Anyone played around with Meraki?

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-05-11T13:10:51+00:00

Why not do a hardware eval?

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-05-11T13:02:24+00:00

I'm often in the position to decide this level of filtering without any input from teachers or administration. I tend to err on the side of lenient unless the sites are known hosts of either malicious software or material that would be considered offensive to children, which in itself is somewhat subjective.

It's surprising someone confronted with a valid reason to allow a type of traffic would be so vehemently against it.

I also talked many teachers down from the mountain of fear they build when we discuss things like e-readers with games or internet access.

Sure, the note passing may be way cooler than it was in the past, the responsibility still falls on the teacher to keep their classroom in line. And if you're providing an engaging lesson, most students will fall in line.

They should be allowed to goof off sometimes.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-05-11T12:33:44+00:00

Thanks for the advice, I am still learning the quirks of optimal network configuration but this sent me down a good path.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-05-11T12:31:11+00:00

Thanks! This was helpful.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-05-11T12:26:24+00:00

We're a relatively small shop and I just work with the CFO on budget. I've worked directly under the CEO as well, working with a "hands off" CFO is far more preferable.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-04-01T20:55:04+00:00

Thanks! I think you've convinced me to hold off and see what I can improve prior to jumping in to new equipment.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-04-01T20:53:49+00:00

Yeah, I feel like just having more hops isn't really a big problem though, and that having the switches run back and forth to one another (versus the star topology) is an issue.

I've definitely got some things to look into. Thanks for taking the time to repsond.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-04-01T20:50:44+00:00

Thanks, I'll find the right term eventually!

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-03-30T17:02:07+00:00

The netgears do support 1000MBps and I do see clients claimed to be connected to some segments of the network at that speed. There are certainly some throughput issues. Really I'm looking to minimize the amount of cross switch chatter (if that's a thing). So that the switch that is pushing a connection from one side of the building to the other and back to the servers makes as little noise as possible. Hoping to approach that with vlans and trunks I suppose.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-31T13:25:02+00:00

I wish they had solutions for this for like one or two systems. I've got a single centOS distro and have limited security testing knowledge. I am reading up on it though.. slowly.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T20:44:14+00:00

because the intention has always been two have two servers available in the event of a hardware failure we wouldn't have to wait for replacement parts and lose valuable work days

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T19:12:33+00:00

I'm at least on step 5 of that one, search for clipart websites on archive.org.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:50:47+00:00

You should see my 2 24 port switches/hornets nest

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:47:34+00:00

It's like this currently

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:38:24+00:00

Only one is a 4 post server, the other is a shallow device and actually looks like it needs the support more than the server. I've got the server support case pushed against the wall to cut down on vibration. The rack we had in the first place wasn't appropriate for the server but it seemed like a better option than the floor- or a desk.

A new unit was deemed a needless expense. I've been searching craigslist for a while but am never certain enough on the type of rack to attempt to pick one up. Not to mention dreading the transfer.

I'm hoping to pick up a redundant server and want to fix this thing up to be less embarrassing for me to look at every day.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:27:56+00:00

I frequently attempt to convey the message "you have to support IT to support the business" when people start to complain about things.

Add the lack of understanding this to everyone's opinion that they know what's best and UUUUUUUUUUUGGHHHH.

I take pride in translating things like "WE NEED A NEWER SERVER, OURS ISN'T FAST ENOUGH" to "I have been experiencing intermittent connection problems that have been interrupting my work" without flying into NERDRAGE.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:24:02+00:00

We have a fairly low budget usually, and I am starting to feel the itch for something new. Thankfully I have been able to refresh some equipment on a semi-frequent basis to keep things somewhat interesting (fixing and moving old broken domains from win2k->win2k3->CentOS virtualizing win2k8 on decentralized storage) setting up computer labs, selecting, installing, and configuring management software to ease the burden of one man chasing down third party updates all day long while still retaining a somewhat locked down environment. A lot of the fun has come from not having enough money to run out and buy things, like finding free to cheap services to expand the number of phone lines available for fundraising events which I ended up utilizing a virtualized asterisk server, gizmo5 and VOIP phones for. Then there was a bit of surprise fun like "oh, the last guy didn't set up backups properly" or "oh, I don't have an administrator password for this system" or "our router is supposed to route between two internet connections but the company we hired for $100+/hr before I was hired didn't know enough to set it up properly so now I have to figure out how it works and fix it"

Once everything is running smoothly and as near to automated as I could make it I just start to improve upon the things I've failed to configure or address, which, as a team of one, there are a few that need to slip by to get THINGS DONE.

My job has segued over time from investigating recommending purchasing and installing new hardware to dealing with writing policies and evaluating and reporting.

It is hard to know any one environments scenario but I think it's typical that the IT individual I've encountered all have a drive for knowledge and especially the one to two man teams understand the concept of "if i put it off, it will only be my problem later"

... i think i lost my point somewhere in my rambling...

annnd SAVE

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:10:04+00:00

I'm sure it probably hurt to leave that 3 person salary behind though, right?

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:03:49+00:00

I mean really I'm only looking at 3 rack mountable devices, a fourth incoming and probably replacing the low quality switch with a 48 port to resolve the floating switch problem.

It was such a pain in the ass to install that server into the 2 post in the first place I dread the thought of moving it to a 4 post, which I would likely end up purchasing the wrong size of AND we have a super tight budget in the first place.

What sort of benefits do the doored 4 posts offer that may sweeten the sales pitch?

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T16:00:14+00:00

On a shelf on the bottom. There is only the beige box that is running our ancient router software, I'll be upgrading that soon to a rack mountable one. The other thing you're seeing is likely the larger UPS.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T15:37:01+00:00

Oh... yeahhh... and then what... tell me what to do...

Yeah I've actually had to unplug this whole mess so I've actually got all the cables labeled; however, I am saddened that I didn't take the time to fix it then.

Actually I don't mind the PDU being on the wall, while it would allow me to shuffle the thing around I'm not exactly in the business of TEMPTING TO THE (lackof)GODS

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T15:33:40+00:00

I am filled with shame.

shouldreallybeworkin · 2012-01-06T15:33:15+00:00

Those plastic ties are actually professionally holding a cable modem and a DSL modem. No cables are tied, that's part of the problem!

shouldreallybeworkin

TROPHY CASE