Keynote Address:
Disruptive Tech: What’s New, What’s Coming, and How It Will Change Everything
Presenter: David Pogue
As the New York Times’s tech reviewer, David Pogue has a front row seat for observing the torrent of new inventions that come down the pike every year. Hundreds of gadgets and technologies receive a lot of press, but most of it’s junk. In this fast, funny presentation, Pogue will stick his neck out to predict which new technologies will actually cause major, disruptive changes. He’ll display, discuss, and even demonstrate the technological advances in personal entertainment, cellular tech, Web 2.0, and more. David will look into his crystal ball to predict which technologies will have the greatest impact on society in the years to come.
Breakout Sessions:
Dave’s Mobile Show-and-Tell
Presenter: David Pogue
David Pogue reviews over 200 products a year for the New York Times. If anyone can identify the breakthroughs, he can. In this lively presentation that is half talk, half magic show, David will present and demonstrate the latest and most amazing mobile gadgets, and offer his mini-critiques of each. The assortment changes monthly, of course, but past presentations have included the cell phone that offers unlimited free calls via Wi-Fi, the pocket camera that beams photos instantly onto Flickr (the photo-sharing web site), the music player that downloads wirelessly from a catalog of 2 million songs, a folding memory card for cameras that eliminates the need for wires or card readers, the secret of getting Directory Assistance for free on your cell phone (rather than $2 per call from your carrier), the latest breakthroughs in speech recognition, and, of course, the iPhone.
The Power of Simplicity
Presenter: David Pogue
Why are consumers so fed up with their computers? “Software rage” has become an epidemic, help lines are flooded, and people are flinging their machines out of the window in frustration. More often than not, the problem is the software design itself. The design of programs and web sites grows in importance every day. Getting it right means packing a lot of features, the right way, into a small screen area. That is extremely difficult, and the masters of the art are few and far between. David Pogue, who analyzes software design each week in his New York Times column, has found some fascinating real-world examples that illustrate both clever solutions and horrifying failures. He’ll also look forward to interface design of the future as we move into an era of much larger and much smaller screens.
Systems Administration Sessions:
Open Source Enterprise Voice over IP - Implementing sipXecs
Presenter: Mike Graham (Hempfield School District)
SipXecs (www.sipfoundry.org) is an open source PBX application platform. It is completely based on open protocols and offers all the essential features of an enterprise PBX. Hempfield has deployed sipXecs to one building and several administrative offices around the district. SipXecs' flexibility and scalability have made it an excellent platform for expanding unified communications within the district.
Major features of sipXecs that will be covered:
- Phone system deployment at minimal cost
- Cross platform softphone support
- Voice, video, and IM support
- Interoperability with legacy analog PBX
- SIP trunking with IU 13
Voice Over IP Communication for System Administrators
Presenter: Mike Balik (Perkiomen Valley School District)
Voice and data networks in separate worlds can be a costly headache to manage. VOIP can leverage your existing IP network infrastructure to converge voice and data while simplifying management of your voice systems. Some VOIP systems have received poor reviews and are rumored to be complicated and expensive. Come learn how to simply and affordably deploy ShoreTel, and be able to invest funds back into the classroom to save on voice service costs.
DirectAccess
Presenter: Microsoft Corporation
DirectAccess is a new feature in the Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating systems that gives users the experience of being seamlessly connected to their district network any time they have Internet access. With DirectAccess, users are able to access internal resources (such as e-mail servers, shared folders, or intranet web sites) securely without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). DirectAccess allows mobile computers to be managed any time the mobile computer has Internet connectivity, even if the user is not logged on. This feature allows remote computers to be managed regularly and helps ensure that mobile users stay up-to-date with security and system health policies. DirectAccess helps ensure that organizations can meet regulatory and privacy mandates for security and data protection for assets that must roam beyond the district network.
Virtualization Through Consolidated Storage: Dell and the EqualLogic Solution
Presenter: Dell Computer
Join Scott Swope as he shows you how to create a true virtualized storage solution through Dell's EqualLogic offering, allowing cash-strapped IT departments to leverage this easy-to-manage technology.
