1. A Solid, Stable Cable Plant
The very backbone of any local area network (LAN) is
the wire that carries the signals or data. This is called the Cable Plant. Older, outdated
Cable Plants can cause many network problems. The original thick or thin net coax Ethernet
cable that early networks used often have stretched these wiring schemes to their limits.
They are prone to have faulty connections that can cause individuals or the entire network
to lose connection with the server, causing lost and corrupted data. Because of the daisy
chain nature of coax cable it can be very difficult and time consuming to find problems.
Current methods of cabling offer greater stability and dependability for the whole
network, where one bad connection can’t bring a whole network to its knees. The use
of Category 5 wire allows speeds from 10mbs to 100mbs (megabits per second), depending on
the type of network interface card (NIC) and Hub used. And when going between buildings,
fiber-optic cable will greatly increase bandwidth or speed. Updating a Cable Plant can
save a lot of headache, not to mention lost productivity.
2. Planning for Current and Future Needs
With the rapidly changing nature of the computing
industry, it is important to plan for your computing and network needs. By doing so, you
can build your network with an eye towards the future and the direction that your company
is moving. Proper planning will allow you to build a network that addresses your needs
today and will be upgradeable to support your future needs without reinvesting in a
totally new network.
3. Adequate Hardware to Provide Dependability and
Speed
There are numerous considerations in choosing the
right hardware for the job. One of the most important considerations is: "What does
it cost you if the network goes down?" A wide range of hardware options are available
to enhance network reliability. Selection amongst these should be tailored to your
business needs to avoid excessive expense. To get the dependability and speed needed for a
network, it is necessary to have adequate computer hardware to do the job. This includes
the CPU speed, amount of RAM memory, type of network card, hard drive capacity, drive
backup method, uninterruptible power, redundant power supplies and more.
4. A Network Operating System that Works with
Today’s Software
The network operating system (NOS) is the glue that
holds the network together. The NOS should have the capacity to handle your current and
future needs. The NOS also needs to work well with the software being sold and developed
today. One of the most popular early network systems was Novell. As most programs are being
written for the Windows operating systems, many companies are finding that there are
distinct advantages to migrating their networks to the Windows XP client and
Windows 2003 server operating systems.
Planning and migration to a new network system can be almost painless by utilizing outside
experts to do the job and train current employees in its usage.
5. Proper Setup and Administration
Proper network setup and implementation of procedures
at the outset can significantly reduce the need for a full-time network administrator.
When network problems occur, a lot more time and expense is usually spent in trying to
correct administration errors when done by inexperienced users, than would be necessary if
properly done to start with by professionals. If your company is not of a size to justify
a full-time professional computer and network administrator, it is highly recommended to
let outside experts do the job when needed. Resist the temptation to let an inexperienced
employee try to do the job in his or her spare time. In the long run this will lead to a
less reliable network, probably cost more money, and can easily keep an employee from
doing what they were hired for in the first place.
6. Software that Allows Employees to Work and
Communicate Together
What a business does, and how it does it, will
dictate the best software solutions needed. Office productivity suites have grown from
standalone collections of a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation and database to a
powerful system of integrated components that supports workgroup solutions. An example is
the capability to support multiple people working on a project. Another example is the use
of Intranets (in house) and the Internet to provide business data communication and
e-mail. Custom applications tailored to business operations extend these capabilities and
provide easy data collection and retrieval using timely, meaningful reports.
Another newer software tool is that used
for peer-to-peer collaboration with multiple users, often in dispersed
locations. These
solutions are becoming more affordable and necessary. Software is key to many increases in
productivity.
7. An Implemented Plan for Network and Data Security
Most business data is crucial to a company and its
loss can have devastating repercussions. Data can be lost or corrupted through hardware
failure, power outages, software viruses, spyware/adware, or operator error. Another issue with business
data is unauthorized access by employees or outsiders. The sensitivity and importance of
the data will determine the steps necessary to protect it.
