Managing Internet Capacity
CEnet Bandwidth Upgrade
Demand for internet bandwidth continues to increase as schools adopt online resources, collaboration tools and other online services as part of their education and digital literacy programs. CEnet connects member dioceses with multiple sources of internet bandwidth including transit internet, direct network connections (e.g. Google, Apple, Microsoft), and local caches that store frequently-accessed content for redistribution within the network.
Last month CEnet negotiated terms with its carriage provider to upgrade our transit link capacity from 5Gbps to 6Gbps to provide additional headroom to meet demand in peak periods. This upgrade was completed on 2 June 2021. Transit internet accounts for around 12% of all internet content downloaded by members.
Peak demand during major software update events
Whilst CEnet's internet border network (including transit) is sized with ample capacity for normal school day peak load, short periods of heavy demand are inevitable when major vendors such as Apple and Microsoft release large software updates that are then distributed to the massive number of client devices that connect during a short window on the next school day.
By way of example, in the early hours of 3 June, Apple released security updates for MacOS Catalina and Mojave - with update packages totalling 1.3GB and 1.7GB respectively. The benefit of CEnet’s caching service is that there is no need for every device on the CEnet network to download the update across the transit link to the Internet.
|
|
|
|
Internet download demand on 3 June 2021
|
|
At the beginning of the school day the CEnet Infrastructure Team observed aggregate peak demand for these updates exceeded 15 Gbps - accounting for 37% of all inbound internet bandwidth. While the majority of this content is delivered via CEnet’s caches, some demand spills over and is met through the transit data link.
The last major peak we observed on April 28 also coincided with Apple updates of these same operating systems. This load obviously spreads down into diocese WAN and individual school links, so we advise the use of Apple cache servers closer to the client devices where possible to manage network load appropriately within diocesan networks.
Traffic redirection controls
CEnet has observed instances where a relatively small percentage of cached content is sourced from remote caches via the transit link rather than CEnet's own caches. We have engaged with caching providers to investigate and verify this behaviour, and implemented modifications for high-demand domains to ensure use of our own cache.
These enhancements, along with ongoing monitoring of our Internet and peering network, are designed to ensure the continued high quality delivery of internet services to our members.
|
|
CEnet Staff Insights
This week we are continue our series of articles on members of the CEnet team who have worked in member dioceses.
David Jenkins
Infrastructure Manager, CEnet
|
|
Reflecting on 20 Years of Service
May 2021 marked a significant milestone as I reach my 20-year anniversary working in ICT in Catholic Education.
Prior to joining Maitland-Newcastle diocese in 2001 I had already spent a few years as a contracted IT Systems Engineer working with the Catholic Schools Office designing and installing school server and communications infrastructure. This was an exciting project that was bringing widespread internet and email availability to staff and students for the very first time.
|
|
|
It was during this project that I first experienced the transformative possibilities of information technology in the classroom.
Recognising this potential, and the desire to play a larger role, I joined the Information Technology Team at Maitland-Newcastle diocese. Here I had the opportunity to work alongside a group of passionate and supportive IT and education professionals.
One of the key elements that attracted me to ICT in education was the diversity of the role. Being part of a small team meant we each had the opportunity to be involved in just about every IT project you could imagine. I was originally hired as a Web Systems Developer and Engineer and had the opportunity to build a web content management system from scratch. I then progressed to Network and Systems Engineer, building an identity management system from the ground up and automating and integrating systems long before DevOps existed as a distinct discipline. Another major highlight was establishing gigabit dark fibre links to schools, well before such high bandwidth was commonplace.
Progressing to IT Manager in 2009, I had the continued good fortune of working with some truly exceptional educators that helped schools maximise the opportunities of the technology. In 2018 I joined CEnet for a new challenge that would allow me to bring my unique perspective as a previous member and continue my passion for technology in K-12 education alongside some familiar faces.
The other major attraction was the extremely positive and supportive people I’ve had the opportunity to work with. I have made some lifelong friends through my work, and had the good fortune to be mentored by some truly brilliant people along the way.
I still pass my local Catholic primary school just a few blocks away from where I live and feel a real sense of pride knowing that the work I do here at CEnet makes such an impact to that school, and the 780 like it across our Member Dioceses, their schools and communities.
|
|
ACAN Modern Slavery Risk Management Program
CEnet is participating in the Australian Catholic Anti-slavery Network (ACAN) Modern Slavery Risk Management Program alongside 35 other Catholic organisations from education, health & aged care, dioceses, social services, finance and investment.
The first step of the Program is to commence engagement with CEnet staff to build an understanding of modern slavery risks and impacts. For this purpose, ACAN has produced a series of highly interactive e-learning modules to access professional, factual and engaging training materials.
To date over 2000 staff from 36 Catholic organisations have completed the ACAN e-learning modules.
The first of five modules is now accessible for no cost to those interested in finding out more, via this link.
|
|
ACAN's modern slavery eLearning modules include:
- Module 1: Modern Slavery 101
- Module 2: Business Relevance
- Module 3: Implementing a Modern Slavery Risk Management Program
- Module 4: Modern Slavery Risk Management for Suppliers
- Module 5: Remedy Pathway
|
|
|
|
Catholic organisations can access more information about the 2021-2023 ACAN Modern Slavery Risk Management Program including over 30 templates, tools and resources via this link: https://www.acan.org.au/acan-entities
|
|
CEnet Staff Feedback
A big thank you to readers who have taken the time to share details of positive interactions with members of the CEnet team.