K-12 Systems Sapphire Best Practices (SIS, Grade book and Parent Portal)
Presenter: Doug Dandridge (Hempfield School District)
The Sapphire Nurse and Special Education software components each have a user group community that allows districts to speak with one voice when prioritizing needs in development to K-12 systems. The group also meets regularly to discuss best practices and share ideas on how best to implement the software. Hempfield School District would like to create a similar user group community for the SIS, Grade book and Parent Portal. Come be a part of the initial discussion and help form the direction of this group. Time will be allotted to discuss best practices for each of the three products and to develop a list of future enhancements the group would like to recommend to the vendor.
CommVault Simpana8, Leveraging Singular Information Management
Presenter: Commvault
Learn about where they hide the “magic” button for cost-effective, reliable lifecycle data management.
Data Recovery in Computer Forensics
Presenter: Luis Paris, Ph.D. (Harrisburg University of Science and Technology)
This practical session explores the use of tools to collect and analyze data in Computer Forensics. Emphasis is placed on the recovery of data stored in regular files and hidden areas from digital media devices such as hard disks, floppy disks, and USB drives. Virtual machines are used to create a safe environment in which to collect and analyze the recovered data. Most of the tools and strategies to be showcased can also be used in home or office settings for data recovery purposes.
Application Virtualization - Buzzwords or Viable Solution
Presenter: Uptime NetManagement
Virtualization is a buzzword in IT today. Many organizations are seeing value in server and workstation virtualization. How does application virtualization work? How can it help busy IT staff members save time and money, particularly when planning a move to Windows 7? Join Uptime NetManagement to see how virtualizing specific Windows applications on desktops will eliminate application conflicts and dll incompatibilities, and smooth the transition to the new Windows OS, allowing you to leverage the existing desktop infrastructure of your school.
21st Century Data Centers
Presenter: Justin Mazur, Territory Manager & Sales Engineer (APC)
Find out how APC's exciting new architecture can revolutionize how you deploy or upgrade your data centers and computer rooms.
Intro to SQL Management
Presenter: Greg Hess (Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13)
Now that you have a Microsoft SQL Server, how do you protect your data and make sure the server is running properly? In this session the presenter will go over the different types of database backups available and the group will take a look at the job scheduler built into SQL Server. Finally, the group will bring it all together with a review of database maintenance plans and server logs.
Allowing Personal Computing Devices on Your Network
Presenter: Amjad Umar, Ph.D. (Harrisburg University of Science and Technology)
Mobile devices (laptops, handsets, PDA, etc.), especially over wireless networks, introduce several risks that must be understood and managed very carefully. This workshop will introduce a systematic risk management and mitigation methodology based on the latest thinking in attack trees and security patterns. Examples, case studies, and tools will be discussed to illustrate the key points.
Key Topics:
- Threats and risks introduced due to mobile devices on an enterprise network (quick examples)
- Risk management theory – a quick tour
- Using attack trees to determine threats
- Using security patterns to mitigate risks
- A risk management methodology
- Quick scan of available tools (security audit versus security planning tools)
SIF Implementation
Presenter: Keith Kemmerling (Northern Lebanon School District)
With limited staff and broad responsibilities, Northern Lebanon School District implemented a SIF solution to streamline and consolidate data entry. The key to success was in the design and the research done to prepare for implementation. This presentation is a case study of our SIF project from planning stage through to where we are today and where we are going with SIF in the future.
Server Virtualization and Consolidation: Why Haven't You Done This Yet?!
Presenter: Mark K. Crescenzi, IT Consultant (Prismworks Technology, Inc.)
This session offers a presentation of different virtualization technologies (VMware, XenServer, MS Hyper-V), a comparison of the different SAN technologies (FC and iSCSI), and an overall discussion of virtual technology implementations. Come with your questions!
The Road to Data Center Convergence
Presenter: Brad Cahill, Brocade
This session addresses the hard facts about FCOE/CEE in the Data Center. Brocade will be presenting Data Center Bridging or DCV (a.k.a. Converged Enhanced Ethernet) and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The presentation will focus on the various ANSI T11 IEEE and IETF standards related to DCB/FCoE, and the significance and status of each standard. The presentation will also discuss the benefits of this new architecture and what Brocade offers as products to support its customer with the implementation of DCB/FCoE.
Why Virtualize?
