Saving money ideas from MS blog.

[nicholab]

I have just seen this on an MS bog Top ICT Money Saving Tips - Microsoft UK Schools blog - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

[rayfleming]

Thanks for the link nicholab - the latest version of the Top ICT Money Saving Tips is now here

- this is the version that I continue to update.

 

I'm continuing to work on more case studies - I published another one tonight, on West Hatch High School going paperless

 

I can't be absolutely sure, but I reckon these are likely to be even handier after next week's budgets are revealed...

Edited October 13, 2010 by rayfleming

[TechSupp]

I like the bit that says he assumed a Primary school had 4 servers!!!! Luxury indeed! Could we have a poll for how many serversmost primary schools have?

[witch]

I like the bit that says he assumed a Primary school had 4 servers!!!! Luxury indeed! Could we have a poll for how many serversmost primary schools have?

 

Just the one, here And in fact only one at the middle-deemed-secondary I work in as well

[PiqueABoo]

I can't be absolutely sure, but I reckon these are likely to be even handier after next week's budgets are revealed...

 

Mmm... interesting times ...won't say I'll agree with all of them given the inevitable MS-centric nature, but nevertheless this is useful stuff.

 

Could we have a poll for how many servers most primary schools have?

 

My averages is ~1.5 (some have a dedicated MIS server). Likely to head closer towards 1 once VMs get more popular and/or MIS heads off into the clouds.

Edited October 13, 2010 by PiqueABoo

[john]

I can agree with the Virtualsation recommendations, although I don't think Ray would like my method (sorry Ray despite being a mega MS fanboy I used Citrix XenServer) but we have had the first months electric bill and we are down 5000 KWh on this time last year for electricity and that is some great saving!!!

 

We have also implemented Print Management and Control that has helped greatly now so that is good news for the paper and toner budget

[rayfleming]

For server numbers, I did use some of the data from the How-many-servers-your-school thread.

 

I agree it's not scientific, and also that I used the higher end of the numbers range, but then I think that those who are likely to consider virtualising, are likely to be those with more servers.

 

Although at first glance it seems like there aren't many servers in primary schools, in addition to "The Server" there are normally some "hidden" ones:

- there's normally an MIS server left on - although it often runs on a desktop machine in the office

- lots of primary schools also have a cache/filtering box - eg SmartCache - which is also on 24x7

 

If anybody wants to add to the How Many Servers thread, I'll volunteer to add new results into the spreadsheet and republish the chart.

[PiqueABoo]

- there's normally an MIS server left on - although it often runs on a desktop machine in the office

 

On reflection I'll give you that one and call it 2 servers, but cache/filtering must be a regional-by-region thing i.e. it's largely central filtering for Primary here.

[Butuz]

Wow - so there's a secondary on there with only 750 pupils and 22 non virtualised physical servers!!!!

 

And I thought my electricity bill was nasty!!! Eek!!!

 

Butuz

[apoth0r]

Of the 19 primary schools I have worked in in the East Midlands area over the past 6 years I have never seen a primary school with more than 2 servers (MIS/curriculum split)

[Theblacksheep]

Looks like the bits covered by James Croft in some financial school news paper.