NETWORKING

Office networking products can be split into several categories. These are networking equipment such as routers and hubs, equipment to connect you to the internet such as DSL routers and firewalls and the wiring needed to connect it all together or, alternatively, the use of wireless networks.

Hubs, Switches and Routers

In a small office (or home) network you will want to connect your computers to each other, to the internet, to printers and to servers. The basic piece of equipment used to do this is the hub or the more advanced (and common now) switch. This equipment is now very cheap for basic versions (under £40). Once your network reaches a certain size you may need a router to split your network into more manageable chunks and move the data around more efficiently.

Internet Connection

To connect your network to the internet via ADSL broadband services you will need an ADSL modem. For connecting one PC to the internet you should receive sufficient equipment when first subscribing to a broadband contract. To attach more computers you will require an ADSL router which combines the ADSL modem and the routers and switches discussed in the section above in one handy piece of equipment. This is normally sufficient to connect an office of up to 4 computers to each other and to the internet. If you have broadband via a cable company then similar pieces of equipment can be bought to do the same job.

Network Cables

Network cables are needed to connect your PCs to the various network equipment mentioned above. Ready made cables of standard lengths can be easily bought though for long cable runs or a large number of cables it is cheaper to buy custom made cables of the required lengths. Cable can be run over suspended ceilings or under floors, but under no circumstances should they be left lying across corridors.
Many people now install wireless networks because of their ease of use, allowing PCs to be easily moved and installed without worrying about running cable to each location. The downside is difficulty in setting up correct security policies and the general robustness of such networks. If putting in a network for a desktop PC we would always recommend using a wired network if possible. Network cables for offices are now almost exclusively of the 'UTP' type (unshielded twisted pair) which comply to various standards, the CAT5e being the most commonly used at the moment.

Wireless Networks

Wireless networking has many advantages over wired networking, making it easy to place a computer in almost any location within range of the base station. Many ADSL broadband routers now have wireless 'WiFi' (Wireless Fidelity) equipment built into them putting this technology into easy reach of small offices and the home user. This can allow a user to wander around the office with a laptop and maintain a network connection, and even use it outside in the garden. However there are downsides, with the security system used being switched 'off' by default and some people finding it too complicated to enable. This means that anyone nearby with a WiFi laptop can use your network, your broadband and maybe even see your data. For this reason we would recommend using wireless only if necessary and to make sure that sufficient security is enabled if it is used.

If you would like some advice on how these services can benefit your business, please email us to arrange a time for an informal chat, a site visit or a quote.