Presenter: Matt Hillard (VMware)
Virtualizing your IT infrastructure lets you reduce IT costs while increasing the efficiency, utilization, and flexibility of your exisitng assets. Around the world, companies and organizations of every size benefit from VMware virtualization. Attend this session to see how virtualizing 100% of your IT infrastructure will benefit your organization.
Network Administration Sessions:
Network Topology Best Practices in a K-12 Content Filtered Environment
Presenter: Michael DeBakey (Lampeter-Strasburg School District)
This presentation will include a summary of the requirements Lampeter-Strasburg School District has found to be best practice for a K-12 environment with content filtering. The emphasis will be on maintaining CIPA compliance while also implementing high availability, business continuity, and network monitoring to ensure that network performance is unhindered. Mail journaling and anti-spam will also fit in, the latter being part and parcel of what has come to be known as content filtering.
Untethered Access to People and Information
Presenter: 3Com
Secure wireless networks enhance communication and collaboration by freeing administrators, staff, and students from the constraints of the wired infrastructure. Learn how 3Com's unified network access solutions converge wired and wireless infrastructures to provide schools with untethered connectivity, data privacy, and security for information exchanges.
Balancing Learning and Security in a Web 2.0 World
Presenter: Lightspeed Systems
Web 2.0 enhances learning and 21st century skill development by making technology active and collaborative rather than a passive medium. Yet, with benefits also come risks -- or do they? Discover how you can give students the advantages of Web 2.0 learning without the security and content risks.
Network Monitoring Software - Get the Big Picture
Presenter: Rich Brown, Dartware, LLC
All monitoring software continually checks for troubles on your network, whether it's doing a simple ping test, retrieving SNMP information, or testing your web, mail, DNS, or other servers. But it's important to be able to "see" how problems or outages affect the overall performance of your network, and how things were before the trouble occurred.
What Good Is NetFlow (or sFlow, or jFlow)?
Presenter: Rich Brown, Dartware, LLC
NetFlow, sFlow, jFlow and other flow-based techniques provide a way for the network manager to see not only the volume of traffic but the kinds of traffic that is present. See the top talkers and listeners on the network, or the top protocols (web, ftp, peer to peer, etc.) that are being transmitted. You can even drill down into the details of the traffic information, isolating a particular device or set of devices.
Cisco Mini Networkers (BRKRST-3131) Multilayer Campus Architectures and Design Principles
Presenter: Cisco Systems
This session features best practices for deploying the Cisco Multilayer Campus Model with an emphasis on high availability. It focuses on the technology alternatives related to an enterprise campus network. The session contains design and implementation guidance on technology and protocol alternatives like NSF/SSO, HSRP, GLBP, Spanning Tree (PVSTP+), and Rapid Spanning Tree (Rapid PVST+). Software features and design principles for each layer of the hierarchical network model are covered. Detailed examples are presented of failure analysis scenarios and LAN and Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP) tuning related to enterprise networks. Finally, the session treats common pitfalls such as asymmetrical routing, unicast flooding, and routing black holes, and provides best practices for optimizing an enterprise campus network to support today´s business applications. This session is for attendees responsible for the design, deployment, operations, and management of enterprise campus networks. Introductory knowledge of Spanning Tree, routing protocols, and LAN switching is recommended.
Cisco Mini Networkers (BRKAGG-1010) Introduction to Enterprise WLAN Fundamentals
Presenter: Cisco Systems
This session focuses on the core technologies and products that make up the Cisco Unified WLAN Network. This will include protocol fundamentals for LWAPP/CAPWAP and 802.11. This session is a prerequisite for other advanced wireless sessions.
Filtering Social Websites, or Not?
Presenter: Al Harding (Derry Township School District)
What is your filtering policy? What is the educational rationale for your policy? Derry Township has adapted a very liberal policy towards filtering websites and will share its rationale for this policy. It has been two years since Derry Township has opened the gates for students and staff. Come and learn from these experiences.
Five Myths About Wireless
Presenter: Dennis Faust, Brocade
Five things that you think you know (but really don't) about wireless networks.
Desktop Support Sessions:
FOG - A Free Computer Cloning Solution
Presenter: Ryan Breneman (Hempfield School District)
Everyone needs Windows image management. Whether it's Ghost, Acronis, ImageX, etc., they all work and get the job done. The question you need to ask yourself is how much is this costing me? In addition to the cost of licensing the image software, consider the cost of your time spent imaging a lab.
