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Our primary school is moving from a split infants/junior site to a brand new school site for primary and juniors in July this year.
I'm currently drafting a plan of action to address the IT points on the move, but am just wondering if anyone has done anything similar recently and would be willing to share their info? I'm including everything in my plan - hardware, software, licenses, data etc.
Many thanks
Bump .... have created 4 sections in my plan:
Network infrastructure - covering the server, physical cabling, wireless network, cabinet, switches/routers
Hardware - fixed computers, laptops/netbooks, printers, projectors + smartboards,
Software & Licenses -
Data transfer - from old server to new server, any computer hard drives with data on e.g. admin PCs
Anyone think I am missing anything?
What about user management and network/file permissions?
Nice one, I suppose we can set everything up but if no-one can access it, it's not much use really! Have added that to the plan pronto.
Fallback plan for "oops, the roof has fallen in?" / $insert_other_crisis.
Make sure all the services (Internet/Power/Cooling) are in place, working and tested before you start moving stuff.
Make sure suppliers know where to deliver to (and in which date ranges said addresses are valid).
One of our campuses is moving this summer and we've taken the opportunity to upgrade the systems at the same time so very little if any IT will actually be moved. Even so, myself and a colleague have been involved since last summer and have had more that our fair share of challenges.
From my experience with this and similar moves/extensions I'd suggest considering the following points:
- Will any new hardware be supplied as part of the build, e.g. switches, wireless, digital signage etc? If so, how will these integrate with your existing equipment?
- Is there spare IT budget available from the new build, and if so can this be used to fund new hardware in the building rather than moving old hardware over?
- Migrating phone lines, internet link, satellite TVs etc.
- Make sure there's sufficient M&E in IT areas, I've seen countless server rooms built with no air con and IT suites with only 4 13a sockets.
- Will the new build feature new CCTV, access control, BMS, digital signage or similar that you'll need to integrate into the network or offer support for?
- Will you require additional support, either in terms of bods on the ground or specialist knowledge to complete the work in the required timescales?
- Will new desks be provided as part of the build, and if so are they big enough, do they feature cable management etc?
- Do you have warranty support/spare hardware should anything fail during the move?
- For any fixed installations (smartboards, digital signage, etc.) can the required cables be run during the first fix? This is especially important if your staff are expecting teaching desks with PCs away from the wall.
And one final word of advice, assume nothing. I've seen new builds planned with no server room and no network cabling because "there'd be wireless", or on the other side of the coin I've been handed an extension complete with wireless and a new switch installed, working and ready to go. In my experience those doing the building will stick to the specifications provided to them, so if you can get hold of these you'll know what to expect when you walk in there. I'd also advise trying to get a site walk or two to get a "feel" for the building before you start moving things in.
I hope this gives you some pointers in the right direction but if you need any more advice, or me to expand on anything above then I'm of course happy to do so.
Today I've added another section to the plan as well, about identifying the eqpt we are not taking, wiping hard drives where necessary etc. and decommissioning items ready for disposal or resale.
The major issue to solve at the moment is who is doing what. Like you say, michaelf I am assuming nothing! We are getting a list of questions together to ask about what is included as part of the build contract vs what we will need to do ourselves. This also affects the budget, which is not my headache thank goodness.
It's funny you should mention the server room with no air-con. I have been told we can't have air-con because it doesn't fit in with the eco-friendliness of the rest of the school. I am waiting to see if they accept any of the "green" alternatives I have suggested. Or if the SMT just want the server to keep falling over in the summer when the room gets too hot.
The most eco-friendly thing to do is to take the heat from the servers then use it to heat the building, an option that's quite well used at the moment. Without knowing the size of your server estate I can't comment further, but as we all know the health of that kit is paramount but often undervalued by managers who don't actually "see" the kit or it's value. I'd hope that your alternatives are well received, and that you're management team are reasonable enough that once reminded of the damage a failure could pose to the business you can find a mutually acceptable compromise!
we have a very large server room with a 5m ceiling,during one of the coldest days of this winter the entire buildings Cooling happened to be reconfigured(this was pre-Practical Completion thankfully), they forgot to take the server room off the daily power down of air con, 2 hours later the sever room was one big cooker. Our HP San was the 1st thing to fail... thankfully one of our guys checked on the server room before going home that night so nothing else got cooked. so moral of the storey. it doesn't take a summer day to cook a server room with no air con!
IF involved in meetings with builders make sure minutes of meetings are 100% accurate of what was discussed/agreed and raise it when offcial minutes of the meeting are released if they are wrong.
Get involved in the position of power and data WHEN its being installed, make sure any drawings are "as fitted" and of a large enough scale to take measurements (approx 1 room per A3/A4) this should prevent any arguements over positions of power and data later on (builders will never ask you if a drawing is not clear enough) they'll just make their own random dicision.
Give yourself plenty of time to complete migration tasks, it always takes longer than expected, do not ram your day with appointments leading up to, during and after the move as you'll find your users very very needy during this time and any IT contractors will require alot of your time.