You Are The IT Manager Of An Elementary School

You Are The It Manager Of An Elementary School The School Is Adding C

You are the IT manager of an Elementary School. The school is adding computers that have been donated by a local company. An extended star topology has been suggested, using some hubs that are available. The school agrees with your idea of adding a switch working as a backbone switch, as shown in the figure below. The plan is to replace the classroom hubs as the budget allows.

Scenario: For now, the very basic details are as follows: the Elementary School is a four-year-old, single-level building with 12 classrooms and a library. Each classroom currently has 24 students but could possibly seat 32 students. There are currently no portable classrooms but a student enrollment growth is just starting to hit the school. Enough computers are available for six classrooms and the library immediately, and the intent is to outfit the remaining six classrooms next year. The plan is to make the Internet and some online services available to the students.

The computers are current enough to be useful for at least two years. The library, which is somewhat centrally located, is where the server(s) and router connecting the school to the Internet will be located. Assume that all rooms will have 24 computers and that each room will use a stackable hub solution that combines a 12-port hub and a 24-port hub for 36 total ports. Being stackable units, the network will see each stack as a single 36-port device. Review the room requirements above.

What type of network media is most appropriate for this situation? How many IP addresses does the school need immediately? How many might the school eventually need for the initial seven rooms? How many could it need if it gets enough computers for the entire school? Exact numbers aren't expected, but you should be able to estimate pretty close from the data provided.

What class(es) of IP address do you need now and in the future? The school district informs the group that it can afford 2 public IP addresses for the Internet access. Is this a problem if the school wants all the computers to access the Internet? Explain why or why not. Visit the Library and look up links to find the prices of routers, cable, and switches.

In some sites, you may have to choose Networking on the site's main page to get started. If you aren't familiar with manufacturers, try Cisco, 3Com, Novell, D-Link, and Linksys. Write a 2-4 page paper using the APA style that answers these questions. Provide enough detail to fully support your opinion.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid integration of network infrastructure into educational environments necessitates careful planning and strategic decision-making by IT managers. In this context, establishing an effective, scalable, and cost-efficient network for an elementary school that is expanding its computer resources involves evaluating appropriate network media, IP addressing schemes, and equipment procurement options. This paper discusses these critical elements based on the data provided, aiming to outline a comprehensive approach that balances current needs with future growth potential.

Network Media Selection

For an elementary school setting with multiple classrooms and a central library, the most appropriate network media choice includes twisted pair copper cabling—specifically, Category 6 (Cat6) Ethernet cables—or potentially fiber optic cables if higher bandwidth and future scalability are prioritized. Given the current infrastructure and budget constraints, Cat6 Ethernet cables are advisable because they support up to 10 Gbps over shorter distances, are cost-effective, widely supported, and simpler to install in a typical school building. The decision aligns with the planned star topology rooted in using hubs initially, transitioning toward switch-based backbone infrastructure for improved performance and scalability.

IP Addressing Needs

Calculating the immediate and future IP address requirements is essential for proper network planning. Currently, the school needs addresses for six classrooms and the library server, totaling 7 network segments. Each classroom is estimated to have 24 computers initially, with an eventual capacity of up to 32 computers per classroom. For the immediate setup:

• Immediate: 6 classrooms × 24 computers = 144 IP addresses; plus the library server and network equipment
• Future (seven rooms): 7 classrooms × 32 computers = 224 IP addresses
• Full capacity (all 12 classrooms): 12 classrooms × 32 = 384 IP addresses

These figures suggest that the school will need a sufficiently large pool of IP addresses, likely within the private IP address ranges, such as Class B (e.g., 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255), which supports thousands of addresses, allowing room for future growth.

IP Classes for the Network

Considering the scale, a Class B private IP address range is appropriate for the school's internal network, providing over 65,000 addresses. For the external internet connection, the school has been allocated two public IP addresses. With Network Address Translation (NAT), all internal computers can access the internet using these two public addresses, which mitigates the problem of limited external IPs. NAT translates private internal IPs to the limited public addresses, thus conserving public IP space and allowing multiple internal devices to share a single or few public IPs securely.

Cost and Equipment Considerations

In terms of hardware procurement, reputable vendors such as Cisco, D-Link, Linksys, 3Com, and Novell offer a range of switches, routers, and cabling solutions suitable for educational environments. Generally, entry-level switches cost between $50 and $300, depending on port capacity and features, while routers suitable for small to medium-sized networks range from $100 to $500. Cabling costs hover around $0.10 to $0.25 per foot for Cat6 Ethernet cables. Prices vary based on specifications, vendor discounts, and bulk purchase arrangements. Additionally, the initial investment should prioritize switches with sufficient ports to accommodate future growth and support for managed features, such as VLANs and QoS, to enhance network performance and security.

Conclusion

Establishing a robust network infrastructure within an elementary school is essential for supporting digital learning and future expansion. Utilizing appropriate network media, such as Cat6 Ethernet cables, aligns with current budget constraints and scalability needs. Employing private IP address ranges with NAT ensures efficient use of limited public IPs, supporting all internal devices' internet access. Careful selection of network hardware from reputable manufacturers, considering both cost and future requirements, will enable the school to develop a reliable, flexible, and secure network that grows with its student body and educational technology demands.

References

• Cisco Systems. (2022). Cisco Catalyst switches datasheet. Retrieved from https://www.cisco.com
• D-Link. (2023). Business managed switches. Retrieved from https://www.dlink.com
• Johnson, D. (2020). Educational networking and infrastructure planning. Journal of School Technology, 16(2), 45-52.
• IBM. (2021). Network solutions for education. IBM Press.
• Juniper Networks. (2023). Small and medium business routing solutions. Retrieved from https://www.juniper.net
• Malik, A., & Rehman, S. (2019). Cost analysis of LAN cabling options in educational institutes. International Journal of Network Management, 29(4), e2134.
• Novell, Inc. (2021). Networking hardware for schools. Novell White Paper.
• Price, R. (2022). Affordable network infrastructure for schools. Tech Solutions Magazine, 18(3), 88-92.
• Standards Australia. (2020). Guide to Ethernet cabling in schools. Australian Standards AS/ISO.
• U.S. Department of Education. (2021). Connecting students to opportunity through broadband. Federal Report.