Networking Your Parish and
School Site
3/24/04
Let’s talk about…
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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
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Goals for today
Introductions
Why a network?
An institutional
network
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Goals for Today
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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.
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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
Why an Institutional Network?
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Seamless ability to communicate
Single set of network resources
Single set of outside links
Avoids dialing out
Eases technology support burden
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Institutional Networks Evolution
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Stand-alone PCs, dial-ups
Isolated “local area networks” (LANs)
Main buildings (parish office, school)
Campus (nearby buildings)
Remote buildings (WANs)
Networking Your Parish and School Site
2. Demystifying
Networking Technology
Demystifying the Technology
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How a PC is networked
Network hardware devices
Measuring network speed
Connection options
Domains and workgroups
Cabling basics
Management issues
Networking Your Parish and School Site
How a PC Is Networked
Desk
PC
Communications
Closet
Network
Jack
File Server
Network
Interface
Card (NIC)
Network
Interface
Card (NIC)
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Patch
Cable Network
Cabling
Computer
Room
Patch
Cable
Network
Backbone
Hub or Switch
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
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Bits per Second (bps or “baud)
(e.g., 56,000 bps)
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Kilobits per Second (kbps)
(e.g., 56 kbps)
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Megabits per Second (mbps)
(e.g., 10 mbps - “Ethernet”)
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Gigabits per Second (gbps)
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Internal Protocol Options
• Ethernet
10 megabits per
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second (mbps)
Fast Ethernet
100 mbps
Gigabit Ethernet 1 gigabit per second
(1,000 mbps)
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Domains and Workgroups
• With the maturity of the Internet, “all the
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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 switch
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Communications
Closet
School Lab and Classroom Cabling
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Desks aren’t by walls
Avoid cable on floor
Some solutions…
– Cable in trays
under tables
– Poles from ceiling
– Wireless
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Table
Table
Types of Cable
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Investing in Cabling
• Cabling ideally
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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
Ongoing Management Issues
• Selecting an internet service provider
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(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
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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)
Networking Your Parish and School Site
3. Trends and New
Technologies
Trends and New Technologies
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Wireless networking
Firewalls, filtering,
and security issues
Voice over IP (VoIP)
and telephony
Video conferencing
and instructional video
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Wireless in Your Local Network
Office
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Network
Jack
Cabling not needed
Network
Interface
Card (NIC)
Communications
Closet
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Wireless in Your Local Network
Office
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Cabling not needed
NIC now “wireless
PC card”
Wireless
PC Card
Also need wireless
Wireless
access point (WAP) Access
Point
Communications
Closet
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Why Local Wireless?
• Movable devices
• Upcoming moves
• Stray devices in nearby
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buildings
Historic or hard-to-wire
buildings
Consider speed
requirements
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Building to Building “Fixed” Wireless
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Spread spectrum can
be used to connect
buildings in your
WAN.
To ISP
Main
Building
Wi-Fi “Mobile” Wireless LANs
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“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
802.11a
802.11g
“Wi-Fi”
Popularity
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Speed
11 mbs
54 mbs
54 mbs
$
$$$
$$
100’-150'
25’-75’
150’
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Cost
Range
Compatibility
* 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
Firewalls, Filtering, Security
• Sophistication of solutions racing
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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)
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– 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
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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
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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,
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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”
Networking Your Parish and School Site
4. Importance of Broadband
Technology
Broadband Technology Issues
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The need for speed
DSL and cable modem
access
Typical speeds
Networking Your Parish and School Site
The Need for Speed
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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
Typical Speeds
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Dial-up Modem
ISDN
DSL
Cable Modem
T1 or DS1
Wireless Ethernet
56 kbs
128 kbs
256 to 640 kbs or more
256 kbs to 1.5 mbs
1.5 megabits (mbs)
11 mbs?
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
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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
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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
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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
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 e-mail post office
• Network printing and faxing
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Network Design - Emerging
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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
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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
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Collect Traffic from Devices
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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
Workgroup or Domain
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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
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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
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If cable – cable modem
If DSL – DSL modem
IF T1 – DSU, etc.
From Internet
Modem
Router
Switch
Route Traffic onto the Internet
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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
Modem
Router
Switch
Share Files
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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
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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)
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Option 1 – Run shared database in
“background” of PC
Option 2 – Host database on shared file
server
Best bet
– Shared file server
Firewall
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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
Modem
Router
Firewall
Connect to Other Buildings
Main
Building
Router
Network
Backbone
via
Trench or
Overhead
Hub or Switch
Campus
Building
Router
Spread
Spectrum
Radio
Link
WAP
Leased
or Dial-Up
Phone
Line (or VPN
via ISP)
Router
Router
Nearby
Building
Distant
Building
Wi-Fi
Wireless to
Individual
PCs
NIC
Campus
Building
Host Web Site
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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
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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
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Printer sharing, allowing fewer,
more powerful printers
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Networking multi-function
copy machines
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Network faxing
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Wireless Networking - Inside
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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
Switch
WAP
Wireless
NIC
IP Telephony and Voice over IP
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Your VoIP vendor
will lead the way in
system design
Consider “good
news/bad news” of
VoIP
Virtual Private Networking
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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
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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
Modem
Link to
Internet
Note ability to employ cheap router (e.g.,
Linksys), which doubles as firewall and WAP
Sample Network - Small Building
Patch Panel
Hub/Switch
Communications
Closet
Link to
Internet
Router
Modem
Sample Network - Large Building
Patch Panel
Patch Panel
Patch Panel
Hub or Switch
Hub or Switch
Hub or Switch
Network
“Backbone”
Using Fiber
Optic or
Twisted Pair
Cable
Computer
Room
Communications
Closet
Hub or Switch
Router
Link to Internet
File Server
File Server
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
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Recruit Staff and Partners
• You may benefit from a preferred
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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
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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
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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
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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
Networking Your Parish and School Site
7. Resources and
References
Periodicals
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Network Computing http://www.networkcomputing.com/
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PC Magazine http://www.pcmag.com
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Downloadable Books
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Cisco Networking Essentials
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/build/
network_development/networking_essentials/
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A Guide to Networking for K-12
Schools
http://www.netc.org/network_guide/
Networking Your Parish and School Site
Reference Web Sites
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Consortium for School Networking
http://www.cosn.org
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NetDay
http://www.netday.org
– Cable Installation Guide
http://www.netday.org/install.htm
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Wired for Good
http://www.wiredforgood.org
TechSoup
http://www.techsoup.org