CEnet celebrates outstanding efforts and the addition of great feedback from member dioceses is a welcome addition that will be shared with all staff.
Have you had a positive experience with a CEnet staff member?
Please tell us via this form, we'll be sure to let them know.
|
|
CEnet and the Vinnies CEO Sleepout
CEnet's interim CEO Vicki Anderson is participating in the 2021 Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise much needed funds and awareness around homelessness.
With more than 17,000 Australian children under 12 having no permanent address, we really need to do all we can to understand the complexities around homelessness and to break the cycle.
|
|
|
If you are interested in talking to children about homelessness, this resource from the St Vincent de Paul Society may be of interest.
If you’d like to help Vicki raise funds for this excellent cause please click here.
|
|
Publishing Success
The outstanding work of the CEnet - Catholic Education Network eLearning Working Group has recently been published in the Australian Council for Education Leadership journal, Australian Education Leader.
Members of the CEnet eLearning Working Group collaborated on an article developed following the Catholic Learning Online Summit, conceived and delivered in April 2020 as a response to the need to support teachers preparing to move to learning and teaching from home due to COVID-19.
The paper highlights the experiences of teachers in Catholic Schools from CEnet member dioceses, with a focus on increasing teacher capacity with digital pedagogies, and recommendations on how collaborative leadership can support high impact use of technology for learning.
Congratulations to all.
- Lora Bance - Canberra & Goulburn
- Vanessa Crouch - Toowoomba
- Robyn Finch - Rockhampton
- John Hession - Broken Bay
- Steven Newman - Maitland-Newcastle
- Joseph Pearson - Hobart
- Alicia Pringle - Armidale
- JJ (Jacquelyn) Purton Jones - Lismore
|
|
Innovation in Online Professional Learning
Participants in the upcoming Google Fundamentals course will have an opportunity to explore a new tool while building skills.
In what is believed to be an Australian first, the Catholic Learning Online team is piloting the use of a new tool to support learning.
The team is piloting the use of a tool developed by Canopy a Community Interest Company located in the United Kingdom. Canopy's solution will be used to supplement the Google Fundamentals course by supporting participants as they work through hands-on learning experiences to develop their understanding of Google Workspace, by guiding and assessing progress, and providing micro credentialing as the learner's proficiency grows.
|
|
Google Fundamentals
Commencing on 17 June at 3.30pm AEST this course combines Google online self-directed learning modules with virtual sessions to assist in developing your skills and knowledge around the effective use of Google Workspace tools in teaching and learning.
The CLO Google Fundamentals Program will enable participants to work through modules at their own pace, and to support participants along the way the CLO team have arranged a number of virtual check-in sessions, where participants will be shown some innovative uses for their new skills and be able to ask questions to clarify their learning.
|
|
|
These virtual sessions will be joined by Google for Education Specialist Chris Betcher, Program Manager, Adoption, Google for Education and/or members from CEnet member dioceses.
Session Schedule
- 17 June - 3.30 pm AEST
- 15 July - 3.30 pm AEST
- 29 July - 3.30 pm AEST
- 12 August - 3.30 pm AEST
- 26 August - 3.30 pm AEST
If you are interested in developing your skills in the use of Google tools, the Google Fundamentals may be of benefit, click here to register your interest.
|
|
On Demand Catholic Learning Online Workshops
The Catholic Learning Online team has organised a significant number of workshops since commencing with the Catholic Learning Online Summit in April 2020.
Recognising the demands on the time of teachers, the team has taken the opportunity to record workshops and there are now 46 recordings available on the CLO website.
|
|
|
|
Seesaw School Champions. An example of the on-demand workshop recordings available in the Catholic Learning Online website
|
|
Recordings are supplemented with detailed descriptions of learning intentions and success criteria. Many also have supporting resources.
If you or your colleagues would like to access the Catholic Learning Online Summit, workshop recordings can be found on the Catholic Learning Online Summit Resources page.
If you or your colleagues would like to access the Catholic Learning Online Events, workshop recordings can be found in the Catholic Learning Online Resources page.
|
|
Book of the Week
The CEnet member dioceses ACEN eBook Consortium, with the assistance of Lisa Nash and Saba Maniar from the Digital Learning and Library Services in Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, provide the book of the week feature for students and staff who have access to the SORA eBook Library.
Each week, two reading recommendations for eBooks or audio books, with age guidance are published for primary school students and high school students and to make sure that no-one is left out, there is a recommendation for staff too.
|
|
|
Click on any of the three options above to go straight to the recommended books and enjoy the read!
|
|
Sora Sweet Reads
Sweet Reads is back in 2021 and will run from 5 May until 20 August.
Sweet Reads is a world-wide initiative run to promote reading in schools and is based on checkouts of a subset of the ebooks available to students.
For the last two years the CEnet ACEN consortium has been number 1 in Overdrive's global 'Sweet Reads' initiative with 24,010 checkouts in last years event.
|
|
|
Subscribe to the CEnet Bulletin
If a colleague has shared this bulletin with you and you would like to subscribe, click here or use the Subscribe button.
|
|
Share a Story
The CEnet Member Bulletin provides a great opportunity to share information about activities occurring in member dioceses.
If your diocese has an interesting story to share contact us.
|
|
|
An archive of CEnet bulletin and other publications can be found on the CEnet website.
|
|
|
Login now to access all of your CEnet applications.
|
|
|
|
|
