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

Networking Your Parish and School Site Warm-up Exercises Goals for today Introductions Why a network? An institutional network

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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.

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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.

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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?

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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 Computer Room Desk Network Interface Card (NIC) Communications Closet Network Jack Hub or Switch Network Cabling Network Backbone Patch Cable PC Hub or Switch Patch Cable

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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)

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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)

Networking Your Parish and School Site Internal Protocol Options Ethernet10 megabits per second (mbps) Fast Ethernet100 mbps Gigabit Ethernet1 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.”

Networking Your Parish and School Site Cabling Components Patch cable to jack Jack and face plate Network cable Communications closet Patch panel Patch cable to switch Hub or Switch Patch Panel Communications Closet

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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 corners Hub or Switch Patch Panel Communications Closet

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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)

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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., ), 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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 Office Patch Panel Hub or Switch Network Jack Network Interface Card (NIC) CommunicationsCloset

Wireless in Your Local Network Cabling not needed NIC now “wireless PC card” Also need wireless access point (WAP) Office Wireless PC Card Patch Panel Communications Closet Hub or Switch Wireless Access Point

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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 ISP Main Building

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 * b “Wi-Fi” a802.11g Popularity Speed 11 mbs54 mbs Cost $$$$$$ Range100’-150'25’-75’150’ Compatibility * Thanks to Linksys

Firewalls, Filtering, Security Threats and Remedies –AccessPasswords, etc. –VirusesAnti-Virus Software –IntrudersFirewall –Problem ContentContent Filtering –SpamSpam Filters –SpywareSpyware 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site Voice over IP Three telephone choices –Traditional switch/PBX –Voice over IP (VoIP) –Centrex Voice mail Telephony

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site Dial-up Modem 56 kbs ISDN128 kbs DSL256 to 640 kbs or more Cable Modem256 kbs to 1.5 mbs T1 or DS11.5 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site Network Design Nice-to-Haves Host multi-user data systems Secure using a firewall Connect to remote buildings Host your web site Host an post office Network printing and faxing

Networking Your Parish and School Site Network Design - Emerging Wireless networking Voice over IP (VoIP) phone Virtual private networking (VPN) Content filtering

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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 Communications Closet

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 7 th 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 Router Main Building Router Network Backbone via Trench or Overhead Spread Spectrum Radio Link Leased or Dial-Up Phone Line (or VPN via ISP) Campus Building Nearby Building Distant Building WAP NIC Campus Building 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

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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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 WAP To Network Wireless NIC

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 Communications Closet Modem Router

Sample Network - Large Building Link to Internet Computer Room Communications Closet 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 Router Hub or Switch

6. Things to Do List

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site Plan Future Network Projects Carry out a planning effort to set goals and strategies, identify projects, etc. List, prioritize, and begin implementing projects

Networking Your Parish and School Site 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

Networking Your Parish and School Site Periodicals Network Computing - PC Magazine -

Networking Your Parish and School Site Downloadable Books Cisco Networking Essentials network_development/networking_essentials/ network_development/networking_essentials/ A Guide to Networking for K-12 Schools

Reference Web Sites Consortium for School Networking NetDay –Cable Installation Guide Wired for Goodhttp:// TechSoup