I'm looking to pick the brains of some of you... I used to read this
list frequently, but had to stop about a year ago due to other things
piling up. At that time, I read it for my own information, but I've
recently resubscribed because I'm working on implementing a security
plan to go along with a new network at a K-12 school. I've read
through recent archives, and have been subscribed for some time, so I
thought it was about time I posted my query.
Some background: The school in question is a private K-12 school (from
which I graduated, hence my strong personal involvement) in New
Jersey. It's on two campus: K-6 in one and 7-12 on the other. Our
plans are to fully network the main campus (7-12) this summer and to
extend the network to the other campus either this winter or next
summer. Air conditioning is currently being installed in some of the
more critical areas, and the cable installation begins Monday. We'll
end up with approx. 400 live 10BaseT jacks, with non-sensitive
computers attached initially. However, we want to extend it to
include the sensitive areas such as the Business Office, Guidance
office, Development, Admissions, etc. both to offer them seemless
access to the e-mail, print and data sharing services, but also offer
access to the Internet. (The drops will be installed there, just not
used initially.)
Currently, the academic portion of the school is almost entirely Mac's,
most connected to small AppleTalk networks for print & file sharing.
There are also two independant Novell networks (Business Office and
Admissions) and one Windows NT network (Development) -- these are
where 80%+ of the Windows machines are, and only a few in each of
these offices. (The other campus is 100% Mac, and will get it's first
and only Windows machine for its Admissions "branch" office this
September.)
We want to offer unrestricted (yet "secure") Internet access to
everybody with individual e-mail accounts for everybody. That's 750
students (7-12) and 100-150 faculty and staff. (The other campus is
approx. 300 + 50). We are also working to offer access from home to
parents, faculty/students, alumni, etc. through our ISP of choice (we
don't want to handle the dial-in support issues or costs). We've
already pretty much defined the user groups involved and the points
from which they could be accessing the network; we have a good idea of
our short terms uses of the network, and are still developing our
ideas for the long-term.
My question comes down to two things:
- Would you recommend a Netware (IPX) or Unix (TCP/IP) based
solution, and why? (Netware+Novix Firefox for access to the
Internet.)
- Any comments (on or off the record) about different firewall
vendors if we were to go Unix?
I have my preferences, which happen to disagree with the consulting
company the school hired. A friend of the school tends to go with the
consulting company (though he doesn't have as much of a background in
the alternative solution as I do) but is more open to the alternative
than the consultants. (Money is an issue, of course!) Currently,
there is nobody full-time who has extensive management experience with
either solution, though I work there part time as a consultant and we
are looking for a "network manager" -- any leads, point him/her my
way!)
Any help you could provide me (us) would be much appreciated. (If you
need more details, just ask; if there is a better place for this,
please point me there.)
Thanks!
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