![Something to get X-Sited about](pics/college.gif) DIGITALs Multivendor
Customer Services (MCS) specialises in helping its
customers marry together hardware and software from
different suppliers to create working business solutions.
The division recently demonstrated its prowess when it
installed a computer network that uses equipment and
software from several different suppliers, into one of
New Zealands most prestigious girls colleges.
After concerns were raised that missing
out on the rapidly changing face of computing was
disadvantaging its students, Wellington Girls
College last year decided to upgrade all its computing
facilities. "A survey of our 1,100 students revealed
that 80 per cent had a computer at home, and 40 per cent
of those had Internet access," says Wellington
Girls Head of Computing, Caroll Smyth. "The
College had several ageing computer laboratories, an
administration system and a separate library system, but
we needed a computer network that was the equal of the
best that is available," says Ms Smyth. "We
know that computers are fast becoming indispensable and
we believe it is crucial that our students become
familiar with their use."
Over the past year, in a project called
X-Site, MCS staff have managed the installation of a
state-of-the-art network that integrates the
Colleges existing educational applications with new
DIGITAL PCs and servers, 3Com networking equipment,
Hewlett Packard printers, and software from Sophos,
Microsoft, Aldus and Adobe. "X-Site is a project
that typifies DIGITALs one-stop solution for
customers," says Gary Dawson New Zealand MCS general
manager. "We provided end-to-end consulting
expertise and we have managed the project right the way
through to make sure the College got the network that
best meets their needs."
DIGITAL Microsoft systems engineer
Colin Richardson is one of forty MCS specialists in New
Zealand and was responsible for the job. He worked with
the schools X-Site committee and Wellington-based
DIGITAL reseller Environmental Magic Ltd to establish the
Colleges requirements and then liaised with local
network installation company PCL to install the network
cabling and hardware and get X-Site up and running.
Colin replaced two Novell networks that
connected computers in the existing Apple Mac and PC
laboratories and MUSAC administration system with a
single Microsoft NT 4.0 network. The network now supports
the original departmental software and the latest
generation of networked business, publishing and graphics
applications over high-grade Cat 5 cabling that has 120
terminations throughout the campus.
"We want to use computers as a
tool throughout the curriculum," explains Ms Smyth.
"Our vision is to have individual student laptops in
the classrooms. By plugging movable hubs into the network
in the departments we can connect clusters of PCs
to the network," she says. The use of an NT network
gives students access to software that includes
Microsofts Office Suite, Adobe PhotoShop and Aldus
PageMaker, in a controlled environment. It also gives
each student a separate profile that enables her to
access her own unique workspace on any of 70 NT
workstations located throughout the College. "Our
three DIGITAL Prioris and Celebris file servers contain
templates for the students that determine which programs
individuals can access and let us create private home
directories for each student that are shared with their
tutors," says Richardson.
The X-Site network (the name was chosen
by the students) has exposed the college to the
Pandoras box of Internet communications. In
addition to their own specific profiles and workspace
directories, it is possible for students to directly
access the Internet and have their own e-mail addresses,
so they can communicate with other computer users,
including their teachers. "One file server
periodically dials a Wellington ISP, Netlink, and
transfers external mail. X-Site uses Exchange to post
mail to the appropriate mailboxes," says Richardson.
"All the student has to do is logon to any
workstation on the network to get their mail."
The same machine also manages seven
separate printer queues that enables both students and
tutors to access four HP printers located throughout the
College, again based on each users individual
identification.
The file servers regularly back-up
critical system files and directories and use the English
sourced Sophos virus utility, which is remotely updated
each month, to protect the network against potential
damage.
"In the future students will be
able to use e-mail to exchange messages with their peers
and their teachers," says Ms Smyth. "They could
also use the system to post work to their tutors."
X-Site is a learning exercise not only
for the students. In addition to using departmental
workstations, the 67 college teachers currently share a
pool of twenty laptop computers, each running Microsoft
Windows95. "Loaning a teacher a laptop for a couple
of months is the easiest way to get them comfortable with
the technology," explains Ms Smyth.
"Unfortunately most do not want to give them back
when the laptops are rotated."
Wellington Girls College has
enjoyed real cost savings by leasing most of its computer
equipment, except for the hardwired 3Com networking
hardware, from DIGITAL reseller EML. "By leasing our
computer equipment we get to use about three times the
number of PCs we could have afforded to purchase
outright," says Ms Smyth. "As well we can
upgrade our equipment to keep in step with changing
technology."
"It has been a learning
curve," she admits, "but we now have a network
that is the equal of the best business systems available.
We could not have done it without DIGITALs help.
The company has just been fantastic."
"I am now 100 per cent certain
that we have future proofed our computer network,"
she says. "The next step, making it all work
seamlessly, is going to be an interesting
challenge."
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