Networking Your Parish and School Site

Networking Your Parish and School Site

3/24/04

Let’s 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

1. Warm-up Exercises


Warm-up Exercises

• Goals for today

• Introductions

• Why a network?

• An institutional network


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


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.


Trend of Institutional Networks

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


• Seamless ability to communicate

• Single set of network resources

• Single set of outside links

• Avoids dialing out

• Eases technology support burden

Why an Institutional Network?


Institutional Networks Evolution

• Stand-alone PCs, dial-ups

• Isolated “local area networks” (LANs)

• Main buildings (parish office, school)

• Campus (nearby buildings)

• Remote buildings (WANs)

2. Demystifying

Networking Technology


Demystifying the Technology

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

Network Interface

Card (NIC)

How a PC Is Networked

Patch Panel

File Server

ComputerRoom

Desk

Network Interface

Card (NIC)

CommunicationsCloset

NetworkJack

Hub or Switch

NetworkCabling Network

Backbone

PatchCable

PC

Hub or Switch

PatchCable


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)


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)


Internal Protocol Options• Ethernet 10 megabits per

second (mbps)

• Fast Ethernet 100 mbps

• Gigabit Ethernet 1 gigabit per second

(1,000 mbps)

Domains and Workgroups• With the maturity of the Internet, “all the

world’s a network”—but 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.”


Cabling Components• Patch cable to jack

• Jack and face plate

• Network cable

• Communications closet

• Patch panel

• Patch cable to switchHub or Switch

Patch Panel

Communications Closet


School Lab and Classroom Cabling• Desks aren’t by walls

• Avoid cable on floor

• Some solutions…– Cable in trays under

tables– Poles from ceiling– Wireless

Table

Table


Types of Cable

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 cornersHub or Switch

Patch Panel



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)


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)

3. Trends and New Technologies


Trends and New Technologies

• Wireless networking

• Firewalls, filtering, and security issues

• Voice over IP (VoIP) and telephony

• Video conferencing and instructional video

Wireless in Your Local Network

• Cabling not needed

OfficeOffice

Patch Panel

Hub or Switch

Network Jack

Network Interface

Card (NIC)

CommunicationsCommunicationsClosetCloset

Wireless in Your Local Network

• Cabling not needed

• NIC now “wireless PC card”

• Also need wireless access point (WAP)

Office

WirelessPC Card

Patch Panel


Hub or Switch

WirelessAccessPoint


Why Local Wireless?• Movable devices• Upcoming moves• Stray devices in nearby

buildings• Historic or hard-to-wire

buildings• Consider speed

requirements

Building to Building “Fixed” Wireless

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

To ISPMain Main

BuildingBuilding

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.

Wireless Standards *

802.11b

“Wi-Fi”

802.11a 802.11g

Popularity + + + + + +Speed 11 mbs 54 mbs 54 mbs

Cost $ $$$ $$Range 100’-150' 25’-75’ 150’

Compatibility + + + + + +* Thanks to Linksys

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

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


Voice over IP

• Three telephone choices

– Traditional switch/PBX– Voice over IP (VoIP)

– Centrex

• Voice mail

• Telephony


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


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


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”

4. Importance of Broadband

Technology


Broadband Technology Issues

• The need for speed

• DSL and cable modem access

• Typical speeds

The Need for Speed

• The speed of dial-up modem connections has increased over the years to almost 56kb…

• But that’s not enough for many parishes and schools


• 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?

Typical Speeds

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

• DSL is the phone company’s popular broadband offering

• Speed is 256 to 640 kbs and up

• Problem – you must be within a couple miles of the central office (CO)

Cable Modem

• Piggybacks over TV coaxial cable system

• Most popular residential choice

• Probably free to schools

5. Designing a Network for

Your Site

Designing Your Network

• Network designs vary• Let’s look at various

network components, considering…– Must-haves– Nice-to-haves– Emerging

• And some sample networks


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


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


Network Design - Emerging

• Wireless networking

• Voice over IP (VoIP) phone

• Virtual private networking (VPN)

• Content filtering


Designing a Network

• Let’s look at options for handling each of these functions and a recommended “best bet”

• Then we’ll look at some ways these options can come together in sample networks

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

Hub or Switch

Patch Panel


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

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

Interface to the Internet

• If cable – cable modem

• If DSL – DSL modem

• IF T1 – DSU, etc.

Modem Router Switch

From Internet

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

Modem Router Switch

From Internet

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. Smith’s 7th grade), and common

logical drives

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

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

Firewall• Option 1 – Software on each PC

• Option 2 – Software on hardware router

• Option 3 – Hardware firewall

• Best bet– Smaller – Router– Larger – Hardware firewall

Modem Router Firewall

From Internet

Connect to Other Buildings

Hub or Switch

RouterMain

Building Router

Router Router

NetworkBackbone

via Trench or

Overhead

SpreadSpectrum

RadioLink

Leasedor Dial-Up

PhoneLine (or VPN

via ISP)

CampusBuilding

NearbyBuilding

DistantBuilding

WAP

NIC

CampusBuilding

Wi-Fi Wireless to Individual

PCs

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

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


Printing and Faxing

• Printer sharing, allowing fewer, more powerful printers

• Networking multi-function copy machines

• Network faxing

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.

Switch WAPTo Network

WirelessNIC

IP Telephony and Voice over IP

• Your VoIP vendor will lead the way in system design

• Consider “good news/bad news” of VoIP

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

end’s firewall or router

• Best bet – software running on firewalls or routers

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

Sample Network - Very Small Office

Router Link to Internet

Modem

Note ability to employ cheap router (e.g., Linksys), which doubles as firewall and WAP

Sample Network - Small Building

Link to Internet

Hub/Switch

Patch Panel


ModemRouter

Sample Network - Large Building

Link to Internet

ComputerRoom


Network“Backbone” Using Fiber

Optic or Twisted

Pair Cable

Patch Panel

Hub or Switch

Patch Panel

Hub or Switch

Patch Panel

Hub or Switch

File Server File Server

Router

Hub or Switch

6. Things to Do List


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


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


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


Plan Future Network Projects• Carry out a planning effort to set goals and

strategies, identify projects, etc.

• List, prioritize, and begin implementing projects


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

7. Resources and References


Periodicals

• Network Computing -

http://www.networkcomputing.com/

• PC Magazine -

http://www.pcmag.com


Downloadable Books

• Cisco Networking Essentials http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/build/network_development/networking_essentials/

• A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools http://www.netc.org/network_guide/

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/build/network_development/networking_essentials/

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/build/network_development/networking_essentials/

http://www.netc.org/network_guide/



Reference Web Sites

• Consortium for School Networkinghttp://www.cosn.org

• NetDay http://www.netday.org

– Cable Installation Guide http://www.netday.org/install.htm

• Wired for Good http://www.wiredforgood.org

• TechSoup http://www.techsoup.org

http://www.cosn.org/

http://www.cosn.org/

http://www.netday.org/

http://www.netday.org/install.htm

http://www.netday.org/install.htm

http://www.wiredforgood.org/

http://www.techsoup.org/

http://www.techsoup.org/

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Networking Your Parish and School Site

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