Delivering High-Availability Network Infrastructure for Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland’s New National Children’s Hospital Facility

Project at a Glance

About Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Ireland provides accommodation and support for families whose children are undergoing treatment for serious illnesses.

Located beside the new National Children’s Hospital, the organisation’s latest House represents its largest development to date. The four-storey facility includes 52 ensuite family bedrooms alongside communal kitchens, lounges, quiet spaces, and play areas designed to support families during extended hospital stays.

A reliable and well-structured digital environment is essential to the daily operation of the building, supporting both residents and staff services throughout the facility.

The Requirement

Castle Computers was engaged to design and deploy the active network infrastructure for the new facility.

It is important to note that Castle Computers did not install the structured cabling infrastructure. The physical cabling plant was provided as part of the wider building works, and Castle Computers’ role focused on network design, planning, and deployment of all active network equipment.

The network needed to support:

• Resident Wi-Fi access throughout the facility
• Staff administration and communications
• VoIP telephony
• Payment processing systems
• Building management and operational systems

The solution also needed to deliver:

• Reliable wireless coverage across all floors
• Secure separation of network traffic
• High availability and operational resilience
• Centralised monitoring and management
• A scalable design for future expansion

The Solution

Castle Computers designed and implemented a resilient, centrally managed network platform built around performance, security, and scalability.

A structured fibre backbone, provided via the building’s cabling infrastructure, links the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) with communications cabinets on each floor. Within the MDF, a dedicated 10Gb fibre aggregation switch forms the core of the network, delivering high-speed interconnection between all areas of the facility.

To ensure secure and efficient operations, the network was segmented into eight dedicated VLANs. This logical separation isolates resident traffic, staff systems, telephony, management services, and building operations while maintaining centralised control.

For internet resilience, the facility was provisioned with dual independent connectivity services: a primary fibre connection and a secondary wireless failover link. Automatic failover ensures continuity of service in the event of a primary circuit failure.

Wireless connectivity was a critical design element. Twenty-eight UniFi U7 access points were deployed throughout the building to deliver consistent coverage across family bedrooms, communal areas, staff zones, and shared facilities.

To further enhance reliability, two UniFi UDM Pro Max gateways were deployed in a Shadow Mode high-availability configuration, providing redundant gateway infrastructure and automatic failover at the network edge.

Implementation

Castle Computers worked in coordination with the wider construction and IT stakeholders to deliver the active network deployment in line with the overall project schedule.

Key activities included:

• Installation and commissioning of MDF core network equipment
• Deployment of a 10Gb fibre aggregation switch for backbone connectivity
• Installation and configuration of managed switching infrastructure
• Deployment of dual UDM Pro Max gateways in Shadow Mode HA
• Configuration of eight segmented VLANs
• Integration of primary fibre and wireless backup internet services
• Deployment and optimisation of 28 UniFi U7 access points
• Firewall configuration and security policy implementation
• Full end-to-end testing and validation of all active systems

The structured cabling infrastructure was delivered by other project stakeholders and provided the physical layer for the active network design.

The Results

The completed solution provides Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland with a secure, resilient, and scalable network platform supporting both operational requirements and resident experience.

Reliable Connectivity for Families

Families benefit from seamless wireless coverage throughout the building, enabling them to stay connected with work, education, and support networks during their stay.

Stable Operational Environment

Staff and facility teams operate on a secure, segmented network supporting communications, administration, telephony, and building operations without disruption.

Built-In Resilience

Dual internet connectivity combined with high-availability gateway infrastructure provides multiple layers of redundancy, reducing the risk of service interruption.

Scalable Architecture

The network design supports future expansion and additional services without requiring significant redesign or infrastructure overhaul.

Simplified Management

A centralised UniFi management platform enables efficient monitoring, maintenance, and support across the entire active network environment.

Technology Deployed

• 2 × UniFi UDM Pro Max Gateways (Shadow Mode High Availability)
• 1 × 10Gb Fibre Aggregation Switch (MDF Core)
• UniFi Managed Switching Infrastructure
• 28 × UniFi U7 Wi-Fi Access Points
• Primary Fibre Internet Connectivity
• Secondary Wireless Failover Connectivity
• 8 Segregated VLANs
• Centralised UniFi Cloud Management Platform

Conclusion

The Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland project demonstrates Castle Computers’ capability in designing and delivering secure, high-availability network infrastructure within complex multi-use environments.

By focusing on the design and deployment of the active network layer — including wireless, switching, routing, segmentation, and resilience — Castle Computers has delivered a robust digital platform that integrates seamlessly with the building’s physical infrastructure.

The result is a reliable and scalable network that supports families, staff, and essential services, ensuring connectivity remains available when it matters most.

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