network. Don’t limit connections to just 100mb/s since new standards offer greater speeds.</li>
<li><b>RF Interference:</b> In densely populated areas, local wireless systems might negatively impact on your system.</li>
<li><b>Channel Overlapping:</b> This can be an issue in densely populated schools, or those with multiple stories. Consider wireless systems with in-built channel management systems, or a single channel wireless system.</li>
<li><b>IP Allocation:</b> Configure your wireless system and network to allow the wireless network to give an IP address to the maximum number of concurrent devices that you envisage.</li>
<li><b>Filtering:</b> This looks at each packet of information to see whether sender or recipient is allowed to send or receive that type of data. Assess the capacity and capability of the existing filtering platform to accommodate additional filtering requests.</li>
<li><b>Wired Network Performance:</b> The WAP connects to a copper network cable which connects to a switch port. The switch aggregates data received from its’ ports into a single fibre connection back to a core switch, which routes the data to an inhouse service or out to the internet.</li>
<b>Check the following:</b>
<li>That the copper connections are Cat5e or Cat6, and are warrantied.</li>
<li>That older connections have been tested to identify ‘leaks’.</li>
<li>The port which the WAP connects to on the switch should be rated the same or higher than the WAP. In most cases this means 1GB switch ports. The connection from the switch to the core should be able to accommodate maximum potential traffic. This means a switch with four 1GB ports, or a switch with interchangeable 1GB /10GB modules.</li></ul>

Test the fibre connections between the edge and the core – more of these fibre pair connections provide greater capacity for data.
Switching Infrastructure: Switching refers to the network’s ability to ensure that users have constant access to the maximum amount of bandwidth.
Check the Wireless Card: Find out what chipset the device has, and research the card on the Wifi Alliance. At a minimum, purchase dual-stream, dual-band devices that will operate across both spectrums.

<b>Audio Visual & Printing</b>

With mobile devices there may be a requirement to project content onto a larger screen. Depending on the type of device there are a number of possible solutions. Devices such as Apple TVs and Chrome Cast provide a user friendly way of mirroring devices wirelessly to a larger display. However, consider the effect that these devices may have on the network.

Mobile devices are meant to reduce the amount of printing, but printing from mobile devices can be complex. Solutions such as AirPrint, Over Bonjour, and Google Cloud Print can be integrated with print management solutions such as Papercut.