Only Wireless no desktops for new build

[Tallwood_6]

The trouble is senior management see wireless working for surfing the web at home and they simply do not understand the issues in scaling this up in a school or business. Builders will love it as they won't have to run nearly as much cable reducing costs and hassle and will know doubt market it as better solution, the next big thing etc.

I'd make clear the potential pitfalls it written form now that way when it hits the fan you have some come back.

Not to say it couldn't work!

[sted]

get your concerns down clearly and concisely in writing so if/when it goes wrong at least you can say i told you so probably worth trying to sketch out an alternative as it would probably save them cash.

 

as to "government standards" since when has a government it project gone well/on time/on budget

 

if you can set up a demo with 1 ap and 2 identical laptops and set them to deploy a common bit of software one cabled one wifi to show them the scale of the problem and point out with more laptops it will get worse unless you have 1:1 laptop to ap coverage

[Michael]

How do you manage large deployments of software, Office, Adobe, operating systems, updates and the like? Do you still do this over the wireless, I can’t imagine how this would work for 1500 laptops

 

All large sofware deployments will need to be done on the master image, connected to a switch. Typically images I create/deploy are 20GB in size. You can't deploy this, even down the fastest wireless connection. Once the client is configured, you can get away with small updates like to Adobe Reader, Flash, Windows Updates etc..

[BKGarry]

I agree with you there Michael, i find using Fog quite useful (i know i plug it a lot) as it uses its own client to rename the machine, meaning any XP and above OS retains any wireless settings without having to wait for GP updates

[ozydave]

I agree i love fog to

[Michael]

Well seeing as you're now forced to go the wireless route, better make sure you have the best wireless kit. HP have the E-MSM466 Access Point (J9622A). 6 External Antennas supporting upto 450Mbps. They only cost £550 each!

 

In all seriousness though, I've been using some HP V-M200's (J9468A) recently and they're pretty good

[featured_spectre]

@ozydave, have me come down to your school...I worked in one where I told them wifi across the board was a bad idea (they even wanted wireless desktops) and 3 years later they finally agreed that it was not ideal and spent ~£18k extra to get the place wired up...I had it in writing from the moment wifi across the board was suggested. Aylesbury isn't that far from me so I could come over and speak with the powers that be.

[ozydave]

We have a HP wireless network at the mo, very pleased with it. The ap’s are duel band MSM422 (N rated) all managed with a mobility controller. We only have 20 AP that just are supposed to support the teachers

[featured_spectre]

Yeah good luck with this, in all seriousness...you would need almost a 10/1 ratio for it to be consistent and for that I would recommend Meru, but even so you will be frought with problems left right and centre. Imaging will need to be cabled up, regardless of which way you look at it, as will deployments of software larger than 5mb. Also you profiles will need to be a whole 3mb or less to prevent profiles clogging up the wifi traffic.