CEDIA Workshop Checklist

Power

For our purposes enough power for:

• 20 x student PCs
• 5 additional workshop PCs (2 x server, instructors, spares)
• 5 x laptops
• 10 switches (8 ports)
• 2 switches (24 ports)
• 2 wirelss access points.
• 2 x PC servers
• 1 x printer
• 1 x projector
• 1 x Cisco router
• Sound system
• Food service items (coffee/tea pots, etc.)
• Copier machine if local

Cables

• Power strips: Enough for all 25 PCs and extra power strips for instructor laptops, printer, projector, switches, access points, sound system.
  • If we have 4 rows of 5 machines, then we recommend 15 to 20 power strips for the room. If there are more, we recommend bring them. You can never have enough!
• Power cables: If power is not available directly in the floor then enough cabling to bring power to each row of PCs, the instructor station, back area for instructor laptops, sound system, projector, servers, and food service items if necessary.

• Network cables: Ability to network each student PC to a switch on their row. Cabling to go from the instructor area to the central switch next to the room server. Cables to go from switches at each row of PCs to the central switches used for the room. Cabling to go from a switch, or two, in the back of the room to the central switching area. Additional cables to connect central switch to outside connection and to connect central server(s), printer to central switches.
  Initial best guess for cabling looks like this:
  • 20 x 5+ meters for the student PCs
  • 5 x 6+ for instructor PC at front of room, and additional instructor laptops.
  • 5 x 8+ meters to go from PC rows to our server/printer/outside access station.
  • Probably 2, or 3 longer cables just in case. Recommend 15+ meters.
• For routing excercises there should be, at least, 10 crossover cables of 3 to 5 meters each available. If computers are in rows with an uneven number, then machines at the end of each row will have to connect to machines in front, or behind them - this may require a few longer crossover cables.

For students

• Video card that can support 1024 x 768 resolution at thousands of colors.
• 15 inch, or greater monitors that can support this resolution.
• Network card supported by Linux.
• 256 MB of RAM for Red Hat Server 9
• CD-ROM drive

• Same as above and
• If laptops cannot be plugged in to projector, then instructor machines should have Linux running with KDE/Gnome and Open Office and Acrobat installed.

• In the classroom there should be 1 or 2 separate PCs that act as server boxes where important software, workshop website, and more can be stored. In addition one of these boxes is likely to act as a print server. Another of the boxes may act as a NAT box to isolate the classroom network from the rest of the institutional network, possibly to run DHCP, caching DNS, etc. Two separate server boxes are recommended. These boxes should have CDs, enough disk space, and 256 MB of RAM.

• If a workshop CD is to be created then 1 or 2 machines with CD-R drives need to be available. In addition, enough CD-R blank (30?) to burn a workshop CD. If a labeling aparatus is available this can be useful to make the CDs more professional.

A sound system can save on an instructor's voice considerably and make listening to a full day of lectures and discussion much easier.

• Ideally a sound system with two wireless microphones.
• In addition, a microphone that the students can use can be very helpful as well.
• Speakers can go in the back or front of the classroom depending on the room's acoustics.

• Ideally a project that does 1024 x 768 resolution.
• A backup project buib, or a backup projector of the same quality.
• A projector usable by instructor laptops and that can be placed where the instructor can control the presentation while presenting.
• Several whiteboards, perhaps on either side of the screen where presentations are projected.
• Multiple colors of markers for use on the whiteboard.
• Some instructors prefer using large sheets of paper (butcher paper) and pens so that items that are written down can be referred to later in the week. If available this is useful.

A separate item. Do cables need to be secured? Is the workshop room carpeted? If so, Gaffer tape (used in theater productions) works best as it does not damage carpet or flooring upon removal. Standard electrical tape will damage surfaces when removed.

Are there cable ties available to properly lay cabling? Cable ties are invaluable to keep students and instructors from tripping over cabling along the rows of PCs, around entrances, near the server machines, etc.

Tools

Are tools available if we need to build cables? Crimpers, knives, cable testers, screw drivers, etc?

Room Layout

For purposes of presenting and teaching hands-on the Instructor station should be positioned at the front of the room. The ability to control and show presentations from an instructor laptop is ideal. A whiteboard, or whiteboards should be available at the front of the room with plenty of markers, possibly differnt colors for use.

Printing and Copies

• A postscript-capable printer accessible to instructors to print out handouts.
• A copy machine or facility where handouts can be copied for the entire class as needed.