Community schools 'CampusNet'

The presence of technology at schools has increased dramatically in recent years. Today, school networks support an enormous variety of software applications starting from back-office packages to multimedia applications. In addition, pupils and teachers now consider network-based services, such as Internet access, as indispensable.

The following example performs a sample general re-organization of Community schools in Montevideo, Uruguay. The Montevideo district educational managers undertook a full-scale assessment of the Community School's communication requirements. This marked the first step in the development of a 'CampusNet' that eventually would link all the schools in Montevideo district along with many teaching centers across Uruguay.

The fundamental aim was to create an integrated environment wherein community schools wealth of educational resources would be readily available to its students, regardless of where in Montevideo district they happened to be located. The proposed 'CampusNet' would have educational functions. It would support distant learning - and the appropriate multimedia teaching applications that could be developed and shared.

Given the number of Community Schools geographically dispersed sites, the move towards a unified 'CampusNet' promised to be a vast and potentially complex undertaking. The project was divided into two main stages. On the first stage, the educational managers instructed to upgrade current equipment with models that will assure a combination of enhanced performance, reliability and excellent price/performance.  

At the second stage, the target was connecting all schools together and creating the 'CampusNet'.

The solution

The solution consisted of the following products:

• PGS8224MD - provides optimal-performance, feature-rich Fast Ethernet LAN switching with high port density. The Techaya PGS8224MD Switch provides Layer 2 switching together with advanced QoS and traffic management features to add intelligent capabilities to the network infrastructure.
• PGS1516 - provides optimal-performance, Fast Ethernet LAN switching. The Techaya PGS1516 Switch provides Layer 2 switching combined with simplicity, yet, reliable capabilities to the network infrastructure.
• PGS1088 - provides optimal-performance, Fast Ethernet LAN switching. The Techaya PGS1088 Switch provides Layer 2 switching combined with compact size, yet, reliable capabilities to the network infrastructure.

A total of up to 8000 Ethernets nodes were installed in this project.

Around 400 Techaya PGS8224MD, PGS1516 and PGS1088 were installed across the district provide 10/100 Mbps connections. The project leaders designed each data closet similarly, which eases the ongoing administration and troubleshooting for the IT supporting and maintenance team.

The Benefits

By choosing an integrated Techaya Ethernet solution as the basis for 'CampusNet', Montevideo district is now assured with a combination of enhanced performance, reliability and excellent price/performance ratio. Already the new Techaya Ethernet 'CampusNet' network, has helped cutting the initial investment costs, simplified the overall network architecture and made future maintenance easier. Further, the outstanding compatibility evident throughout the Techaya solution ensures that Montevideo Schools can upgrade the network at any time and still retain the full value of its original investment.

Thousands of students are studying in Community Schools in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Teachers, staff, and administration maintain a lofty and laudable mission: to prepare all students to be effective citizens, informed consumers, lifelong learners, responsible family members, and productive workers. The district seeks to provide its students and faculty all the educational applications needed for a high quality education.

Now, with the existing 'CampusNet' upgraded network, the schools will be able to implement more effective and efficient teaching practices that will greatly improve the planned introduction of 'distance lecturing'. The Techaya solution meets Montevideo schools demands for a platform capable of empowering academic exchanges at the same time as supporting essential administrative functions.