FOG is a linux based, free and open source computer imaging solution for PCs running Windows operating system. With FOG there is no need to reinvent the wheel; there are plenty of existing open source tools out there. FOG developers wrapped these tools around a PHP based web interface. No boot disks are necessary; everything is run by TFTP and PXE booting. Post imaging tasks in FOG include a graphical windows service that can change the hostname, bind to Active Directory domains, restart computers, set display settings, and more. FOG will be demonstrated and discussed in this session.
Remote Inventory, Management and Deployment of Mac Workstations Using the Casper Suite
Presenter: Shawn Beard (Penn Manor School District)
This presentation will cover using the Casper Suite by JAMF Software to remotely provide support to end users as well as remote deployment of software, inventory gathering, and system image deployment. Penn Manor School District will demonstrate how the Casper Suite has helped to reduce its support time by providing end users with the ability to install their own updates and software in an environment where system admin privileges are restricted. The group will also discuss image deployment and how to create customized system images for fast rollout of new equipment. The presenter will demonstrate the administrative interface and discuss the technical aspects of how the Casper Suite works.
Windows 7 Deployment
Presenter: Microsoft Corporation
Windows 7 Enterprise is the most advanced Windows operating system for PCs, designed to meet the evolving needs of the users and IT professionals in your organization—both in and out of the office. With exclusive features and benefits, Windows 7 Enterprise drives lower total cost of ownership by helping your users stay productive anywhere, enhancing security and control, and simplifying PC management across your organization. Whether IT professionals manage and deploy desktops, laptops, or virtual environments, Windows 7 makes the job easier. Advanced image management and deployment tools enable IT professionals to add, remove, and report on drivers, language packs, updates, and push those system images to desktops using less network bandwidth. New scripting and automation capabilities based on Windows PowerShell 2.0 reduce the costs of managing and troubleshooting computers. For enterprises making the leap to client virtualization, Windows 7 helps you more easily maintain virtual machine images with the same tools used for physical images and provide a richer user experience over remote connections.
Snow Leopard & Snow Leopard Server Overview
Presenter: Dave Marra, Senior Systems Engineer (Apple, Inc.)
Learn about new technologies and refinements included in both Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server. New technologies such as 64-bit computing, Exchange compatibility, and Grand Central Dispatch make Snow Leopard Apple's best OS yet. See new features available in Snow Leopard Server that can take your school district's podcasting and collaboration to the next level.
Connected Classroom Strategies: Dell and the 21st Century Classroom
Presenter: Dell
Join Adam Garry as he presents Dell's vision of the Connected Classroom and shows how districts can optimize their return on investment into this exciting concept.
Mac Imaging Solutions
Presenter: James Garringer, Systems Engineer (Apple, Inc.)
This session provides a review of imaging solutions including Apple's System Imaging Utility and other available solutions. See how the SIU can be used to streamline image deployment in your environment. Automatically name your imaged computers and bind them to your directories without touching each computer.
Mac OS X Systems Management with MCX, and Apple Remote Desktop
Presenter: John DeTroye, Senior Consulting Engineer (Apple, Inc.)
Manage your Mac computers with Managed Client for X settings and your OS X Server. Leverage Apple Remote Desktop for software deployment and computer maintenance. Schedule tasks to occur for your managed computers on a regular basis.
Providing Tech Services in a 21st Century World
Presenter: Sally Bair (Northern Lebanon School District)
Accused of being a control freak and not trusting your staff? Frustrated by the laws that mandate some of your actions? Struggling to get it all done in the summer and during the year? Attend this session to hear Northern Lebanon's approach to these challenges. Then join in a discussion of your district's approach, and share your ideas for solutions to address these questions.
Using Absolute Manage to Simplify Systems Management
Presenter: Tim McCleary (Cheltenham Township School District)
This presentation will demonstrate how Cheltenham School District and Bensalem School District utilize Absolute Manage to accomplish the following:
- Desktop/laptop inventory
- Mac/Windows software deployment
- Patch management for Mac/Windows
- Remote management
- Software packaging (for Macs)
- Power Management (including tracking savings over time)
- Integration with Web Help Desk and Dameware to resolve issues quickly
Altiris
Presenter: Symantec
Altiris management solutions provide a modular and future-proof approach to managing, auditing, and patching highly diverse and widely distributed IT infrastructures. These are open solutions that enable lifecycle integration of client, handheld, server, network, and other IT assets with audit-ready security and automated operation. Altiris also provides management capabilities of Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP), Backup System Recovery, and other Symantec solutions.
