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Re: [school-discuss] LTSP and school-provided networks on same physical infrastructure



Daniel Howard wrote:
Precisely, Don. With your suggestion of using VPNs to keep LTSP and existing school district PCs logically separate, we are looking at replacing at least some of our switches, the Matrox ones, which don't support 802.1q. There are not too many of these, most of the rest are Cisco 1548Ms, and if they do support 802.1q, then we'd likely replace the Matrox switches with Cisco units, even if a bit pricier, since all of our routers are also Cisco units. If we have to replace all classroom switches, then we'll search out the most cost effective solution. And if the cabling is Cat5e, then we'll look at gigabit capability as well for the new switches, as you surmised.

Looks like you are in luck with the 1548Ms (even though the VLAN support appears to be somewhat limited). I couldn't find anything right off that says if the "multi-VLAN port" uses 802.1q or ISL. I'm not familiar with this particular switch.

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/lan/ms1548m/icg/config.htm#xtocid505632

We meet with district IT personnel in a few weeks, it will be interesting to hear their take on the VPN proposal, as well as the whole Linux business. While our school is doing this for performance and reliability, most of the district, which is currently hurting for technology funding, would also benefit from the cost savings aspect...wish us luck!

Good luck! ;-)

-Don

Regards,
Daniel

  At 09:24 PM 7/2/2005, you wrote:

Stewart M. Ives wrote:

Daniel,
I don't think whether you have Cat5 or Cat5e cabling will make any difference
to your upgrade as long as it is AT LEAST Cat5 so don't spin your wheels
trying to figure out if that cable above the ceiling is Cat5 or Cat5e.

I think Daniel was thinking about the possibility of moving to gigabit ethernet, where he would most likely need Cat5e. If he determines now what he has, then he will know what his future options are.

-Don


One of the biggest helps to anyone will be a physical map/diagram of your
network and who/what is where. This physical map is different that a virtual map.


stew
---------- Original Message -----------
From: Daniel Howard <daniel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 18:04:11 -0400
Subject: Re: [school-discuss] LTSP and school-provided networks on same
physical infrastructure


Thanks for all the great advice Don and Stew. First thing tomorrow, I'll categorize what we have now in terms of switches and cabling (whether it is Cat5e or just Cat5, in case we do end up buying some new switches) and see where we go from there to implement a VLAN solution as much as possible. Stew, even if we do hire a tech expert to help us, it never hurts to do as much homework ahead of time as possible :-)

As an aside, I wonder if it wouldn't be a good idea for this group to come up with some sort of reference architecture for school networks that includes typical cases and variations so that the K12LTSP and Edubuntu folks can use it as a 'design to' for new features/capabilities in their software. The folks we've talked to thus far have either set up K12LTSP servers in computer labs, or did the entire school with K12LTSP (like Riverdale). I suspect that our case, of having to gradually infuse K12LTSP into the network, while maintaining existing PCs that require authentication, might be quite typical of schools wanting to do this, but who have hesitant district IT personnel to deal with.

Thanks again to all for a great resource,
Daniel

Daniel Howard
President and CEO
Quadrock Communications, Inc
404.264.9123 main
678.528.5839 fax
404.625.1593 cell

------- End of Original Message -------


--
Don Christensen       Senior Software Development Engineer
djc@xxxxxxxxx         Cisco Systems, Santa Cruz, CA
 "It was a new day yesterday, but it's an old day now."



Daniel Howard President and CEO Quadrock Communications, Inc 404.264.9123 main 678.528.5839 fax 404.625.1593 cell


--
Don Christensen       Senior Software Development Engineer
djc@xxxxxxxxx         Cisco Systems, Santa Cruz, CA
  "It was a new day yesterday, but it's an old day now."