alarm monitoring network

atomic7431 · 2 Jan 2013 at 01:29

ok today i was asked if i would network 14 computers (supplied by dell) up to a server (being supplied by someone else) for the purpose of monitoring burglar alarms on business such as asda etc.

Can anyone give advice on the type of network switch required and router, i have made sure the gentleman has got gigabit ethernet cards in all the computers and I will lay cat 6 cableing everywhere.
Thinking of a 24 port switch for a bit of future expansion if required, just wondering if the server will be doing the monitoring and then sending the alarm notification to an attached machine using there program to talk to it or if the switch will have to do the monitoring, maybe i need to ask the guy exactly what will be on the server in regards to software relating to the monitoring/alarm detection side of it?

What are the thoughts of anyone with no doubt more knowledge than me?

Also what would be the average price for such a network installation as he already had a quote which he told me the amount but he knows im a sole trader and so costs may be lower.

bremen1874 · 2 Jan 2013 at 03:54

For the described usage Gigabit is irrelevant, as is Cat6 cabling. There's no downside to using them, but no benefit either.

My first port of call would be my public liability and professional indemnity issuers. If the network goes down and break-in is missed they’ll be after someone to blame. If an alarm call from an ASDA gets missed they’ll be serious questions and serious lawyers.

Have you got the kit to certify a network installation? I’m not talking about a £10 continuity checker, but something that’ll actually check properly!

I do install some network cabling for SMEs, but this is the sort of job I’d just walk away from.

leigh_boy · 2 Jan 2013 at 08:31

agree with above id walk away. and ask an alarm company to deal with it.

atomic7431 · 2 Jan 2013 at 09:17

mm Thanks for the input, seems i dont have the correct checking equipment and dont want a law suite for potential missed breakins! The job seemed simple at first glance but the more i read the more im not sure. They were quoted £27000 by another company which seems a lot to me.

ShortWarning · 2 Jan 2013 at 10:22

I very much doubt their insurance company would cover them unless they are using professional alarm installers/monitoring.

£27k is a lot to spend when they get loads stolen that their insurance company won't pay for.