Hi Joe
The VT-RACHEL device is intended to be used in a single classroom where it will support around 30 students connected by wifi. It will provide the students with access to the local RACHEL library contents over the local wifi link, so the response time is quite fast.
As well as the limit on wifi connections there is also a limit on how fast the internal web server can service page requests. If you increase the number of students accessing the device then the web server will not keep up with the workload and performance will suffer.
You can network the devices on the WAN side in order to share a school backbone network for access to upstream resources such as an Internet connection. With this arrangement, each classroom has the RACHEL library content served locally, but can also access Internet resources through the same wifi connection.
By default the VT-RACHEL firmware is configured for Ethernet WAN so that you can plug it into a LAN. But you can also configure it for mesh on the WAN side for a wireless backbone if you wish.
If you wish to provide a single copy of the library content to serve the whole school, then you should consider providing a more powerful device to run the web server, and then network that via APs etc. A PC running Ubuntu is commonly used for the web server in this arrangement. The RACHEL library content is very simple to use with any web server - it is just a collection of static pages. You can get one VT-RACHEL device and simply copy the content from the USB onto a hard disc in the central web server.
Our deployments in Cambodia and Malaysia were done on the basis of providing one VT-RACHEL device in a classroom. These were small rural schools so typically had only one or two classrooms equipped for computer use - mostly OLPC XO laptops.
In some of the schools, the VT-RACHEL unit was connected by Ethernet cable to a TP Link MR3020 acting as a host for a 3G USB modem for Internet access.
Something to keep in mind with remote deployments is the aspect of reliability of the system. There is often little or no technical support available if things go wrong.
By providing one device per classroom you have a situation where each device can operate independently, so there is no single point of failure.
Also, the wifi connection is very robust when the AP device is located in the classroom, so you don't get the situation where some client devices struggle to get a reliable connection. I have found that using multiple small APs gives a better solution for covering a campus than trying to saturate the area with a few high power APs.
Regards
Terry
Hi Terry.
Thanks for the infor. Iam trying to deploy in a secondary school.
Plan to cover the entire campus. If i put a mp2 RACHEL in the center building and mesh up with other ap to extend range??.
How was yr setup in Cambodia and Malaysia?
Hear from you soon.
Cheers.
Joe
Hi Terry.
Thanks and appreciate your great infor.
They have two computer lab and a new one about hundred meters away.
What i will do is put one device per classroom. Do you want me to buy 3 and put each mp2 rachel in each classroom. I know staff would like to use and wants us to extend wifi coverage to domitories and staff residence.
I might also consider a ubuntu pc for local webserver.
Thanks and looking forward to hear.
Cheers.
What is the power or watts for a mp2 rachel. Planning for remote schools with out main power grid. Will use solar.
Thanks
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Thanks Steve and this is great to power on solar.
Please fast track my order. Will place few more soon.
Cheers.
Joe
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What is the power or watts for a mp2 rachel. Planning for remote schools with out main power grid. Will use solar.
Thanks
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Joe,
Please share the experience with us once you are done with he setup and implementation. I am interesting to learn how you implement the solar system to power the MPs. What type of equipments you use and so forth. If you could document the process that would have wonderful educational values for us.
Thank so much in advanced,
Pascal
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Hi Pascal.
Thanks and sure will document this when we start rolling out to remote schools in the provinces.
The first one will be for a town secondary school which we have setup ncomputing terminals for them since 2009. Elibrary will be our first project and we expecting more for remote schools.
Also we planning to try out chrome laptops
Thanks.
Joe
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