Re: Network Support a Critical Need

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I think this is a great idea!  I don't think network administration will
get any easier for anyone, even those with CNE status.  Operating system
software is getting more complicated, not less.  So, this solution for our
schools and libraries which need to be up and running all of the time is a
very logical one.

Mary Grace Desiderio
email:mgdesi@telerma.lm.com


On Wed, 1 Oct 1997, Wes Fasnacht wrote:

> 
> A common theme throughout the responses of the people from the field has 
> been the lack of technical support people to maintain their networks. 
> Being involved with both the county library system and the local school
> district, I see that need on a daily basis.  While the e-rate is very
> important to providing the external infrastructure, unless there is
> DEPENDABLE ON-LINE SERVICE within each library/school district, the
> capabilities we're trying to provide will not become the ubiquitous
> communication medium we all recognize as being vital to our nation's
> future.  Each person in a library or school district ultimately needs to
> view the PC as a basic communication device, just as they view their
> telephone today (in fact, somewhere down the road, they'll probably be
> one and the same).
> 
> Until my retirement a year ago, I was responsible for Information
> Technology at a major state university.  Of my 40+ staff, two very
> talented people were dedicated fulltime to maintaining our network. 
> Schools and libraries have a much more difficult network environment to
> maintain, with buildings scattered over a large geographic area, and
> technical staffs totaling 2 or 3 people, if they're lucky.
> 
> Unfortunately, the number of technical people available to provide
> networking support is very limited compared to the demand.  And, the
> business world has a larger pocketbook to throw at them than do the
> libraries and school districts.  We're probably some years away from the
> time when networks are simple enough and the technical people plentiful
> enough to provide the dependable service.
> 
> Meantime, we need to make the best use of the people who are available. 
> Some of the major networking organizations are operating "Communication
> Nerve Centers" that continuously monitor their clients' networks and
> trouble-shoot problems as soon as they arise.  A handful of good
> technical people are able to maintain the dependability of a large
> number of networks.  Networks naturally lend themselves to such remote
> maintenance.  Software issues can typically be resolved from the Nerve
> Center, and relatively untrained local lay people can usually swap
> hardware devices that fail (with directions from the Nerve Center).
> 
> I wonder if there is some way we could provide for such Nerve Centers to
> service our libraries and schools?  Perhaps part of the e-rate savings
> could be channeled to that end.  Since most of the networking companies
> that will be providing connectivity to our libraries and schools operate
> such Nerve Centers in one form or another, perhaps they could be
> enlisted to provide the support all the way to the desktop.
> 
> Without some form of technical support over and above what they have
> now, it is going to be some years before schools and libraries can take
> full advantage of those wonderful pipes we're going to be running to
> their doorsteps with the e-rate initiative.
> 
> 

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