CCA Tech

Information on this page will be of a technical nature within the computer field that relates to Child welfare. We will attempt to cover the basics and advance into more detailed explanations so that everyone can understand and learn something. Please address comments, suggestions, things you would like to see on this page, and information you would like to add to this page,  to me at this email address,  [email protected] . You can also reach me with the programs/utilities at the bottom of the page 24/7.

• NAT Network Address Translation & SACWIS

  • For more information direct your specific questions to Stephen Bradshaw.

  • DCFS had approved the use of NATs by private agency providers for use with the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Systems that is being developed. SACWIS
  • DCFS has approved the use of NAT (network address translaters) for use on the POS side of the DCFS-provided router. DCFS can accept requests for reimbursement for the NAT as long as the agency has it in their plan. It may be possible to do the NAT function with a piece of software on on an agency's internal LAN, as opposed to hardware. The agencies will have to research this on their own, and, they will have to install and support whatever they use in the NAT area.

   

• NAT Links
  • How stuff works-NAT
  • NAT IETF
  • NAT Vicomsoft FAQ

  • SACWIS Technical Questions and Answers April 19, 2001

• SACWIS Links
  • This is SACWIS 
    • Home Page
  • SACWIS CCA Group
    • CCA User group 
    • Meetings
    • Information
    • Yahoo email list and web page

• Some terminology.
  • NIC
    • Network interface card (looks like modem but bigger) 
    • Hooks to a "patch cable" or "cat 5" cable.
  • LAN/WAN Local area network/Wide area network
    • LAN If your office has more then once computer, chances are you are connected to a LAN. Each computer in that LAN is its own little world.
    • WAN If you are reading this from the internet you are accessing the WAN (the internet) It is a larger network of computers that is world wide.
  • Terminal Services
    • Software that delivers the Windows desktop and applications through terminal emulation
  • IP Internet Protocol
    • Is a unique 32-bit number that identifies the location of your computer on a on a LAN (Local area network) and/or WAN (Wide area network-the internet) It works like your street address. 
    • 66.100.112.145 is the IP for http://www.cca-il.org/ on the internet
    • 192.168.254.17 is the IP of my computer on the LAN
    • If you went into dos and typed in ping 66.100.112.145 you would send out a request to that IP and it would come back in ms how fast it responded (lower is better) If you typed in www.cca-il.org you would get the same results because it is the same address. 
    • If you went to dos and typed in ping 192.168.254.17 you may or may not get a ping because you are pinging your LAN not mine (unless of course you are on my LAN) 
  • Routers/switches/hubs/bridges
    • Devices that hook up LAN as well as WAN to each other and give them the ability to "see" each other.
    • The name gives you the clue on what they do, Routers rout your IP to the proper place, Switches will switch you to the proper place, hubs connect multiple LANs. And bridges bridge the gap between separate domains. 
  • Protocol's for your IP's
    • DHCP IP-Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
      • The server automatically assigns your computer an IP. 
    • Static IP
      • IP stays the same all the time, Network printers normally have a static IP. 
  • Ways to get and send data
    • Modem 56k slow
    • ISDN better
    • DSL/Cable "modems" fast
    • T1 line very fast (your internet provider uses T1 lines)

   

• Your network and SACWIS (I have not used or set up this, so consider this my "best guess")
  • Visual PDF of Basic network setup.
  • SACWIS function
    • Agency's ability to access SACWIS (the agency-wide database) from their computers and add to or edit the information
  • Technical information
    • SACWIS will be hooked to your agency via a T1 line and router, however think of it as a separate LAN not as the internet. 
    • You will access SACWIS using a front end called terminal services
    • The operating system will be Windows 2000
    • This router is not a NAT translator
  • Problems
    •  If your LAN uses DHCP (most do) SACWIS needs a static IP. 
  • Some solutions
    • two NIC
      • Two NIC on one computer will create a type of router. 
      • I had a LAN at home and a Cable Modem for the internet, only one computer could hook to the internet. 
      • By taking one computer and putting in two NIC that computer routed or merged the LAN and WAN (with built in software in windows XP)  in other words two separate IP's  on two NIC
      • With SACWIS it would work as one computer in your office would be on the LAN and that other NIC would let it also be on SACWIS, however due to the way that computer hooks to SACWIS (terminal services) other computers on your LAN would not be on SACWIS.
      • You should be able to set the LAN NIC to DHCP and the SACWIS NIC to static IP (unconfirmed) 
  • Changing your entire network to static IP
    • Not recommended
  • Multiple addresses to one NIC
    • Multiple addresses to one NIC require a static route.
    • Default address should be used to connect to the terminal server
  • Once terminal service is in place and functional, additional connect schemas may be tested
    • This will most likely solve a lot of problems for all so please let me know to add any information that may help others.  

     

• Past information
  • Tech Journal January 2002
  • Tech Journal February 2002

   

• Contact Information