No matter how experienced you are in your own business, once you make the decision to network your computers, you can expect to feel as though you've been transported to a foreign country where the language is unfamiliar and acronyms replace real words. People talk in terms of Ethernet and coax, client-server vs. peer-to-peer and LANs and WANs as well as star, bus and ring topology.
Whether you're planning to install a network for your entire organization or an individual department, it isn't as difficult as some would like you to believe. The size of the network and the applications narrow your choices considerably, and there's plenty of professional assistance available to help you tailor the system to your needs. However, before you call for assistance, there's a certain amount of research and planning that should be done.
Before you make your first purchase or contact someone to develop and install your network, determine what you want to accomplish by networking your system and what you expect your future needs will be.
Is your goal to downsize and cut costs? Increase productivity? Improve workflow? Consultants sometimes make heady promises in these areas. So rather than rush into anything, you should take a look at your business processes and determine which processes and activities need improvement.
Most networks are installed because people want to share computer files, printers, modems, etc. Others want the ease of communications and the simplicity of data access throughout the organization or department.
Investing $5,000 in network hardware, installation and support just to share a $1,000 laser printer isn't practical or cost-effective. If your objective is merely to share a printer, there are low-cost printer-sharing devices that will handle the task. For e-mail and simple file transfers, inexpensive (but slow) data switches may be adequate. Ports for data switches are less than $100.
The less you know about networks, the more important it is to work with a networking expert, such as a network integrator or value-added reseller. While the Yellow Pages of the telephone book will give you listing after listing of organizations and individuals, you should make certain that the firm you select is trained and certified in networking. Some people are experts in hardware while others specialize in software. You need someone who is an expert in both.
If questions or problems arise, you'll want to have one person to whom you can turn for help, not three or four people pointing their fingers at each other while you wait for the problem to be resolved.
Getting references of organizations that are in a business similar to yours and checking them out is a start, but your network (and your business) are too important to rely on references alone. Visit the business, talk with managers and employees and see for yourself how the network is operating.
Once you find an integrator or reseller who is committed to user satisfaction and support, make certain that his or her organization is adequately staffed and well-trained. Certification is a good indication that they have the know-how and are committed to user satisfaction.
Basic configurations
At its most basic level, a network consists of two computers that communicate across a single wire. While your network will be more complex than this, most business networks consist of less than 50 nodes (individual computers on the network) and use either a peer-to-peer or client-server configuration.
Peer-to-peer is the least-expensive approach that allows computers to communicate with each other without going through a main computer. With it, you can transfer files and use resources directly. A client-server requires a powerful central computer with a large storage capacity. The main system manages all of the activities (printing, filing, communications) and the individual workstations communicate through the server.
For a simple peer-to-peer system, consider something like Artisoft's LANtastic or Novell's Personal NetWare. Both permit resource and file-sharing and allow you to mix PCs running DOS and Windows. Organizations that use Macintoshes already have the software they need for a simple peer-to-peer network with Apple's System 7 operating system.
If you have a mixture of PCs and Macs, have more than 35 machines on the network, or want the power, flexibility and expanded capabilities of a file server, Ethernet and Novell NetWare are your best choice. Although not as fast as Token Ring or FDDI, the use of Ethernet technology has rapidly increased, primarily because of its low cost. Ethernet adapter cards are now available for less than $100 and standardized copper wiring (unshielded, twisted-pair cabling) for connecting workstations is inexpensive. The wiring scheme is also easy to manage, even for large networks.
Using NetWare for this type of installation is also a good choice if you plan to add document imaging to your system. With Novell's new NetWare 4.0, the capabilities of the network operating system have been extended to provide enterprisewide networking with a whole new level of comprehensive management capabilities. The highly modular design of NetWare 4.0 also optimizes application software compatibility and peripheral management, paving the way for the integration of document-imaging systems.
Although it's a little more expensive, you will probably want to consider using a Token Ring system if you're connecting your PCs to a mainframe computer. The installation of FDDI networks is presently expensive and difficult; yet FDDI is very reliable, with built-in redundancy guaranteed. If one node goes down or one cable is cut, the network will continue running. It also has extensive built-in system management capabilities.
Topologies, component suppliers
The topology refers to the manner in which the individual station nodes are linked to the network. In a bus topology, all nodes are connected to a trunk cable that forms the backbone of the network. One advantage of this topology is that it allows for systematic growth. In the star topology, nodes are connected individually to a common device, such as a concentrator. This topology is ideal for large corporations with many local and remote sites to connect. With a ring topology, each node is connected to the next to form a complete loop (or ring). The greatest advantage of this topology is that data collisions cannot occur because only one node can transmit at a time.
With the increased competition organizations face today, you can't afford to risk installing a network that is too slow or one that will leave you with unanticipated network downtime -- and the resulting loss of employee productivity. Keep in mind that the quality of the network you and your integrator develop is directly related to the quality of the components used. Look beyond price when selecting the interface cards, hubs and concentrators that will be used.
Key factors in making your selection include the quality and reliability of the product and compliance with industry standards. The hardware manufacturer should have the same commitment to user satisfaction as your reseller or integrator and should be willing to stand behind its products.
Make certain that your integrator or reseller has assessed the manufacturer's strengths in such areas as the technical support that is provided, the availability of extended warranties and the existence of a customer-satisfaction measurement system.
One way of evaluating the quality of network hardware is to examine the manufacturer's warranty. As a rule of thumb, the longer the warranty, the more reliable the product. Some manufacturers, including CNet, offer an unconditional lifetime warranty with every network interface card produced.
The products you select should also comply with industry networking standards. This simplifies and reduces the cost of your network installation and ensures that products and applications can be added in the future without compatibility problems.
Network security
In addition to all of the technology, configuration and component decisions, you'll be deciding what system and security management features will be needed. The key is to maximize the distributed computing features of the network to improve workflow while maintaining system and data security.
Virtually all of the major network operating systems include system and security-management features. Many of the applications you'll be using in your department or organization will also incorporate security controls. Evaluate these built-in security measures and discuss any special needs with your integrator or reseller.
Knowing your requirements -- and your options -- in every area of the network development cycle will not only provide the platform for developing a successful network, it will be a valuable resource that will continue to expand as the number of applications for your network increases.
Henry G. Wong is executive vice president of CNet Technology Inc. in San Jose, Calif. He can be reached at 408-954-8000. He previously held senior management positions with Wang, Digital Equipment Corp., IBM/ROLM and Burroughs Corp.