Network Configuration

The network configuration or topology can also adversely affect network performance. Check for the following conditions:

Check network configuration to ensure that it is within the official guidelines for the media and topology. Pay special attention to the number and location of repeaters and bridges.
Consider work group affiliations when determining which network is best suited for a particular station. Planning a network based on work group affiliations can reduce the amount of intranetwork traffic. Put stations that routinely share resources on the same net (NFS mounting, same NIS domain, electronic mail, financial databases).
If connecting large subnets, use a dedicated router (station that performs routing function only) as the primary router. Ensure that there are at least two ways in and out of a network, because one of the routers will eventually fail. The router should also use appropriate filters to filter out unnecessary traffic.