Butuz

Using older HP thin clients here for our sixth form provision. 36 clients are running off one server (Dual Quad Core 2.4Ghz, 4GB RAM, Raid 5, Win2k3 32 bit). Clearly the server specification does not allow us to run 36 x graphics intensive programs up the sixth form. Overall for Word processing and internet including some flash sites it works well. The upgrade from 6 archaic PC's with 10 minute log on times to 36 thin clients with 20 second log ons was very very popular with my sixth form!! The whole project was implemented on a shoe string budget. With regard to your licences, I pay £9.09 for a TS CAL and £3.27 for a Windows Server CAL via my LEA so I am not sure where you are getting the £50 odd licencing figure from. Clearly things have moved on, if I was doing it again i would be looking at something along the lines of: Tight Budget: Axel M80 clients off a Dual 3Ghz+ Quad Core 16GB RAM Win2k8 server. Better Budget: Axel M80 clients or SUN Ray's off a Dual 3.2+ghz Quad/Six core with 24GB RAM with Sun ray or Citrix. Either way upgrading from the HP thin clients to the Axel thin clients gives a massive boost in performance for intensive apps. With the HP youtube is unplayable, with the Axel youtube is watchable in a window and sound is fine. Butuz

Best thing to do would be for the primary school to ring RM and get their own RM.com account set up (they probably already have one just don't know the log on details!) and then they can allow you to use that account to access all of the resources that the school are entitled to under their support contract. Butuz

Ah I forgot I was in my 156th universe cyberspace tunnel. Keeps catching me out. Butuz

From RM: "The problem is caused by damage to the security databases maintained by Windows® XP. These databases are used by Microsoft® Windows® to guarantee the authenticity and reliability of driver files and other key system files via a mechanism of file signing. A signed file will have a corresponding entry within what is known as a CAT file. A CAT file is basically a list of numbers which have been generated using a technique known as MD5 summing. This technique will create a different number if even a single character within a file has been changed, thus making it obvious that a file has been modified. The CAT file is actually the file which is signed, and it is signed with a certificate from Microsoft®. If the CAT file is altered in any way, then the certificate becomes invalid. The knock-on effect is that any files referenced in the CAT file also become unsigned. A key file called an nt5inf.cat is responsible for signing most of the system files that make up the Windows® XP operating system, and every time a service pack is installed this file is updated to reflect the changes made to the system, thus keeping the new files signed. If this file is overwritten with an older copy, for example, from the Windows® XP initial release, then many of the files that make up Windows® XP become unsigned. These files include drivers for storage devices such as pen drives, digital cameras, and many other types of hardware. Administrative rights are required to install unsigned drivers into the system, therefore on a workstation where an nt5inf.cat has been damaged normal restricted users are unable to add new hardware even if that hardware is supposed to be supported out of the box by Windows® XP." Butuz

Very good!!

Fully windows updated the new server before installing SQL so didn't get that error! Butuz

Yep superfletch hits the nail on the head BANG BANG Butuz

Either go for a NAS set up and move the data off those old servers, or replace the servers outright. They simply are not worth upgrading. Butuz

If your talking about the free versions then Xen deffo has the edge over ESXi in terms of features. Main benefits of XEN include more than 8vcpu's per virtual server, and the ability to manage multiple xen hosts from one console. They're big benefits. I went with ESXi in the end though as it was the most mature / stable platform, much less of an unknown quantity (hardly anyone was using Xen at the time) and Xen's converter at the time was useless (didnt convert any of my test servers and workstations wheras vmware converted them all 100%). I also discounted Hyper V as it was brand new at the time and very immature with little or no support and no converter. So basically I sacrificed spangly features for solid ease of use and reliability. (also as a side benefit both RM the LEA use Vmware and not Xen so it makes things easier again). Butuz

