Extreme Networks Suggest Four Fast Methods To Boost Education Network Efficiency

Published 1st July 2009

As students and teachers enjoy a needed summer break, the next six weeks means it is time for network administrators to revitalise their network infrastructure by fine-tuning security policy, energy efficiency and performance. Extreme Networks details four simple tips to improve network efficiency within LEAs and college campus environments.

Optimised network connectivity supports advanced lesson plans that integrate data, voice and video content over a secure, high-performance network. The ability to achieve value with existing network infrastructure saves time and resources while greatly improving the educational experience of students and staff.

1. Review Security and Network Policy:

With the realisation that today’s students and staff are relying more on live-streaming blogging applications such as Twitter and Facebook, carrying iPhones, BlackBerries and traditional laptops that connect to Ethernet networks over 802.11 Wi-Fi, the network is the backbone of these institutions. By implementing the right settings, students’ traffic and behaviour remain in control of the network administrator.

By implementing network policies; tracking and log reporting for devices and users by username and MAC/IP address; separating sensitive information from the Internet with the use of dynamic policy enforcement and Virtual LANs (VLANs); or taking offline sensitive data. With these steps to establish and enforce network policy, the potential chaos from both managed and unmanaged devices and user activities across the LAN can be kept to a minimum while essential online educational activities thrive.

2. Ramp-Up Quality of Service

Converged networks offer increased levels of traffic, from voice, video and data coming through the network. By leveraging centralised network management and network automation via scripting to replicate one class of settings across all network switches in one stroke, IT administrators can truly increase operational efficiency of deployment and configuration changes.

For example, Extreme Networks offers the “QoSConfig” script, via the Widget Central website, which is used for configuring QoS settings across multiple sets of Ethernet switches. Quality of service settings for a port or a set of ports is defined by associating a QoS profile to these ports and tailoring this QoS profile with specific optimisations to deliver an intended level of service. In other words, the level of service that a particular type of traffic or traffic grouping receives is determined by assigning it to an appropriately configured QoS profile.

3. Powering Up and Down for Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a growing theme on school campuses and the network is no different. Find network switches with intelligent settings for powering down select ports where Power over Ethernet is delivered so that connected IP handsets, IP cameras and similar devices power down completely during off hours or during summer break. This can save as much as 66 percent of power related to the network when used to its potential.

4. Establish Redundancy

Lesson plans are incorporating digital presentation displays and Internet connected white boards among other Web-based applications. This means that network availability is essential. To ensure that classes go on without a hitch, establish redundant network switches and connections, as well as protecting fibre links with failover protocols. High performance Ethernet edge switches should provide dual homed uplinks that allow for connections to a redundant aggregation or core layer. Additionally, network resiliency protocols, such as EAPS (RFC #3619), should be supported to deliver sub 50 millisecond failover should a fibre cable be cut or interrupted. This way, communications and data, as well as class lessons, continue effortlessly.