Quite a bit has been happening since my last post...the main items of interest have been:
1) Wireless network issues. Even after our HP engineer had "fixed" the wireless network, we were still having trouble with the coverage not being consistent, and we found that we couldn't connect to some access points. However, once these were reset (by disabling / enabling PoE to the switch ports) they often - but not always - returned to normal operation. Obviously, with 500+ wireless clients, this was far from an ideal scenario.
A quick email to my HP ProCurve Business Development Manager saw our issues get escalated to engineers in Singapore. Whilst there were a few communication difficulties, largely the guys in Singapore (and our engineers in Aus) were more than helpful, and managed to get our problems sorted after a few days.
There were some other configuration issues with our APs, but the most benefit was when we disabled Automatic Power Control, and set each 802.11n radio to transmit at maximum power (20 dBm).
The next step was to "break" the inherited configuration of some of our APs (those with external antennae - ie those pointing outside) and configure them to use the external antennae, rather than the internal ones. This has improved our network coverage in some of our targeted outside areas.
Now I need to "tune" the 802.11g network to ensure optimum coverage throughout the campus. Given that this network will be used heavily by students with iPod Touches, and students bringing their own laptops to school, it is important that this network is available everywhere. By and large, this tuning will simply be a case of changing transmission power levels...with the odd change of channel thrown in for good measure.
2) A new IT Staff member. Finally! 3 years after an extra person was recommended by some eLearning consultants, the College is employing an additional IT Technician to help with our workload. Primarily, we hope that our new addition will assist with the support of staff laptops, including basic "how to" type training issues. Applications close in a couple of days...lets hope we get some quality applicants. Let's also hope that I can come up with some decent interview questions so that we can identify the best candidate!
3) Learning Management System (Studywiz). It's taken me nearly 2 weeks to get some basic info out of Studywiz support in preparation for the move to 3 servers. There have been some issues with Studywiz over the past few months....with the former company going into receivership, and a "management buyout". Needless to say, these goings-on don't inspire a lot of confidence in the product...particularly when we have paid up-front for 3 years "Premium" support!
4) Video Delivery System. We have completed the installation of our QuickTime Streaming Server, and Library staff are beginning to test it, and copy videos to it. We had some encoding issues...where copying a .REC file from our PVR to an MPEG movie would take 3x the length of the program to convert....but it seems that if we DON'T record in 16:9 high definition, this problem goes away. So, we're experimenting with 4:3 video....and conversion time is about real-time...much more acceptable.
5) Database Development. I seem to be less of an IT Manager these days, and more of a database administrator / developer. So far this year, some of the things I have done are:
a) re-written the detentions system within our Student Records database - in less than 2 days!
b) began writing an asset register database for our Accounts Office (depreciation, asset acquisition / disposal, etc)
c) scripted the import of 1500+ staff and student photos into our Student Records database
d) modified the Fees database to charge music fees over a 9-month cycle (was 8-months)
e) create a system that allows music tutors to send SMS messages to parents when students miss music tuition
I still have plenty of development to do....not least of which is to create a system where 2 teachers can edit report data for a subject (currently is restricted to a single teacher).
Once our new staff member is on deck, I hope to have more time to devote to other projects, such as:
- Investigation of VOIP
- Planning for our new Year 9 campus in 2011
- Mailing list management - enabling staff to manage their own "mailman" lists
- Cleaning up my desk!
- Lots more that I can't think of right now!!
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I used to work for Studywiz, the management buy out if you look at it properly is the CEO selling to his wife's company. All other management left left as soon as they realised what Geoff Elwood had done to the company and the employees. There used to be 10 Support technicians now there is 2. Good luck getting speedy response unless you are a major player like maine or hampshire.
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