Technology Leadership:
Framework of Essential Skills for Technology Leaders
Presenter: Sean McDonough (Harrisburg School District) & Vince Humes (Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5)
CoSN has worked to enable technology leaders to increase their knowledge and skills within CoSN’s Framework of Essential Skills. The framework is representative of the roles, responsibilities, and challenges faced by today’s CTO. Please join the PA CoSN Chapter for a compelling discussion on the competencies you need to succeed.
vRescue – Making Disaster Recovery Affordable
Presenter: Weidenhammer
vRescue is the latest in disaster recovery protection for your organization. Learn how the vRescue product operates and how vRescue is different from other disaster recovery offerings. What are the technical underpinnings of vRescue? It's up and running in minutes after you declare a disaster – listen to how that’s possible.
Data-Driven Decision Making Using Business Intelligence
Presenter: Weidenhammer
Business intelligence plays a key role in the strategic planning process of an organization, and ultimately helps guide the organization toward profitability. Take information held in sometimes disparate computer systems, build relationships among the data, and make it available through an easy-to-use interface. Administrators can then gather, extract, manipulate, and analyze data to aid in decision making. Show how data can be prepared to facilitate easy-to-use queries and how this tool can aid financial administrators to make decisions regarding budgets, salaries, and health-care costs. Highlight dashboard capabilities that can contain key performance indicators. Depart with a better understanding of how business intelligence can help manage a school division’s financial well-being and save costs.
Cost-Effective Social Networking Solutions for K-12 Environments
Presenters: Uptime NetManagement and Bryan Campbell (Upper Dauphin Area School District)
Today's educational IT professionals are required to provide more services such as social networking access with tighter and tighter budgets. So how do you do this without breaking the bank or jeopardizing security?
Uptime NetManagement and Bryan Campbell will demonstrate how Teaming + Conferencing (based on open source software) can provide a closed and secure venue for social networking services such as wikis, blogs, file sharing, shared task lists, and calendars on either a Windows or Novell network.
Securing and Managing Your School Network Amid IT Budget Cutbacks
Presenter: Lightspeed Systems
School IT budgets are being cut. At the same time, security threats, regulations, and network usage are all increasing. Discover proven methods for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of your network. Find out how you can overcome these challenges with Total Traffic Control, a single solution designed specifically for school networks.
Round Table Discussions:
Server and Application Change Management
Facilitator: Mike Shellenberger
How do you track changes made to servers and applications within your organization? Do you have change management procedures in place? Join our conversation to hear more about the tools and methodologies that organizations are using to manage change.
Patch Management
Facilitator: Mike Cawley
How does your organization handle the critical but mundane process of patch management? Do you have software tools in place to expedite the process? Does your organization have written patch management policies and procedures? Join our round table discussion, and share your thoughts on the process of patch management.
Disaster Recovery
Facilitator: Brian Steigauf
How is your organization handling disaster recovery? Has your DR plan been incorporated in a district-wide business continuity plan, or is it the role of the technology department? What strategies are you using to provide levels of disaster recovery? Please join the discussion to hear ideas and opinions on disaster recovery and what it can mean to your organization.
Mobile Device Policies & Management
Facilitator: Roy Hoover
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Acceptable use policy
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Personal use of school phone
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School data on personal phone
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Remote wipe of lost device
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Enterprise management tools
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Securing data on portable devices
Managed Versus Unmanaged Wifi
Facilitator: Tim Laubach
In this roundtable session we will discuss the pros and cons of managed wireless solutions which utilize a controller with lightweight access points vs. stand-alone unmanaged wireless deployments. Attendees are encouraged to talk about their own wireless deployments and what lessons they have learned along the way. The discussion will be facilitated by Timothy Laubach, Program Director for IT services at IU 13, where a Cisco-managed solution was implemented last year. If your organization is considering deploying wireless across a large area, this session should help you choose which solution would work best for you.
***Sessions are updated daily! Please check back frequently for updates.***