[DayLateDon]

Hello ...

I posted before asking for pointers on how to wrap my mind around the concept of a server-based network after having been raised on peer-to-peer. I was asked to give some details about my environment and my needs. Here it goes ... (pardon the length)

The environment is a smallish K-8 school with roughly 200 kids, 20 teachers, and a half-dozen administrators. Our Mac complement consists of a LOT of LCIIIs in the lower grades, a dozen or so OS 8.6-using PowerMacs of various vintages (6100s, 7100s, 52xx/54xx), one of the earliest Beige G3s; our most contemporary holdings include approximately a dozen iMacs, two iBooks, and an eMac, all of which either are, or will be, running OS X.

We hope to expand these holdings by acquiring more eMacs and iBooks as we phase older machines out. (Of course, we're chronically short of money, so this can take a while.) Anyway, our goal is to eventually provide every classroom with at least one iMac-or-better workstation for Internet access and such, although our current situation will concentrate our X-ready machines in a Technology Lab for computer classes, internet projects, and so forth; we'll distribute our PowerMacs to the classrooms. (The LCIIIs will also be used, as they are now, as word processing stations.)

We want to set up a server to centralize all of our files and computer-based activities. We want to provide each teacher and student with dedicated space, accessible from any (sufficiently recent) computer, and protected by _some_ level of security.

(Right now, we're lucky that our kids aren't terribly interested in looking at a teachers files, which are often just left on the Desktop. Then again, our teachers don't create any interesting files: they aren't tech-savvy enough to use their computers for keeping grades or creating tests. We're working on overcoming this, but when we succeed, we're going to need that security.)

We also want to stockpile software in one location, in order to equalize availability of the apps across the network, to simplify installation and updates, and to restrict access when necessary. (No "Bugdom" for Timmy this week!) And we want to streamline administrative processes such as compling grades and absences, filing lesson plans, and so forth.

We'd also like to set up a web server for the school's (still rudimentary) site, and probably also a mail server. We also need a proxy server (correct term?) to cache pages when a teacher wants to have a classload of kids access a particular site.

Generally speaking, that's where we are.

My questions about all of this stuff are many ... or would be if I knew enough about what I was getting into to ask. I'd appreciate any and all pointers. (Feel free to contact me off-list at this address: s t m a r y s _ t e m p l e @ m a c . c o m .)

Thanks and regards,

DayLateDon

Don McConnell
Technology Facilitator
St. Mary's School
Temple, Texas

[que_ball]

Well, a wide range of client machines out there but let see if I cannot fill in some of the spaces for you.

Basically a server based network isn't terribly different from peer to peer except there is the one main computer everyone uses to store their files onto.

Servers can also do other nice things for you network like provide automatic IP Address assignment to computers through DHCP protocol. The most simple servers usually just act a file and print sharing servers, the extra services like DHCP and Web server on top of this are less common and what you run will be specific to your situation.

If I were you I would reccomend forming a relationship with a local Consultant. Either a company that specializes in Macs and the education market or just a private consultant running their own consulting service. This person could come in, setup a server properly and teach you the day to day administration tasks. Honestly a school environment is like trial by fire for learning how to setup a network and administer it. Those kids can be the toughest users of all when it comes to finding new and interesting ways to make computers and networks fail. I would reccomend something a little milder to start out with like maybe running a high security military website before jumping into the education network gauntlet <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Anyhow for my specific reccomendation I would suggest getting one of Apples new XServe server machines with a moderate load of memory and hard disk space. Make sure to setup the disk drives in a redundent configuration so that the failure of one drive does not cause data loss. Configure the file sharing in such a way as to keep the staff and class files and security settings distinctly separate and pay special attention to making sure the security settings for staff users are as high as you can make them without causing them too much grief. Strong passwords are the first step in making sure the teachers data is secure and ensure they change those passwords at bare minimum once a year but probably near the last quarter of every semester is a better plan.

For internet services, the built in web server in MacOS X server is great. You can create a plain website quickly and easily and even give each teacher their own folder in the website to create their own pages to keep parents updated or whatever they want. To keep a lid on the Internet use you may consider looking into Vicom Internet Gateway. I believe it includes proxy caching as one of it's features.

Get a backup system working. It does no good to centralize the files if they aren't being backed up. Some disaster occurs, and everyone will be looking for your head on a pike if their data is not backed up. Retrospect Backup for workgroups should fit the bill along with a good tape drive. Remember that Backup is probably going to cost more than the hard disk storage you are backing up from, it's just a fact of life these days. The Tandberg DLT VS autoloader makes a nice companion if you have a large amount of data. With retrospect you can even backup machines over the network at the same time.

Finally you may want to consider some method of remote control and administration. Apple has their new Apple Remote Desktop but it's version 1.0 and hasn't really gone far enough as a replacement to their older ANAT software or the Macintosh Manager software. Most of this apple administration software has been geared to education use and the command and control of computer labs.