RE: [WinMac] Macs & Windows in schools

Subject: RE: [WinMac] Macs & Windows in schools
From: Perbix, Michael (PERBIX[at]lmsd.org)
Date: Mon Jan 07 2002 - 08:10:35 EST

Mission number one should be to make sure the wiring can handle 100 MBPS,
meaning that it should be at least Cat. 5. You definitely need to get away
from the 10 base stuff and go to at least 100, if not gig, however 100
should serve your purpose, but go switched, nothing else.

Also keep in mind that 100 MBPS is much more distance critical when it comes
to the end runs. Most of the standards are that from the switch to the
computer should be no more than 100 meters. The actual run is 90 meters,
with a 3 meter cable at the computer, and a 7 meter cable in the closet for
patching. Anything longer than that and you are starting to flirt with
connectivity problems.

If there is a Main Equipment Room, then you should go fiber from there (at a
gig if possible) to the closets. You can then either stack some switches
(Cisco uses what is called a gigastack) or run individual fibers to each
switch.

We just upgraded our network to gig fiber all around, and fully 10/100
switch from the closet. Before that, we were using Cisco Fast Etherchannel
which was about 800 MBPS (sales talk) over fiber to each closet.

As far as cross platform, the only problem we have encountered is with File
Serving. We had the same situation here with a consultant, before we had a
department, they hired a consultant who basically designed a all Windows
network (all Compaq Proliant Servers with NT 4.0) and suggested we toss our
Macs and buy all PC's. This is a 10 school district, so that didn't fly.

We still use Windows Servers (W2K) but we use third party software for file
sharing and printing. We use ExtremeZ-IP from Grouplogic. For a smaller
environment, you might get away with Services for Macintosh built into
Windows 2000, I do suggest that you run that and not NT 4.0 since W2K does
have AFP/IP support built in which NT 4.0 did not. This is a much faster
file sharing since it uses IP instead of Appletalk.

Our biggest problem is with file sharing, we share thousands of files and
folders and the servers really take a hit on the Mac side. We have had
problems with keeping performance acceptable. Printing has been a no
brainer since I upgraded to the ExtremeZ-IP Printing over IP last year.

So, whether or not you stay Mac or PC is one argument. However with a
little planning, you could very easily create a very functional network
upgrade which would be needed in either case.

We also plan on using Citrix in student areas where we do not want to have
to maintain PC's, such as the library. they access all databases and such
from web based applications nowadays and Citrix really is great for that.

If you want to call me and talk some more please email me and I will get
back to you.

     -Mike

> ----------
> From: Rick Kent
> Reply To: winmac@iffy.com
> Sent: Sunday, January 6, 2002 12:06 PM
> To: winmac@iffy.com
> Subject: [WinMac] Macs & Windows in schools
>
> I need a little help with an issue of Macs & PCs in mixed network
> academic environments. I am looking for the following:
>
>

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