Advice on setting up a classroom network


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Hi,

I have been a member here at Neowin for a quite some time now and I am hoping the community here could help me out with some advice. I have been asked to create a budget proposal for setting a brand new computer lab at a teaching institute. Its a simple Language learning classroom and I believe the most they will be using are software like Rosetta Stone. However, they like a capability of using the classroom later on for other courses as well thus should support a server and the terminal where students can login.

The room is newly constructed so, it has a clean slate to work with. From what I have been told is that the networking team at the institute has already installed a APC netshelter rack in the room along with a projector and one of those electronic whiteboard to write on. The classroom will basically host everything in need within the room. the only connection going out would be for internet. It need to have about 15 workstation for now and they plan on extending it upto 32 later in a years time. It will need to have a teacher's workstation, a network printer and anything that anyone can suggest here. Also, it has be a Windows based since the additional course specific software that will be installed mostly run on Windows.

So the question I have are as follows:

1) recommendation for workstation computers, a teacher's computer and server along with switch and router and any other hardware that would be needed. I can look up specification and pricing online to get an idea.

2) Minimum software that will be required for running the lab smoothly. The computer and server should would probably have the OS with it. Things like antivirus, ghosting software or any additional ones. Course specific software wont be included in the budget since that would change based on what courses the institute decides to use the labroom for.

3) This might already be included above but is there any additional server software needed to be run to host student accounts. Basically a way where the teacher would be able to set up username/password for each student in advance and the student can use it to login from any of the workstation and have access to their own personal files that they would have been saving over the semester.

4) Anything else that I am completely missing here.

I would like to thank everyone here in advance for their time and assistance.

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Some basic advice - I'm sure others that have been through this scenario more recently than I have could offer better advice.

1) Workstations -

OS - I would assume that you would want Windows 7 Pro or Windows XP Pro as they would have the most management features when paired with Windows Server.

Additional Software - at minimum you would probably need antivirus and Microsoft Office on each workstation...

PC Hardware - Assuming that money is tight, I would go for a middle of the road generic hardware configuration. I would make them all the same make/model, unless you feel that the teacher's workstation has additional requirements. You might see if you can get a discount from a big company (Dell Education Store?) based off of the fact that you are working for an educational institution, making a purchase of 15+ boxes at once, etc...

Monitors - I would go for basic 19" LCD from Dell or some other company that sells them cheap. You probably will want to wire the monitors so that the students can just use the USB hubs on them rather than having to touch the workstation itself.

Security - You might want to think a little bit about physical security also, so that students can't open the case or move the monitors - assuming that this lab will be open for use when there isn't a moderator in the room.

2) Server -

You need to think about all of the roles this server will need to fulfill before you make this decision. Most of the server manufacturers will give recommendations as to what specific servers are best for what roles...

OS - You would probably want Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition. Setting up an Active Directory on it would allow you to create a domain to join all lab computers to, create user accounts, and manage the lab computers from a central location.

Server Roles - Are you integrating this server into an existing campus network, or is it going to need to provide all of the needed services to these lab computers? I'm guessing at a minimum you would need: DHCP server (may be better to go static for small lab - easier for computer mgmt), DNS server, File server, Active Directory, etc, etc. I would think that you would want a 2RU/2 processor server from HP or Dell, one that supports more than 2 local hard disks so that you can run RAID5 or better.

UPS - you may want to look into buying a UPS to provide battery power to the server and network so that they don't get the rug pulled out from under them in the event of an outage.

3) Management Software -

Do you want the workstations to report problems to a management server? You might want to see if HP SIM or Dell DMC (depending upon h/w provider you choose) can be installed for free on your server to email you with proactive alerts when there is a problem with a workstation or the server. You also would want to find a software package to reimage the workstations in the event of a hardware failure or an infection. I used to use Ghost, but I think there are better options now (Deep Freeze?).

4) Network -

This is assuming that you will be wiring each workstation and not relying on wireless. It sounds like you could get away with a single 48-port switch. You may want to have a hot spare in the rack that could be used in the case the primary fails, but that depends upon your budget.

You also need to figure out if you want any additional network security set up to prevent students from accessing the server on unwanted ports, etc, etc.

Hopefully this is a good start for you if you were still needing advice.

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