Our project just got flushed today!  We’ve been planning, with the encouragement of our instructor I might add, to build our Capstone project around an MPLS network.  However, the routers available to us at ITT-Tech are older than the MPLS technology so we can’t configure them for our needs.  I also learned that Packet Tracer 5.2 STILL doesn’t support MPLS so we can’t even build the MPLS network in a virtual environment.  What this all boils down to is WE CAN’T SHOW A DEMONSTRATION OF A MODERN NETWORK ARCHITECTURE AT A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED TECHNICAL SCHOOL WITH A COMPUTER NETWORKING DEGREE PROGRAM.  HOW PATHETIC!!!

Now, 4 weeks into this project, we have to start over with our network design.  It seems that the best we can do is demonstrate a VPN as long as we bring in our own computers.  Yes folks, the wonderful “suits” at ITT-Tech don’t see the need to give us a few computers in each lab that are configured with 2 NIC CARDS.  AND, they don’t allow us to open the existing computers up and install a second NIC card because we will VOID THE WARRANTY!!!  So, for the privilege of paying them $40k+ I get to work on outdated equipment, demonstrate decade old technology,  and I am still forced to bring my own personal equipment from home in order to properly demonstrate this decade old “secure” network technology.  Oh, yeah, and the computers in the labs the CNS students use are only 32 bit.

I know next to nothing about setting up a VPN so I’m seriously stressing out.  We have to research the technology and implementation of a VPN, come up with an IP scheme, and figure out what equipment and pricing will be for this.  My group now has to scramble to get anything put together in time.

Wish me luck…lots and lots of it.