Changes in IT
Just this week, M25, M26, M27 and G16 have been emptied of computers. So if you plan to come to do some work on computers (looking at you, Dr O’Connor, as you usually spend your holidays in M25!), don’t pick these rooms.
If you don’t know… The wall between M25 and the old office of M. Gowen will be removed. M25 and M27 will become classrooms, M26 will be transformed into 2 offices and the server room will shrink in size, The door between M26 and M27 will also be blocked out.
Update 04/08/2021: I have been told this morning by the builders that the work should complete at the end of August.
Changes for the school Office
The main office has been moved to B01.
Finance has been moved back to B39.
Two offices are being created in S01.
Changes to students areas
G20 will be a sixth form study room again.
R16 is not an sixth form IT room anymore.
R01 will see an increase in the number of computers.
DLC
DESKTOPS
All being well, the first batch of Desktops will arrive on the 5th/6th of August (63 out of 102).
The second batch (31 out of 102) will arrive on the 16th of august.
For the third batch (8 out of 102) , this is yet to be determined.
SCREENS
Delivery will be Tuesday 27th July – this will remain the same unless the dates are brought forward.
Start date: Thursday 29th & Friday 30th July – Dates are subject to change due to builders
Install dates postponed to the 5th and 6th of August due to delay with the build.
We have received delivery of the 3×65″ screens but are waiting to hear about the 2×55″ screens.
55″ screens installed 23/08
DLC INFRASTRUCTURE
All hardware will need to be delivered no later than 01/07.
Start date: Friday 30th July.
Install dates postponed to the 5th and 6th of August due to delay with the build.
Servers hardware upgrade
Aim:
To replace the current server and SAN infrastructure with a new Equinox server.
Dates of install:
18th to 24th of August.
Disruption:
The first part of the work will be to install the new servers, this will not bring disruption.
When this is completed the 12 virtual servers will need to be migrated one by one. This will bring temporary disruption as each server migrates, how long that disruption will take will vary depending on the size of the servers. Karl will keep you informed as and when servers get migrated and will let you know what services will be affected.
The last phase will be a healthcheck, no disruption expected here.
Update:
Job completed, servers all migrated successfully. Handover email to follow later today (23rd – slightly ahead of schedule).
Servers Software upgrade (RM)
Pre-requisite:
Assuming the “Servers hardware upgrade” is successful, RM will take over the second phase of the work: upgrading the software.
Aim:
To upgrade the 4 RM servers from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows 2019.
Dates of install:
25th to the 31st of August.
Disruption:
Estimated 22 hours of work with an estimated 17 hours of downtime.
The work will start with the first server (nks-sr-001) then the backup domain controller (nks-sr-004).
If all goes well, nks-sr-002 (staff server) and nks-sr-003 will be next.
Last, a new server will be created (nks-sr-005) – no downtime for this additional server.
The servers that will bring the most disruption are the first two (nks-sr-001/nks-sr-004) and nks-sr-002 (as the staff resides on it).
Karl will keep you informed as and when servers get upgraded and will let you know what services will be affected.
Servers not being upgraded by RM:
NKS-SR-MIS (SIMS, 4matrix…)
NKS-SR-CATERING (canteen)
NKS-SR-PRINT (printers and copiers)
A few others (antivirus, Office 365 link, backup…).
Microsoft Office
Pre-requisite:
The “Servers software upgrade” must complete successfully.
Aim:
we will then install and deploy Microsoft Office 365 to replace Microsoft Office 2016.
Microsoft Windows
Aim:
To upgrade the whole school from Windows 1909 to Windows 20H2.
This change was tested in June/July, no issue reported.
Microsoft Edge will be the only recommended and supported browser.