Tech Focus session summary

From International Schools Apple Network (iSan)

iSan Tech Focus

Networks
Best Practice- Usen Broadgate, but is expensive

Seisen uses ITScom for its internet service
YIS uses USEN running mail inhouse
BFLETS gives dynamic address at regular price
USEN has assigned addresses
Nishimachi uses BFlets basic plus Interlink as ISP and only one IP with only email support from Interlink.

You can test your speed at speedtest

On USEN Fiber, 60-80 mb very fast
Bflets Fiber (Basic plan) gets 40-60 mb

Wireless
Best Practice- Aruba Wireless Network

Aruba System

• version 3.3 needed to maintain connections on some macbooks
  
• Xerox has been helpful, unlimited support
  
• Aruba has a central controller
  

3COM is more decentralized, but harder to get here.
Service contract 3 million a year service and maintenance
Starting cost 5 million or more

Airmacs at Nishimachi, turn on WPA for helping people move around
Apple may be leaving the school market for wireless support.

Nishmachi has three subnets but is thinking of moving back to one flat network using dumb switches
Cisco support was not good in Japan.
Aruba system has the nice GUI
Orinoco is less information

Managed switches are not so important except for the core switch

Print Manager Pharos system running on windows all printers are handled on printer server.
{http://www.pharos.com/ Pharos Systems - Print and Copy Audit, Track, Monitor, Cost Control and Management] runs on windows, but has more indepth features for larger sites than something like PaperCut NG
Printers are clustered, managed
Fuji Xerox pay by the sheet, copy machines are multi-lingual
Color copy machines and Black & White
Cheaper solution than individual machines

Servers are on OS X Server
Nishimachi raid for storage
With Fiber Channel Switch and a tape library

Tape is able to record any size and can last along time of site.
Blue Shift consulting for of site back up of mission critical office work.

Seisen has half ownership of teacher computers
Nishimachi has 3 year rotation of important computers
Portable Homes back up to server good solution for teachers using school bought laptops

Weibetech

Drobo
NetGear for larger storage neads (like video)

X-Serve raid finished
Apple.com/server

Storage can be various ways.
Scaling up in the future

Considerations for solving video storage issues:
ReadyNAS Pro series
Drobo
Promise VTrak E-Class 8x 750 SATA RAID subsystem (6TB)
External USB and FireWire Hard Drives and Enclosures - WiebeTech Storage Solutions

Perian codec to switch anything into quicktime

Creative Camera Pink
Flip Cameras- $179

Scanners are being replaced by copy machine
The files are being passed on to the server or email address

Soninc exports almost anything from the US

iPods for flashcards from KanjiPod
KanjiFlip is good for levels

Upload a CSV file and it creates iPod flashcards

Wireless Projectors are not quite ready (perhaps for Mac)

Epson EMP-1715

500 Seat K-12 site licenses

Creation Engine Academic Price List Search

iLife, iWork, Adobe Creative Suite, Carrera Pro, Finale Music Software
Comic Life Magic 250 plus License

AppleCare for 4-5 years with Support Essentials Certification
Fuji Xerox offers good prices for Macs and offers img services

GSS QuickGarage Support

BitSystems can fix things cheaper than Apple with 9,000 upfront fee

Open Directory allows one user one password across different servers. Using groups of users

Rediker Database for Student Information
Keystone is expensive and complicated and needs tweeks

Commercial Products are safer better to use and modify

PowerSchool Study Whiz

Asset management, Web help desk Do your help desk tickets, licenses and machine On-line

When purchasing laptops to avoid damage, every computer gets a case.

Orbicule for finding stolen laptops

Considerations for solving video storage issues:
ReadyNAS Pro series
Drobo
Promise VTrak E-Class 8x 750 SATA RAID subsystem (6TB)
External USB and FireWire Hard Drives and Enclosures - WiebeTech Storage Solutions

Print management solutions:
{http://www.pharos.com/ Pharos Systems - Print and Copy Audit, Track, Monitor, Cost Control and Management] runs on windows, but has more indepth features for larger sites than something like PaperCut NG

Perian various formats for Flipvideo Flip Video

Vado Pocket Video Cam VF0570 - Pocket Video Cams - Capture Life...See it, Shoot it, Share it

Source One Network, Inc. - US Computer Products - Ship to Japan <sales@soninc.com>

Adobe volume license for CS3 very reasonable creativeengine.com