Background

Although the central office is small, consisting of 10 people it has recently grown from 6 people and the district would like to explore the possibility of using a network to share resources. Since the office is currently unable to connect to any outside systems and doesn’t have any access to the Internet, a local area network will help to meet some of their district goals. The plan provided will not only meet the current office needs, but is designed for future expansion as well. The plan is designed based on an ATM connection to the local intermediate unit using a T1 cable line.

Goals:

File sharing

Ability to share common applications

E-mail

Shared printer and copier

Internet access

Recommendations:

Switch

This Ethernet to ATM switch will connect the IU to the backbone router in the district using a T1 line. Although costly, this will provide the most flexibility for future growth. To ease the initial cost and since the entire bandwidth will not be initially necessary to support the district office alone, it is possible to subscribe to one or more T1 channels in 64 Kbps increments (FT-1). This switch will also serve to provide future access to other buildings in the district (see planned connection to HS)

Router:

Backbone Router

The switch will direct traffic through the Backbone Router using Ethernet 10 Base 5 standard Ethernet cable.

Server:

Ethernet Server

Ethernet is one of the most cost-effective way to build a LAN. Since there is not likely to be any upcoming successors on the horizon this is a good choice for the network for this district. It will not only serve the needs of the district office, but be able to be expanded for future needs. I have proposed that the server contain additional Ethernet ports to offer flexibility.

This sever will be secured so that all file-server clients must use a unique passcode to access the files, and data stored within the network. It will use a POP3 mail server for internet service which can be accessed through Microsoft Outlook or a web-based mail server.

Recommendations:

(con’t)

Workstations

10 active workstations—one for each employee. Currently there are 6 computers with 512MB RAM and 40GB Hard Drives and each computer has an attached ink jet printer. It is proposed to add an additional 4 Pentium PCs. The other computers will be replaced during the district cycle. Each workstation is set as a file-client server to access files, applications, and information stored on the network server. Workstations will use Docushare to enable the copiers to direct files to each individual workstation.

Printer / Copier

Xerox networked copiers can be used to:

• Print from networked computers
• Scan papers to be stored as data
• Copy

There will be 2 machines in the administration building.

This will be linked to the server so that each workstation has the ability to access each of the printer / copiers without interruption.

Cabling

Within the district office, Ethernet 10 Base 5 standard Ethernet cable will be used.

Expansion Possibilities

Link to High-School

There is a proposed line to the high school planned for future use. This will connect to the switch using either a serial port or T1 line depending on finance availability and need at the time of expansion

Design

Local Network Traffic

Email—POP3: Green

Local Data–ie student data, attendance etc… : Blue

Shared Files—folders, files, etc….: Red

Printing, copying: Purple

Inter-network

Internet access: Brown