Richmond Montessori School Benefits from Open Source Software
RMS Aerial View by Don Maxwell & sons
Problem
Richmond Montessori School (RMS) was operating a 10/100 Mb network infrastructure constructed on a series of consumer grade wireless routers and switches with no encryption support for wireless connections. The network infrastructure was plagued with consistent packet loss along with security vulnerabilities, local outages and application failures. However, the RMS budget was limited as the modifications were not scheduled or budgeted for upgrade at that time.
Solution/Benefit
Net Easy introduced Richmond Montessori School to several Open Source products that require no licensing fees. In effect, the products are free to use which allowed for cost effective upgrades on core services. This greatly improved the campus wide security model and improved the core network infrastructure. Benefits realized included better performance in bandwidth (1 Gb core), reduced outages across campus facilities, enhanced application stability and enhanced security.
The use of Open Source software products allowed for more funding of core hardware equipment and services as it eliminated numerous license(s) fees. This permitted Richmond Montessori School to move to a campus wide GB (1 Gb) network infrastructure with minor expenditures as much of the core routing is now conducted using Linux based solutions. Additionally, VLAN (Virtual LAN [local area network]) implementation allowed for security enhancements with separation of the network layers for administration, students and vendors/guests to name a few. Campus wide wireless Internet access was also introduced for students and guests using standard encryption techniques while protecting the various core network.
During the process of modifications, an entire documentation process was introduced for the network topology along with the elimination of several hardware components that were outdated and/or not required. Additional cost savings were achieved in total power consumption with more efficient equipment replacing older equipment and component consolidation (server and system consolidation). Modifications to network wiring along with server hardware was further conducted. The server modifications provided a new tape backup solution as well, using hardware and software that was donated to the school.
Richmond Montessori School has the ability to expand the solution into the use of video and VoIP (voice over IP) solutions to further reduce telecommunications expenditures. During the process, Verizon FIOS was introduced into the scenario which allows for connection via business class fiber services. The FIOS service is lower in price than the old copper technologies like a T1 but often fails to provide the same level of SLA (service level agreement) as a standard T1. However, using totally free open source software, one can contract two diverse Internet providers for services and operate a "high availability" solution for the fraction of the cost of the T1. A "high-availability" solution is one that allows for real-time fail-over to an alternate carrier should the preferred carrier go down at a fraction of the costs of standard copper T1s or Metro Ethernet products.
Other options in using such technology is the ability to bond Gb NICs (network interface cards) so that should one port fail on the physical equipment, the device can carry full Gb traffic load on the other port. This eliminates the simple problem of a port failure on the local hardware actually causing the school network to drop.
Richmond Montessori School also introduced their first VPN (virtual private network) connections into the school for encrypted connection for remote users. This will allow administration remote access to work from home along with secure connections for vendor support should it be desired.
Another benefit was the return to service of the Arby's WeatherNet system which is now on its own network with IP access for the external vendor and local news networks. The webcam for Parham Rd. traffic can be accessed at: http://173.53.39.19.
Costs
The project remains a financially closed arrangement.
Implementation Time
The project was spread across phases in evenings to reduce staff interruptions and outages. The total project was spread over about one month.