Topic

The current network consists of a Category 5 CM-rated UTP cable that is installed in the plenum space above the false ceiling to each work area and classroom in every building on the campus. The part of the cable from the ceiling to each device drops out of the ceiling and lies on the floor. The other end of each of these horizontal cables is connected to a patch panel mounted in a relay rack in a closet in each building. Also in the relay rack is one or more Cisco FastHub 400s to provide the interaction between devices. Utilization on these devices typically runs at 73% or more on a five minute average with sustained spikes to 100%. There are typically 37 users logged into each server. Each faculty member has a laptop computer and a printer. They move these from their office to the classrooms as necessary. Each building is on its own self-contained network. The gym, physical education offices, and labs are all arranged in the same manner as the offices and classrooms. Backup is to a tape that is changed by the IT staff each day. The backup tapes are stored in the administration building. The IP addressing scheme is the same in each building. They all use the 192.168.1.0/24 addressing scheme. The addresses are issued from a DHCP service running on each building’s server. None of the buildings are connected to each other. Student network access is through a 2.4GHz 802.11b open wireless network whose access points are mounted on overhead light poles outside of each building. Each access point is tied into the building’s local area network. Each access point functions as a hotspot network within a walled garden. Each student is responsible for their own equipment. An account issued by the IT department is required to access the student network. There are typically 42 students logged into each access point.

The Internet access for each building is through a separate DSL connection provided by the local telephone company as each network was installed as needed over...