Choices for Connectivity Expansion - Weighing up the Options, thoughts etc.
Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:42 am
I am in the process of trying to extends network coverage. I am posting on here in hopes that I can validate my thoughts with other technical individuals. This may be a way of saving me from myself to a degree and my capacity to be a perfectionist sometimes.
I have watched the two video's on the Meeting House Technology including the network video. These are helpful in knowing the general policy regarding networking and such. I have Stake Technology Specialist responsibility at the moment (though waiting to be officially called).
I am carrying out some work on the Stake Centre regarding the network cabling. There is some cabling which was already put in place but it is a bit amateurish. It looks like it consists of pre-made ethernet cables which were run above the suspended ceiling in the Stake wing of the Stake Centre. These run from the main equipment cabinet in the Family History Centre (on the same wing) to the Stake Clerk's office. From there, it connected into a Wireless router (consumer grade device) which acted as a switch to run a cable to a Ward MLS computer and the Stake MLS computer which is currently based in the Stake Presidents office. The Wireless router was providing a non approved Wireless Network. I have taken out this device and swapped it for a plain small Ethernet switch for the time being until I put in a permanent solution.
This Saturday I will clean up this cabling and I plan to install a Patch Panel in the cabinet and run cabling from this Patch Panel all the way to to the Stake Clerk's office and Stake President's office. This will be run to proper network sockets with the cables tidied away through simple self adhesive trunking. That will eliminate the need for the second switch.
That part of the work is fairly straightforward and it is the other matters that I might benefit from some discussion about. The Ward MLS computer is in the Stake Clerk's office. This is only there because there is no Internet Connectivity in the other (Ward) wing of the Stake Centre. This office is a long way from the Bishop's offices which have a Ward Clerk office between them (but is not used for the MLS computer due to the lack of Internet Connectivity).
Phase 2 of my work involves trying to get Internet Connectivity to the Ward wing. My preference is to try and run a network cable between the two wings. The Wings themselves are easy to run cabling in because they have suspended ceilings. The difficulty is going between the two wings. The building is relatively modern (built around 1996-98 I believe) but was not built with networking in mind. Between the wings is a hall / foyer area with a steeply sloped plastered ceiling. I need to find out if there is any trunking in that area which I could use to pull cabling through. The power gets around the building between wings and I would assume it probably has some trunking. I am hoping the Stake Physical Facilities Representative may have access to some plans.
Due to not knowing if I might have to run cabling through existing trunking for power cables I have opted to use Optical network cabling for the link. I don't know if this will be viewed by the Church as a bit overkill. The second reason for using optical cabling is that if the hardest part of the work is getting the cable between the wings, I would rather the cable I put in be very future proof so that it will be usable for a long time in the future (to spare the trouble of trying to run another one). I don't know if this is also a fair justification.
Part of the problem is the differences between how I view the network and the other members typically view the network. The membership will typically view the network as just an internet connection. I, being from a technical background see a network as potentially a lot more than just an Internet connection. There is a little bit of printer sharing in use (which I set up) but presently not using file sharing much (except a little bit I set up myself to share some downloaded drivers / installers for my my own convenience).
The difference in perception of the Network matters when choosing what kind of equipment / solution to use. If viewed just as an Internet Connection then practically every kind of Networking, Wired or Wireless is faster than the speed of the ADSL connection. For example I purchased a Netgear GS716T Network Switch to put in the existing cabinet on the Stake Wing. It is a gigabit switch and is more business oriented. I choose it because I hoped it would have enough ports to cope with expansion needs, it is rack mountable and so can be fitted more neatly into the cabinet, it is designed to be energy efficient and it also includes slots to support fibre connectors which is relevant if I run a fibre connection between the wings. I worry though that this could be scrutinised as being over-specified for what the chapel needs. I could have used a cheaper switch but it would not have had all the features I was after. I opted for Gigabit because this seems fairly mainstream now and not so much more expensive than using 10/100 equipment. However that extra bandwidth will not be used if it is just being used to provide an Internet Connection.
Another issue is with Wired vs Wireless. I have a personal preference to put in a Wired connection for any computer that is based in a fixed location. This seems to match the Church's policy based on the Video about meeting house networks. However I realise that when you add up the cost of the cable, network sockets and some basic trunking it is quite a lot more expensive than the relatively inexpensive WIFI adapters available. It makes me wonder about justification for going with a Wired connection. It is much faster and more stable but the speed probably doesn't matter if the network is just providing an internet connection. However I might try out running other services like file sharing in the future if these would prove useful.
The last issue is regarding using certified professionals to carry out work. I have the tools and knowledge to install wired networking. However I am not a professional network engineer with certification in network installation. I consider myself competent to carry out the work. I know if the Church as to bring in external contractors to carry out work it could end up being very expensive for the Church. However if I do it, the only cost is for the items I need to carry out the work. Under the circumstances I would rather do the work myself but don't know if the Church will dislike me doing that preferring to bring in networking engineers.
I have a lot to think about and it is leading to me starting to second guess my decisions. It is a difficult balance given I can be torn between wanting a good quality solution to be put in the meeting houses because it is for the Church and I don't want it to be substandard. On the other hand I am aware that the decisions I make have an impact on the cost to the Church which comes out of sacred funds and so do not wish the Church to pay more than needed.
