Transcript Getting more for less Volume I: Infrastructure

Achieving more with less
Volume I: Infrastructure
Gethin Nichols
[email protected]
A long time in politics
• From “future technologies” to “austerity”...
• Budget freedom
– The more you can squeeze from your ICT
budget leaves more money elsewhere
• Impact on Education
– Costs increasingly scrutinised
– Reduction in investment in certain areas
– New builds less likely, refurbishment key
Relieving budget pressure
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Go green
Print management
Planning a more efficient network
Make do and mend
Thin clients and personal devices
Learning Platforms
Leasing
Going GREEN
• Many of us have been hugging trees since
before we had to go all austere
• Increase in ICT kit has resulted in an
additional energy (and cost) burden
• A whole-school utility that is designed to
monitor your energy usage in school
• Monitors and report on all aspect of
energy use, tracked via the web
• Carbon Trust endorsed (=100% tax relief*)
• Potentially large cost savings to be made
* In Year 1
John O’Gaunt School
• Using RM Utileyes for less than a year
• Annual savings of £16,700 expected
• Much improved green credentials
– Committed to the 10:10 project
– In excess of 10% of total energy cost saved
– Energy Rating moving from D to B
Projector Management
• Networked projectors becoming standard
– Wireless or Wired installs
• System Alerts & Monitoring
– Over heating
– Errors
– Lamp life
• Scheduling
– Cost Savings
Print Management
• Different levels of cost savings
– Changing your printer settings
– Printer credits
– Enterprise Print
Print Management
• Printer Settings
– Keep up to date with latest drivers
– Print Quality
– Duplex Printing
Print Management
• Printer credits
– Community Connect 3 and 4 allow you to set
printer credit quotas for your users.
• Allocates users a printer credit quota
• Set a “page cost” on your printers
• Auto-allocation strategies can be applied
– In CC4 you can modify auto-allocation so you
can set a daily allowance for your users.
– Other generic printer credit software
Print Management
• Enterprise Print Solutions
– One set price for printers, toners and
maintenance
– Can drastically reduce Total Cost of Ownership
– Set up rules to manage costs
– “Follow me” printing
Hardware
Servers
Hardware:
Servers
• The heart of your network
• Storage that is often the driver behind
adding more servers to your network
– It’s estimated that storage requirements in a
school is expected to grow by 75% over the
next 3 years
• This leaves you with a choice in terms of
your network strategy
Hardware:
Servers
• Option I: Carry on adding Servers
– Do you need the extra processing capacity?
– There are disadvantages:
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Increased running costs
More technical management time
Increased complexity
Server room capacity
RM DualServ eXL
• The successor to the RM Serv
– Super quiet
• Just 20 decibels
• Liquid cooling efficiency
– Designed for classroom/office
– High Performance drives
– Internal RDX backup drive
– Roughly 58% of standard server energy use
– Supports up to 50 CC3 clients
Hardware:
Servers
• Option II: Centralise your Storage
– Network Attached Storage Devices (NAS)
• Store large files on a centralised storage area
• Same associated cons as adding an additional
server such as Domain Controller
Hardware:
Servers
• Option II: Centralise your Storage
– Storage Area Network (SAN) Devices
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Reduce Downtime
Increase Performance
Utilise Space More Efficiently
Easy Transition
Prevent Bottlenecks
Increase Attainment
SAN means less downtime
Hardware:
Servers
• Option II: Centralise your Storage
– Virtualisation
Hardware:
Servers
• Option II: Centralise your Storage
– Virtualisation
– Fewer physical servers means further cost
savings
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Less ongoing hardware outlay
Fewer support contracts
Less energy used
Less physical space needed for housing
Hardware
Computers
Hardware:
Computers
• Maintaining what you’ve got
– Defrag
– Clean
– Update
• Notebook batteries
– Calibrate
– Charging Cycles
http://www.rm.com/support/
technicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC49012
Hardware:
Computers
• Hardware Audit
– Automated (as on CC4) or Manual lists
– Upgrade existing hardware
• Memory
• CPU
• Network cards
– Redeploying computers based on use
– Purchase more sustainable kit
• Designed specifically for education
• Fully configurable
– High powered fully featured to “Essentials”
• Environmentally
friendly
•Carry handle
•Height-adjustable
– Recycled plasticScreen
•Secure height lock
– Eco mode
•Spaced,
front-facing USB ports
•Base
unit rotation
rollers
– Reusable
screen
•Control settings access
– Energy efficient power supply
•Integrated card reader option
•Security features
Hardware:
Computers
• Thin Clients & Terminal Servers
– Utilising underpowered machines
– Buying specialist Thin Clients
• Cheaper
• Greener
• Longer life
Hardware:
Computers
• RM ThinClient
– Locked down client software interface
removing risk of student disruption
– CC4 Anywhere compatible
– Display streamed video without
noticeable frame loss
– Easy setup and deployment
– Support multiple screen sizes
and multiple outputs
Hardware:
Computers
• RM ThinClient
– Easy-to-use management software
– Performance to be equivalent to using an
entry-level PC running dedicated OS
– Smaller form factor than RM miniPC
– Robust fascia
– Mounting options including
PSU and cable management
Hardware
Personal Devices
• Installed on the prospective user’s
device
• Ensures conditions before user log-on
– Anti-virus up to date
– Microsoft Updates enabled
• Can display an AUP at log-on
• Enables teachers and learners to work
from any place using their own devices
whenever they need to
– Use mobile devices on your network via a
3G or wireless connection
– Users can log in and work from home,
using an iMac, iPad or an RM miniBook
• Lets people use networked software,
even if it's not installed on their device
• Manage your network on the move
from a portable device like an iPhone
• Provide a more sustainable approach to
ICT using thin client technology
Learning Platforms
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Online Homework
Goal Setting
Progress Checking
Activities, Blogs, Wikis
Newsletters
Uploading resources (not printing them!)
Checking Attendance
Supporting Evidence
Comments, and contributions
• Total solutions can be chosen based on
what is most suitable and not just
what budget dictates
• Pay for resources as they are used, not
in advance
• Easier budgeting
• Efficient acquisition and planning
• Conserve working capital
• Technology refresh options allowing
you to add new equipment to a lease
during the term
• Our educational focus enables us to
provide solutions appropriate to you
• View your lease and it's terms online
• Fair and transparent contract
• Flexibility - you are in control
Conclusion
• Becta may have gone, but....
• Infrastructure Strategy should look at:
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What can be retained, and how?
What measures will increase sustainability?
What can save me costs in the long run?
Lowering the total cost of ownership
Conclusion
Primary School
Saving
Switch to Virtualisation
Switch on Power Management
Switch to lower energy devices
Switch your communications
Switch to remote access
Stop buying every computer yourself
Stop photocopying/printing
Stop buying so much software
Stop your email servers
Save students money I
Save students money II
Save money on upgrades
Save your old computers
Save your software budget
GRAND TOTAL
£12,000
£9,000
£4,000
£10,000
£3,000
£15,000
£20,000
£7,500
£3,200
£3,000
£300
£88,000
Cost/Difficulty to
implement
(1-low, 5-high)
4
2
3
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
Source: Microsoft – UK Schools Blog
Conclusion
• Even if a proportion of these savings can
be made, it can have a huge impact
• Not to mention the other possibilities we
have explored in this (and the next) session