Anyone else need a separate internet line in school just for techs? LEA proxy

[DCUK6]

Just wondering if its normal to have a separate line coming into the school for technicians because the LEA/ISP filter and proxy are unbearable and causes issues with programs?

 

We've just purchased a new phone system and altered our lines about and i was asked if we can get rid of the adsl broadband coming in.

I said that we couldn't as we needed it to work, when asked why we couldn't use the LEA's connection the only answer i could give is that its not good enough and causes to many issues as its managed by someone else.

 

Was waiting for the question as to why we all arnt all on it. Not allowed to.

 

Is this normal?

 

Gives me a nice line to stream music on. Am the only who can as the LEAs line can't take it and we've gotta wait for at least another 8 months for it to be upgraded.

Edited March 18, 2015 by DCUK6

[win]

Second line is useful as a backup internet connection, also for troubleshooting as you don't know if issues are firewall related or connection related. I also found it very useful when setting up and testing the remote connection.

[network41]

The ADSL line is used for testing purposes and as an emergency backup should anything happen to the LEA connection, so no staff can't use it

[chazzy2501]

I purchased a standard ADSL line for the guest WiFi and if I can also use it to test things great! Useful to test your external services (VLE etc.)

[Boredguy]

We have a single internet line coming in, and that's been fine for us for the last 14 years. Over the years it's gone from a 2Mb circuit up to our current 50Mb circuit.

 

If your having issues with your LA provided connection and programs you would be best to report it to them, and keep nagging them until they resolve it. Your paying for a service that should be fit for purpose.

[pcstru]

We did used to use a separate ASDL line to enable us to do things the LEA service didn't support (ntp was apparently too much of a security issue). It also helped us with measuring quality of service by simultaneously monitoring responses through both routes. Eventually this evidence led us to ditch the LEA service and our replacement gives us full control so we don't need the facility any more.

[DCUK6]

Glad its not just me.

 

Have tried to report issues but you never get anywhere. One staff member has been waiting for a login to their network since December.

 

Think if you managed the line and filtering but as ever it seems these days, if there is someone else involved then its just a nightmare.

Try not to purchase any system these days that i cant manage myself.

Edited March 18, 2015 by DCUK6

[Homer]

I have a glorious VMB connection that I and only I manage - so no issues with stupid LEA filtering!

[Quackers]

No , we got annoyed one too many times with the LEA Internet connection and when it started to effect the Head/Deputy heads i was allowed to get a leased line in from else where and now we control the gate to our network. 4 Years on still one of the best things we did.

[DGardiner]

I remember the days of LEA internet.... 200mb line upgrade should be signed off next week :swoon:

[maniac]

Our LEA (Kent) are very good and provide very good speeds at competitive prices. We have totally unfiltered (apart from the real obvious) connections for myself and my techs and have complete control of the filtering it causes very few issues. On the other hand when I worked for another LEA some years ago they had a blanket filter applied to all machines which was a right PITA and we had a separate BT business ADSL line which we used for various reasons.

[MatthewL]

Various schools who are with LEA (mainly secondaries) have a second connection, often used as backup but often to test things and just general tech use.

[Blue_Cookeh]

Our LEA are the only people who can provide a decent connection to our school for general use... so yes, I have an extra ADSL line coming in from the brilliant guys over at Eclipse with 8 IPs assigned to us. I use it as a backup VPN into the school and to send various connections out via (such as Meraki MDM for our iPads, and SMTP connections from my Nagios install)... basically because our LEA's support is absolutely atrocious. It takes me roughly three weeks of constant reminders to get them to open any ports.

 

Just going to plug Sophos UTM too, their multipath rules let me direct specific traffic out via whichever WAN connections I like

[Trapper]

I just pay EE £10 a month for 3GB of 4G. Works the same, and much easier than having a separate pipe coming in.