Future upgrade plans

[Wubbalubbadub]

Im currently looking at replacing the core infrastructure. 2 Nodes with a san.

 

Lots of P to V ing after that. Consolidation feels good!

 

Also hoping we can stretch the budget to replace the 10+ year old core switch. Then ill be looking at IT suites and the 10GB backbone. Its all in the works!

[dhicks]

So, in true Bond villain style... Tell me your plans!

 

Reading through a couple of the previous posts, I realise we're actually quite lucky in that we have the hardware that some places are still hoping for - we have new network cabling and switches with a 10-gigabit fibre backbone and gigait copper to the desktop, site-wide wireless, a proper server cupboard with cooling and a large UPS that should keep the servers, switches and the front desk workstations running for 4 hours in case of a power cut (we're testing that at the end of term...). Our future plans are going to be more software based. I hope to sort out Software Defined Networking (OpenFlow) on the switches, resulting in a network that transparently firewalls and separates traffic from clients so we can have a password-free wireless network that, in the background, lets any client connect but limits connections and bandwidth to something secure and reasonable. We plan to make more of our central server-based services cloud based, although exactly how we go about doing that is still to be figured out.

[tmcd35]

Also hoping we can stretch the budget to replace the 10+ year old core switch. Then ill be looking at IT suites and the 10GB backbone. Its all in the works!

 

Mmm, this is on the same list as the segway and iMac desktop I want I know it's going to come back and bite me, but everytime I research the prices on replacing the core switch I get cold feet approaching manglement.

[Iain.Faulkner]

I'm finding this thread strangely reassuring, as our own future upgrade plans are very similar to the rest of you :-)

 

10Gb backbone, completely redesigning the wired infrastructure of the school (putting in new fibre's to some cabs and upgrading existing ones). Rewiring some of the older IT Suites and classrooms. Then we'll look at putting wireless in, and then finally mobile devices (phew managed to avoid mentioned iPads....Dammit!!! ).

 

Alongside this, there will be continuing to turn around school PC's on a 6 year PC replacement program, servers will be due for replacement in 2-3 years, broadband connection needs looking at.

[JRowley]

I would expect that most of our development plans share certain points, the likes of backbone, wireless and virtualisation are likely on the plan, it's just how far along the plan you are. It's the other things such as BYOD, tablets, cloud services where you will find a bigger difference, and that really comes down to the needs of the curriculum you are teaching, or how IT focused your school is from a management/staff point of view.

[nyiss]

Bascially everything, oh and it all needs to be done yesterday

 

New server to go in imminently, wireless upgrade to follow. More iPads shudder and more laptops, ditch PCs for reasons unknown to me and against my suggestions.

Bunch of these on order and the head wants to blow the rest of the budget(ha!) on one of these and a screen to behold all screens...so we can use it as a backdrop in plays to 'put a nice star picture on'.

[DrCheese]

10GBe backbone (Fairly easy, just replace all SPFs with SPF+s)

Replacing 3 6+ year old computer suites

Investigating 802.11ac Phase 1/2

Begin replacing 4:3 projectors with big display screens (Honestly it's the same price nowadays as a new projector without the faff of bulb replacement over the years)

MDM solution for the various tablets that keep creeping in

 

Windows 10/Office 2013(or next) & upgrading our Adobe CC4 suite

[Scotbynature]

Replacing backup server so I can finally rid myself of Backup Exec in favour of Veeam. Also looking at the smart screens. We need to start replacing all 80 of our interactive whiteboards as they are getting quite old and starting to get holes and stuff in and I am thinking long term that they would make for a better replacement but I am holding out on judgement until I see them in action at the Bett show.