Every week the LAUSD Apple team interacts with customers asking about a server and its potential impact to their campus. While every customer's needs and challenges are unique below are the five most popular topics brought up in our conversations.
Imaging and Software Updates
Arguably the most popular reason for a server is its ability to streamline LAUSD's current support model. Currently, when a 2 year old computer is serviced it is returned to the campus with a 2 year old software load. Some one at the school now needs to personalize the computer with updates, school licensed software titles, and device drivers for school owned printers and other peripherals. In addition, newer computers on the campus can benefit from having access to a local software update server. For example, Apple's latest service pack for Mac OS X 10.5 is nearly 700MB in size. To download this update to one computer may take over 3 hours. When a Mac OS X Software Update server is in place 20 iMacs could download and install this update in less than 30 minutes simultaneously.
Collaboration
Communication between teachers on a campus can either be a source of strength or weakness. Apple's collaboration services can provide your teachers with an environment to blossom. Instant Messaging with Apple's iChat Server can transform your campus. Teachers and Administrators can easily find each other on campus, discuss teaching issues (in text, audio, or video), and send each other files without e-mail all without leaving their classroom. Is MacBook Cart 2 available next Tuesday for your lesson on the planets? Know instantly with Apple's iCal Server. Apple's iCal server can help digitize all of your school calendars in a central place allowing you to perform a "Free/Busy" lookup with the teachers you need to meet with. Imagine having a web based searchable content resource library of what is working on your campus. Apple's wiki server provides an innovative way to make sharing your ideas and thoughts easy to your entire campus or just a small group of colleagues.
Virtualization
Your funds are tight. And some of your servers are or will soon be out of warranty. Kill two or three birds with one stone by virtualizing all of your servers on an Apple Intel Xeon Xserve. Lower your power and space requirements while enhancing your campus experience. Need to manage PC's as well as your Macs? Apple's Xserve coupled with a virtualized Microsoft Active Directory environment can help you reach the cross platform utopia you never thought possible before.
User Management
Every garden needs its walls. Mac OS X Server provides a dynamic user management solution that allows you to prescribe the exact user experience you need to teach. Teachers will breathe easier with the consistency provided by managing appearance settings like the Desktop Picture and the Dock. Keep students on task by preventing them from running software titles that are not needed for today's lesson. Need a new default internet homepage for today's lesson? Make this and other changes without having to touch each computer.
File Serving and Backup
Despite the broad access to USB Thumbdrives many customers are still very interested in providing a centralized private storage space for teachers. Often the file server can facilitate Hand Out folders, Drop Box Folders (for submitting homework), and a Sand Box folder to allow students in the same class to easily contribute to group projects. In addition schools that have or are considering a teacher 1:1 program respond favorably to having a Time Machine server to automatically backup teacher data.
Next Steps
Is Mac OS X Server is something you would like more information on? Please consider requesting an application to Apple's Macintosh Integration Program. This new and innovative program provides a tremendous opportunity to see Apple's take on a 21st century classroom on your campus. The program consists of being sent 1 Apple Xserve, 3 Apple MacBooks to your school for a period of two weeks. In addition to access to Apple's latest hardware you will be sent over $80 of printed certification materials on Mac OS X and Mac OS X server yours to keep with no purchase required. To ensure your experience with Apple's latest hardware and software is perfect, Apple will provide 1 day of on-site face to face consulting services worth over $2000. Your 21st century learning environment is waiting. Apple is committed to showing you the way.
Macintosh Integration Program Invitation Request