Cisco Networking Technology Empowers Scots College Learning

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, December 17, 2004 - Scots College, a Wellington-based New Zealand secondary and preparatory school has reduced operating expenses through a major information and communications technology (ICT) overhaul using Cisco Systems® networking infrastructure technology and equipment.

The network upgrade included converging the college's voice and data networks to one Internet Protocol (IP)-based network to reduce operational costs. Another component of the upgrade was the deployment of a Cisco wireless local-area network (WLAN) across the campus. By improving access to educational materials and helping students and faculty to easily transfer files, the new WLAN helps improve communications and learning.

Scots College IT Manager Gavin Rabie said Scots has a proud history of being a quality learning environment and has a specific focus on information technology, integrating it into teaching and learning programmes.

Mr Rabie said; "We identified a need to provide a better network infrastructure and saw significant cost and development benefits in moving to an IP-based network. It was important for us to make sure our ICT capability could easily grow in parallel with the college's needs. For example, there was already a capacity issue relating to the traditional PBX setup."

Scots worked with Cisco® and its systems integrator, IBM, to provide a technology solution which included the entire breadth of the school: desktop computing, laptops and servers from IBM; switching, routing, security, wireless networking and IP telephony from Cisco. As the systems integrator, IBM deployed the network.

The network has been in operation for about six months, but has already improved the stability and security of information communications at Scots College. The converged network also has helped the IT department to more efficiently manage technology costs and to manage the distribution of information more efficiently. Additionally, operational costs have decreased because the college no longer needs its traditional private-branch-exchange (PBX) equipment, which is expensive to maintain, for phone calls.

The converged communications environment has allowed students and staff to gain access to the network from throughout the campus with a high level of security, via the high-speed WLAN and virtual private networks (VPNs). The WLAN was also designed to allow high-end users, such as the Scots College Graphics Department, to transmit greater volumes of data such as images and designs without negatively affecting network bandwidth. The college also uses the network to run a wireless data projector, which enables presenters to move around the lecture theatre or around the school and still be connected to the network and their audiences.

Students are further benefiting by being able to use multimedia to deliver their presentations to classmates across the network. For instance, the converged network has improved access to the school's large library of educational videos and digital video disks (DVDs). Traditionally, these materials were stored in isolated departments and had to be transferred by hand to students and staff. The development of an online library, running across the Cisco network, has allowed the college to store video, DVD and broadcasted material in a central location on a multimedia storage device. Information can be retrieved from this storage device anywhere on the campus, helping to deliver a better teaching and learning environment.

Cisco New Zealand regional manager, David Barker, said; "One of the strengths of IP communications is that its effectiveness is across the board. Certainly many corporate or enterprise-sized businesses use IP communications but Scots College and a rapidly increasing number of other small-to-medium businesses and organisations are also realising significant benefits from the technology."

The Cisco equipment deployed includes Cisco IP Phone 7960 desk-top handsets. The IP Communications network is based on Cisco CallManager 3.1 and Cisco Unity® messaging system. The new network's one-gigabit-per-second network backbone is provided by Cisco Catalyst® 3550 Series switches in the network core and Cisco 3700 Series routers and Cisco Catalyst 2950 Series switches at the network edge. The network also uses Cisco 2600 Series routers, while network security is supported via a Cisco PIX® 515 Firewall device. The WLAN operates through a combination of Cisco Aironet® 1100, Aironet 1200 and Aironet 1300 series wireless access points. These devices communicate via the 802.11a, -b and -g standards, as ratified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

About Scots College

Founded in 1916, Scots is a world-class independent boy's school catering to day and boarding students at both preparatory and secondary school levels. Our role is to ensure every student who leaves us is well-prepared for the future. Although steeped in our proud tradition, Scots College is a modern learning institution, equipped with first-class facilities and leading-edge computer technology. The College aims to provide a mature environment where students develop a strong self-esteem and sense of responsibility as well as sound work ethics, self-discipline and learning skills.