I have watched the two video's on the Meeting House Technology including the network video. These are helpful in knowing the general policy regarding networking and such. I have Stake Technology Specialist responsibility at the moment (though waiting to be officially called).
I am carrying out some work on the Stake Centre regarding the network cabling. There is some cabling which was already put in place but it is a bit amateurish. It looks like it consists of pre-made ethernet cables which were run above the suspended ceiling in the Stake wing of the Stake Centre. These run from the main equipment cabinet in the Family History Centre (on the same wing) to the Stake Clerk's office. From there, it connected into a Wireless router (consumer grade device) which acted as a switch to run a cable to a Ward MLS computer and the Stake MLS computer which is currently based in the Stake Presidents office. The Wireless router was providing a non approved Wireless Network. I have taken out this device and swapped it for a plain small Ethernet switch for the time being until I put in a permanent solution.
This Saturday I will clean up this cabling and I plan to install a Patch Panel in the cabinet and run cabling from this Patch Panel all the way to to the Stake Clerk's office and Stake President's office. This will be run to proper network sockets with the cables tidied away through simple self adhesive trunking. That will eliminate the need for the second switch.
That part of the work is fairly straightforward and it is the other matters that I might benefit from some discussion about. The Ward MLS computer is in the Stake Clerk's office. This is only there because there is no Internet Connectivity in the other (Ward) wing of the Stake Centre. This office is a long way from the Bishop's offices which have a Ward Clerk office between them (but is not used for the MLS computer due to the lack of Internet Connectivity).
Phase 2 of my work involves trying to get Internet Connectivity to the Ward wing. My preference is to try and run a network cable between the two wings. The Wings themselves are easy to run cabling in because they have suspended ceilings. The difficulty is going between the two wings. The building is relatively modern (built around 1996-98 I believe) but was not built with networking in mind. Between the wings is a hall / foyer area with a steeply sloped plastered ceiling. I need to find out if there is any trunking in that area which I could use to pull cabling through. The power gets around the building between wings and I would assume it probably has some trunking. I am hoping the Stake Physical Facilities Representative may have access to some plans.
Due to not knowing if I might have to run cabling through existing trunking for power cables I have opted to use Optical network cabling for the link. I don't know if this will be viewed by the Church as a bit overkill. The second reason for using optical cabling is that if the hardest part of the work is getting the cable between the wings, I would rather the cable I put in be very future proof so that it will be usable for a long time in the future (to spare the trouble of trying to run another one). I don't know if this is also a fair justification.
Part of the problem is the differences between how I view the network and the other members typically view the network. The membership will typically view the network as just an internet connection. I, being from a technical background see a network as potentially a lot more than just an Internet connection. There is a little bit of printer sharing in use (which I set up) but presently not using file sharing much (except a little bit I set up myself to share some downloaded drivers / installers for my my own convenience).
The difference in perception of the Network matters when choosing what kind of equipment / solution to use. If viewed just as an Internet Connection then practically every kind of Networking, Wired or Wireless is faster than the speed of the ADSL connection. For example I purchased a Netgear GS716T Network Switch to put in the existing cabinet on the Stake Wing. It is a gigabit switch and is more business oriented. I choose it because I hoped it would have enough ports to cope with expansion needs, it is rack mountable and so can be fitted more neatly into the cabinet, it is designed to be energy efficient and it also includes slots to support fibre connectors which is relevant if I run a fibre connection between the wings. I worry though that this could be scrutinised as being over-specified for what the chapel needs. I could have used a cheaper switch but it would not have had all the features I was after. I opted for Gigabit because this seems fairly mainstream now and not so much more expensive than using 10/100 equipment. However that extra bandwidth will not be used if it is just being used to provide an Internet Connection.
Another issue is with Wired vs Wireless. I have a personal preference to put in a Wired connection for any computer that is based in a fixed location. This seems to match the Church's policy based on the Video about meeting house networks. However I realise that when you add up the cost of the cable, network sockets and some basic trunking it is quite a lot more expensive than the relatively inexpensive WIFI adapters available. It makes me wonder about justification for going with a Wired connection. It is much faster and more stable but the speed probably doesn't matter if the network is just providing an internet connection. However I might try out running other services like file sharing in the future if these would prove useful.
The last issue is regarding using certified professionals to carry out work. I have the tools and knowledge to install wired networking. However I am not a professional network engineer with certification in network installation. I consider myself competent to carry out the work. I know if the Church as to bring in external contractors to carry out work it could end up being very expensive for the Church. However if I do it, the only cost is for the items I need to carry out the work. Under the circumstances I would rather do the work myself but don't know if the Church will dislike me doing that preferring to bring in networking engineers.
I have a lot to think about and it is leading to me starting to second guess my decisions. It is a difficult balance given I can be torn between wanting a good quality solution to be put in the meeting houses because it is for the Church and I don't want it to be substandard. On the other hand I am aware that the decisions I make have an impact on the cost to the Church which comes out of sacred funds and so do not wish the Church to pay more than needed.