Network Gurus: Need help to setup a school network

[jbaggins]

I need to setup a wireless network in a school. the school is two story and approximately 30,000 square feet. We will be using a cable connection, and wish to provide wifi access to both administrative computers downstairs (only 3), and 5-15 computers in the computer labratory upstairs by sharing this one cable connection. The walls are solid brick walls. The distance from the administrative computers and computer lab is about 200 feet, and one floor. There is one stairwell which serves as an open area between the first and second floors.

Reliability is a priority. We don't want dropped packets or loss of connections. There will be no electronic inteference, the main issue may be the walls.

Can you please suggest how we should go about doing this? Should the main router be based in the computer lab upstairs, with the internet connection coming directly into that, or should it be downstairs, going into a router there?

How many routers should I expect to purchase, which models do you suggest, and do I need any other devices - not counting the wifi adapters? Do we need repeaters, or access points or would multiple routers do fine?

Thanks in advance

edit: I have heard the Netgear WRT54G is good, would it be good for this scenario? Please give the most simple setup, as we are not very tech savvy and maintenance should be minimized.

 

[freebsdrules]

Why not just use a wired solution? From your description, all of the computers are all located in two rooms so running ethernet to these places shouldn't be a problem. It will also give you the reliability you desire.

 

[gaidin123]

If reliability is top priority you must go with a wired solution. Wireless is very convenient but it is neither as reliable nor as secure as a running the cables.

The Linksys WRT54G is probably what you meant and it is a good box for the price. If you insist on getting wireless, buy 2 of these, flash them with the sveasoft firmware, set up a wireless bridge, and have one of them in whichever room share the internet connection. Technically this is not that hard but if you've never done it before be prepared to read up for a day or two. That should work well and you will get probably 10-15Mbps of usable bandwidth between the lab and admin boxes and internet.

Though running cable through the walls is a big pain it could be more worth the money to get them run and save downtime and headaches down the road. If there is any sort of utility closet sort of in between the two rooms that might be a good location to pull wire back to and install your net connection. If you run cables you will just need a 16 port switch in the lab and a 5 or 8 port switch in the admin room and then one router for your network connection.

Gaidin

 

[jbaggins]

Thanks guys/gals(?),

I am thinking it is just easier at this point to hardwire it.

The only reasons I didn't want to hardwire:

1) unsightly, we can't put them through solid brick walls or ceilings, so we'll have to run them in channels.
2)Expandability. The school may purchase 15-20 more computers over the next 2-3 years. I've heard wifi wise, a router can handle up to 255 computers?
3)Lack of 'cool' factor'.

Gaidin, if i was to purchase two of the linksys routers, and use one as a bridge, would the distance of one floor and 200 feet or so be a problem? or do you think they would be able to communicate with one another?

thanks

 

[JackMDS]

This is not a project that can be solved by posting on a public BBS.

There is No way to determine the Wireless Needs of such an Envioroment without professional survey.

Throwing around name of Blue plastic boxes is not the solution.

:sun:

 

[Wizkid]

I would be quite surprized if 200ft in a cement/brick building actually worked. Just run the wires, but hire a pro to do it. They can drill through the walls, run through subfloors, basements, etc. and keep the wires as hidden as possible. Run a few drops just for future expansion though.

 

[jbaggins]

Thanks, I've decided to do a wired solution.

 

[skyking]

good deal. RE: 255 computers on wireless? No way. It will bog down and die at more than 15 clients per node.
Put the switch, router and modem in a securable location, like a locked closet or office.
Make that location close to the bulk of the drops, but easily routable to the halls or spaces for getting to downstairs.
graybar stocks wiremold and panduit.
Those are the two brands of surface mount ducting I have installed. It looks pretty darn good, paints up nice, and is re-openable for adding wire later. the 1.5" by .875" stuff is at 40% with 10 runs, the theoretical maximum.
drop at least two runs for each current computer in the administrative area. Plan on network printers there.
Plan on drops in the classroom(s) for network printers also.