A Collection of Random Thoughts: Managing the TechEd Operations Network

Friday, June 10, 2005

Managing the TechEd Operations Network

Wireless issues. It presented several challenges this year.

Stats:

Registered Attendees: ~13,000

Users of scheduling tool: ~7,000

Technical infrastructure staff: 10

Wired/Wireless users: 7,500

Breakout sessions: 440

Hands-on labs: 140

Network uptime to date: 99.998%*

*network minus access through WAP's

Requirements for event network:

Create an "infrastructure in a box" that can be re-used across events

Allow the entire infrastructure to be managed from a single point

Allow the infrastructure to be "plugged in" to the venue's in-house network as easily as possible

Be able to set up and fully configure the infrastructure in under 5 days

Allow the wireless and exhibitor networks outbound internet access using at least the following ports:

http/https/smtp/pop3/pptp/gre/l2tp/ipsec/vpn/messenger/rdp...machines on this network are not managed by Teched personnel

CommNet network has unrestricted Internet access and unrestricted access to the TechEd events servers (fully managed by the TechEd staff)

CommNet users can access the TechEd

support at least 8000 concurrent wireless users

support up to 800 HOL

Support up to 700 CommNet PC's

Provide e-mail ad show web services for attendees

32 total servers

2000 PC's

ISA 2004 as firewall

MOM 2005 to monitor network.

SMS to manage PC's/Servers

All in all, it was an interesting overview of how much it takes to set up the TechEd network infrastructure, but also how well it works together.

- posted by Ben Winzenz @ 8:34 AM

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