Achieving more with lessVolume I: Infrastructure

Gethin Nicholsgnichols@rm.com

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

• 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

HardwareServers

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:

• Option I: Carry on adding Servers– Do you need the extra processing capacity?– There are disadvantages: • Increased running costs• More technical management time• Increased complexity• Server room capacity

ServersHardware:

• 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

RM DualServ eXL

• 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

ServersHardware:

• Option II: Centralise your Storage– Storage Area Network (SAN) Devices• Reduce Downtime• Increase Performance• Utilise Space More Efficiently • Easy Transition• Prevent Bottlenecks• Increase Attainment• SAN means less downtime

ServersHardware:

• Option II: Centralise your Storage– Virtualisation

ServersHardware:

• Option II: Centralise your Storage– Virtualisation– Fewer physical servers means further cost

savings• Less ongoing hardware outlay• Fewer support contracts• Less energy used• Less physical space needed for housing

ServersHardware:

and a sneaky peak at something new....

RM Simply Works• A new way of “networking”, ideal for

primary schools• A viable and more cost effective alternative• Utilises a single computer to be connected

to up to 10 monitors and USB devices

RM Simply Works

• Each pupil has a personal computing experience

• Individual, easily managed pupil accounts• Share files between groups• Public & private pupil folders• Single point of install for software• Easy monitoring of all computers

HardwareComputers

• Maintaining what you’ve got– Defrag– Clean– Update

• Notebook batteries– Calibrate– Charging Cycles

ComputersHardware:

http://www.rm.com/support/technicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC49012

• 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

ComputersHardware:

• Designed specifically for education• Fully configurable– High powered fully featured to “Essentials”

• Environmentally friendly– Recycled plastic– Eco mode– Reusable screen– Energy efficient power supply

•Carry handle•Height-adjustable Screen•Secure height lock•Spaced, front-facing USB ports •Base unit rotation rollers•Control settings access•Integrated card reader option•Security features

• Thin Clients & Terminal Servers– Utilising underpowered machines– Buying specialist Thin Clients• Cheaper• Greener• Longer life

ComputersHardware:

RM Thin Client

Sweet Spot PC

RM One Lite

• 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

ComputersHardware:

• 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

ComputersHardware:

• Designed specifically for education• Fully configurable– High powered fully featured to “Essentials”

• Environmentally friendly– Recycled plastic– Eco mode– Reusable screen– Energy efficient power supply

•Carry handle•Height-adjustable Screen•Secure height lock•Spaced, front-facing USB ports •Base unit rotation rollers•Control settings access•Integrated card reader option•Security features

[lite]

RM Thin Client

Sweet Spot PC

RM One Lite

Find out more at the RM Village at

BETT 2011

HardwarePersonal Devices

An unstoppable trend

• No. of smartphones in the UK– 11 million

• No. of iPhones sold since 2007:– 50 million

• No. of iPads shifted in its first year:– 8 million

• No. of tablet pc sales forecast by 2014– 46 million

• Online Homework• Goal Setting• Progress Checking• Activities, Blogs, Wikis• Newsletters• Uploading resources (not printing them!)• Checking Attendance• Supporting Evidence• Comments, and contributions

Learning Platforms

• 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

• 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:• 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

Primary School Saving

Cost/Difficulty to implement(1-low, 5-high)

Switch to Virtualisation £12,000 4

Switch on Power Management £9,000 2

Switch to lower energy devices £4,000 3

Switch your communications £10,000 4

Switch to remote access £3,000 3

Stop buying every computer yourself £15,000 3

Stop photocopying/printing £20,000 2

Stop buying so much software - 1

Stop your email servers £7,500 1

Save students money I - 1

Save students money II - 1

Save money on upgrades £3,200 2

Save your old computers £3,000 2

Save your software budget £300 1GRAND TOTAL £88,000

Conclusion

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

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