Yes it's super quiet in Wales!!! I guess we're all just busy!! Butuz

DO NOT UNDER ANY CURCUMSTANCES MAKE UP A "Y" LEAD to connect two UPS's into one PSU (that is unless you actually like explosions, fire, and possibly death). With regard to weight - take the batteries out before you move the UPS's!!! The 2200 and 3000 rack mounts (weigh nearly the same) are approx 20kg for the battery and 20kg for the chassis so you can install one yourself as long as you seperate the battery. (I think the tower versions are heavier). It is easier with 2 peeps tho!!! Butuz

Just use cheap £50 - £70 cannon digi cams here. Fairly easy to use and much much better quality video and use Movie Maker to edit. Digiblues are total rubbish. Butuz

Yep - it's better at removing malitious software than any AV software. Butuz

Are you using ESX4 or ESXi4?? I would suggest using ESXi4 as it seems to run on almost anything!!! Butuz

Good luck guys!!! (hugs CC3) Butuz

Originally when I set up my 7110's iSCSI performance was dire so I set up with NFS and it's been working a treat. Apparently iSCSI performance is fixed now so I guess its up to you! Butuz

I would reccomend you go with multiple smaller UPS's rather than one bigger one. I use 3 x SMARTUPS3000 2U with each server wired into alternate UPS's so that if one UPS fails it won't take any servers out. This seems a nice way of doing it and actually one UPS did fail just after its 3rd birthday and everything kept on running because the other 2 ups's took the load up. (this only works if your servers have two power supplies, whch most have nowadays). Another reason is that small UPS's can each use a standard 13 amp socket, wheras one big monster UPS will require a 32amp dedicated ring main installed £££ I wouldn't reccomend creating your own UPS - it can be done and is not difficult but multiple 12v batteries wired in series AND paralel are extremely dangerous I wouldnt fancy having to go to court because a homemade battery shorted / exploded and burned the school down! Frankly I'd rather APC take the risk on that one for me! Butuz

Seconday here 1050 pupils 100 staff. 11 Physical Servers composed of: 2 x DC 2 x Vmware ESXi Hosts (running 8 VMs) 2 x Terminal Servers 2 x Misc Servers (due to be virtualised) 1 x Backup Exec Server 2 x SANs Hopefully by Sept will be down to 8 Physicals. Butuz

That must be costing a fortune in licences if you intend to let all your pupils access yoru school software from home!!!! I wouldnt fancy buying another 1000+ seats for office, etc! Butuz

Fantastic!!!!! Thanks!!!!

PAT testing is a site/premises management issue not an IT / ICT issue. Simples. Butuz

Ideally you's need to find out how much power each switch in your cab uses so you can work out what size UPS you need. Procurves we have use about 30 watts each so I use one or two SPC Smart UPS SC450 1u rack mount UPS's depending on how many switches in a cab. Core switches are powered my the main server UPS's. Reason I use the 450s is they are not very deep so can fit in some of the smaller cabs, unline the 700/1000/1500 which are too deep. Butuz

I think that's the number 1 benefit of Thin Clients and Workstation Virtualisation particularly if it is securely accessible from outside school - all your data is stored in your data centre (errr server room??) and never leaves it. No memory sticks, no usb hard drives, no transferring raw data over http. Everything stays nice and safe and secure in your server room - everyone else just "views" it. You just have to manage access. Personally I think it's defiantly the way forward and once it becomes more popular costs will slump. If I had the capital made available I could easily see my school using a majority of zero / thin clients to access a mixture of virtual desktops and terminal servers - with the odd fat client where needed. Initial costs may be high but long term sustainability and support costs should be much cheaper. Aaah it's all pie in the sky in Wales tho. We only just got electricery!!!!! Butuz

Just double checking - you do keep the lid on that server don't you? The lid is inntegral to the cooling as it forces air through the server like a tunnel. Butuz

Go with Raid 5. DO not under any circumstances go with Raid 0 as that's fileserver suicide. Butuz