renetworking school - need suggestions

[GigaCluster]

I think I'll jump in...
If you plan on having some "master" router which will be the backbone of this whole thing, you may want to consider a low-end (200-300 MHz?) machine running a bare Unix/Linux O/S with appropriate routing utilities. I hear that a 100 MHz machine with 32 MB of RAM can comfortably route 100 Mbit traffic... and when it comes to flexibility/reliability, such a machine can easily compete with Cisco stuff. As far as I know, the main part of the cost of Cisco stuff is not the equipment itself but the support that comes with it.

 

[spidey07]

Synoptic,

If you start another thread I'll go into the pitfalls of trunking and why it is not applicable to todays networks.

 

[usmc666]

I've got something that has not really been mentioned but needs to be brought up...security. What are you doing to do about a firewall. Being a school you need to keep the bad guys out and make sure that the students don't open up holes to the outside world. You need to develope a security plan and get the school to approve it, then back you up to when it comes to that point.

Dan

 

[Schoolies]

A firewall is something I haven't really thought of yet, I know I should look at that.

I just got word that this project may be post-poned for financial reasons. The school has 100 less students, so 100 less tuitions. Unless the enrollment increases this wil be pushed back until next year. It is not definite but, it doesn't look good... damn.

Keep posting your suggestions please. They are all being recorded for use either this year or next year, and I'm sure there are other people out there who are finding this information usefull. I will keep you all updated! Thanks again

 

[Garion]

A rather old thread, but a few other people mentioned they wanted the doc that I put together and just sent to Schoolies - If you do, PM me.

- G