Arkansas School District Deploys Converged Network Solution To Support IP Surveillance System

  • Oct 15, 2010

Allied Telesis Inc., a global provider of secure IP/Ethernet switching recently it has designed and implemented an upgrade enabling the convergence of two networks for the Hoxie, Ark. School District.

By creating a connection between the IP surveillance network and core data network through Allied Telesis Quality of Service (QoS) protocols and Network Application Controls, the upgrade enables delivery of high-bandwidth, real-time surveillance video over the existing core data network without disruption to the district's daily school operations.

Allied Telesis began to supply its networking gear, maintenance, and technical support as well as network engineering consultation to the Hoxie School District more than a decade ago. Furthering its long-standing relationship with the company, district officials turned to Allied Telesis to deploy an IP-based security system across its campus environment. The district sought to provide security within halls, offices, and educational and recreation facilities, serving approximately 80 classrooms, each with audio-enabled surveillance cameras, yielding a total of 178 cameras.

Based on its experience and knowledge in designing high-speed, multi-play converged networks, Allied Telesis deployed its AT-9000/28SP Series of switches with Power over Ethernet (PoE) capabilities for the district's IP-video security surveillance system.

Additionally, it created a port-based virtual local area network (VLAN) to separate the school's data and IP surveillance network, ensuring against zero degradation of the network from video "bandwidth-eating" network resources and lowering productivity standards for students, faculty, and administration.

In addition to addressing the bandwidth issues of the network, the team was able to create a "controlled connection" between the new IP surveillance network and the existing Allied Telesis layer-3 core network switch, enabling specified school network users access to camera feeds from the surveillance network. In doing so, both Quality of Service and Network Application Control features were leveraged to virtually eliminate network disruptions typically caused by uncontrolled video streams.

The Allied Telesis networking solution leverages established protocols to prioritize and connect designated district employees to highly confidential IP-based surveillance video. To ensure maximum uptime across the network, the Allied Telesis professional services team configured the surveillance PoE switches to a second dedicated server to lessen the burden on the district's network.

This ensures the network can handle bandwidth-intensive applications from hosting educational webinars and distance learning programs to operational applications such as e-mail, video, and voice communications.

"Delivering next-generation educational services and a secure environment to students, faculty, and staff is of paramount importance," said Dennis Truxler, superintendent of the Hoxie School District. "We further engaged with Allied Telesis to fulfill our mission to deliver communications services to connect people and enable a more collaborative educational environment."

"We continue to be impressed with the Allied Telesis networking gear and, in particular, their implementation of the AT-9000/28SP Series to address our need for convergence of a segmented IP surveillance system to our existing network to provide enhanced campus-wide security," said Phillip Midkiff, technology coordinator of the Hoxie School District. "The price-to-performance ratio, the equipment's reliability, and the Company's consistent level of engineering support continue to exceed our expectations, enabling us to put our district's people first."

"Helping school systems like the Hoxie School District improve the security and safety of their campuses is an important initiative for Allied Telesis," said Vince Ricco, senior network consultant with Allied Telesis. "Working closely with Hoxie School District, and leveraging our expertise in building converged data networks, we were able to deliver a networking solution that would enable a cost-effective upgrade of its infrastructure to support more innovative communications and tailor bandwidth requirements, while keeping costs in check."

In addition to the AT-9000/28SP, the Hoxie School District's network also includes the AlliedWare Plus unified management system, enabling IT administrators remote access and configuration for further cost savings.

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