You must plan your network around your own
particular needs. What do you expect from a network? The following
tasks are some you might want your network to perform:
• Receive faxes directly in one computer and print or route them to individuals automatically
• Provide remote access so that you can reach your LAN from elsewhere, via a modem or via the Internet
You should make a list of your networking
goals. You need to provide adequate capacity to meet these and future
needs, but you also don’t need to overbuild.
On the other
hand, if you need access to large databases, want fast Internet
connectivity, or require centralized backup of all workstations, you
need to plan and invest more carefully. We discuss some of the issues
you should consider in the next section.
Are You Being Served?
If you’re planning a network of more than
just a few computers, you need to make a big decision: whether or not
to use Windows Server. The Server versions provide a raft of networking
services that Windows 8 doesn’t have, but you must learn how to
configure and support them.
Note
When we talk about Windows Server here, we mean the business
Server versions. There was a product called Windows Home Server, but
it’s meant just to let you back up files across the network.
Table 1 lists the primary trade-offs between the regular desktop versions of Windows and Windows Server.
Table 1. Primary Differences Between Desktop Versions of Windows and Windows Server
For me, manageability is
the main issue. As you add more and more users, centralized management
becomes more and more important. If you have a network of ten or more
computers, we recommend using at least one copy of Windows Server.
You can certainly use Server with smaller networks, too. Reasons for doing so include these:
• You want join your network to a Server domain somewhere else. This is often the case in a business’s branch office.
• You want to support multiple
simultaneous remote dial-in, or virtual private network (VPN) users.
(Alternatively, you could buy inexpensive VPN routers or software to
handle this.)
• You want to exercise strict security
controls, support multiple signed-in users on one computer, restrict
your users’ ability to change system settings, or use automatic
application installation.
• You want to take advantage of advanced networking services such as Group Policy, DHCP, DNS, WINS, and so on.
When to Hire a Professional
You’ve probably heard this old adage: “If you
want something done right, do it yourself!” It is true, to a point.
Sometimes, though, the benefit of hiring someone else outweighs the
pleasure of doing it yourself.
For a home network, you should definitely try
to set it up yourself. Call it a learning experience, get friends to
help, and, if you run into problems, a high-school-aged neighbor can
probably get them straightened out in 15 minutes. As long as you don’t
have to run wires through the wall or construct your own cables, you
should be able to manage this job even with no prior networking
experience. When something is called “Plug and Play” now, it really is.
The balance tips the other way for a
business. If you depend on your computers to get your work done,
getting them set up should be your first concern, but keeping them
working should be your second, third, and fourth. When your business is
hanging in the balance, you should consider the cost of computer
failure when you’re deciding whether it’s worth spending money on setup
and installation. Hiring a good consultant and/or contractor will give
you the following:
• An established relationship. If
something goes wrong, you’ll already know whom to call, and that person
will already know the details of your system.
• A professional installation job.
• The benefit of full-time experience in network and system design without needing to pay a full-time salary.
• Documentation that describes how your network is set up.
• Time you can spend doing something more productive than installing a network.
If you do hire someone
else to build your network, you should check out that person’s
references first, and stay involved in the process so that you
understand the choices and decisions that are made.
