“A New Level”

Redesigning the Network and Rebuilding Two New Computer Labs for Harambee Ministries

By Josh Kammerer

The Need

• Existing wireless local area network (WLAN) that had been operational for more than six years

• Connectivity and sustainability issues on multiple subnets, partially because of non-standard wiring

• No wireless encryption

• Failed and out-of-date Internet content filtration system

• No computer labs for children or teenagers – stolen a few days before I arrived on site

The Network

• Improved existing wiring for better connectivity

• Installed new main router, new switches, and new wireless access points (WAP’s)

• Configured WAP’s for improved sustainability

• Purchased, installed, and configured a new hardware-based top-of-the-line Internet content filtration system

• Encrypted the wireless network using WPA encryption

Internet Content Filtration System

• Configured customized filtration groups for staff, students, and junior staff (teenagers) computers

• Utilized device to monitor all Internet traffic of each network card on the network

• Utilized the device to track down any spyware and viruses present on computers on the network

• Created custom bandwidth settings to minimize extraneous Internet bandwidth usage

• “Content Protect” hardware device from Content Watch, the owners of “NetNanny”

Computer Labs

• Set up two separate computer labs for the students and junior staff, consisting almost entirely of new Macbooks or iMacs running Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard)

• Set up each computer with customized, limited user accounts for use by junior staff and children

• Enrolled Harambee in TechSoup and requested over $9,000 worth of software

• Assembled one of two security carts for the computers

• Secured each new Mac computer to the security carts, using anti-theft computer padlocks

Computer Labs

• Researched, purchased, and installed new educational software for each of the student computers

• Recovered, rebuilt, and upgraded any remaining Windows laptops that did not get stolen

• Installed LoJack for laptops on most of the new Macs

• Tested out existing equipment to see what was usable

• Set up one Macbook to dual-boot into Windows Vista, for testing purposes

Sustainability

• Registered all “ongoing” computers with the content filtration system

• Partially documented the virtual structure of the network, including all passwords and unique device settings

• Documented all MAC addresses of “ongoing” computers on the network

• Developed a plan for “passing on” maintenance tasks to future employees/interns

What Remains to Be Done

• Create a series of videos (or write-ups) that describes (and illustrates) what I have done so far in each area discussed in this presentation

• Include in those videos ideas about how to keep the networks running smoothly

• Formulate a diagram of some sort to illustrate the network setup to help other sites replicate this project

• Finish a few remaining connectivity and computer lab setup tasks