December 21: The Lab is Ours!

Talked with John O'Shea this morning. He went over a few things about how to contact them if we have problems with the lab. It was a good conversation with a few suggestions from John including getting a couple static IP addresses for our site so they can access our server. I will add this to the list of things we are working on. We are by no means done yet, but this is a great start!

December 18: Contact

John O'Shea from Chicago Microsystems contacted me today. He would like to go over a few things concerning the lab via phone conference on Monday. I responded that I would call him Monday morning to go over things.

December 17: Installation Continues

Today, one of the techs from Chicago Microsystems was back to continue work on the new network. Today's work focused primarily on software and security for the new network. I learned how to use the CD virtualization software so that we can make virtual copies of CD programs we use and "drop" them into virtual drives on the network so that a class in the lab can all use the same CD based program at the same time without each workstation needing its own CD. I am very excited about this software. After school today, I helped with some trouble shooting as far as setting up the firewall, I tracked down the DSL account information so that we could configure the firewall with our current internet service. The techs from Chicago Microsystems did a great job. Today, they turned over a box with all our licensing paperwork as well as all passwords needed for the various components they installed. Having all these things in one place and in writing will be helpful when we need to make updates. One of the frustrations in this process has been needing passwords to various pieces of hardware and other accounts and not being able to find them or people who know them. Now, they are all in writing and kept in a secure place. My last big project is to somehow move the cabling in the principal's office so that I can drop a couple switches further down in the rack. Right now, the patch panel in the office is obstructing the ability of the rack to be pushed in to the corner. Over break, I am hoping to work on the cables so that the office looks better and all the equipment, new and old is housed inside the rack. I am excited about the possibilities for the technology program at Messiah now that we have epuipment and software that is current. One of the first projects will be using the web-based program for creation of the 2009-2010 Messiah Lutheran School Yearbook. I am hoping great things are to come! I am also hoping to make even more improvements as we continue to raise funds for this portion of our academic program. Thanks to all our families who continue to raise Walk-A-Thon pledges, as this money is being put to use in our technology lab!

December 16: Installation

Today the team from Chicago Microsystems was here to get the system up and running. There were a few minor glitches, like the phone system going down and the buzzer for the door being inadvertently disconnected, but those issues were solved. The VOIP phone system has made the installation process a little tricky, but these guys know what they are doing. I have been doing my best between teaching and other duties today to help out where I can, mostly opening doors and checking on the functionality of things. The process will most likely continue tomorrow

December 15: Setup

Tonight we put together as much of the lab as we could. With the equipment we got last night, we were able to mount the N-computing terminals to the backs of the monitors, install mice and keyboards, and plug in power sources to the monitors and N-computing terminals. A big thanks to Rick Oppermann and St. Philip Lutheran School. Mrs. Pergande picked up some flat panel monitors, switches and other equipment that will me used in the new lab. We also reconfigured things in the lab a bit, getting rid of some old equipment to make room for the new. A big thanks to my "crew" for the evening: Al and Kelly Santos, and Matt Ueltzen. Thanks to our garbage haulers, Alana and Isa Santos,and Emma and Timmy Ueltzen.

December 14: Pickup

Tonight we made the trip to scenic Glenview, Illinois. We picked up the new equipment and the rack from Chicago Microsystems. We used the shuttle bus to transport the rack, which is about 6 1/2 feet tall. We also brought back the N-computing terminals, the host machines, the server, the new keyboards and mice. There was also a box with the licensing information to have here as well. Thanks to my moving crew of Jason Herrington, Adam Dembowski, Aaron Dembowski, and Matt Ueltzen (he's going to be involved a lot if you haven't noticed, that's what you get when you're married to a Lutheran School teacher)Things are getting moving!

December 8: Removal

Today we got rid of a lot of old equipment. We loaded the church shuttle bus with all the old CPU's, old RGB monitors and some of the peripherals associated with those pieces. We are making room for new stuff which should be here some time next week. This process wouldn't be possible without a lot of help from parents, staff members, and congregational members, so I will be thanking those involved as part of this blog. Today, my thanks goes out to our hauling crew: Mark Marino, Mark Zyrkowski, Bob Wiebking, Ed Pergande, and the 7th and 8th grade class at Messiah. Thanks guys!

November 18: Meeting

Today, Mark and I met with John O'Shea from Chicago Microsystems, the company we are working with to install the new lab. He took a look at the lab and gave us some guidance about what we can do to prep for the installation which should be in the next couple of weeks. We are waiting on a server from St. Philip to be available so they can go get it and format it for our use. When we get the "go" we should be ready fairly quickly. It was a good meeting, we are now in "wait and see" mode.