Need advice on networking an office

[2bullish]

OK, we are moving offices and I want to change the current setup.

The office will have a...

data server
print server
3 x printers
1 x photocopier
2 x pc's
6 x laptops

All the laptops have wireless tech.

Whats the best way to setup an efficient working environment. We are using a negear wireless modem, router at the moment with the server wired into the hub and 1 printer wired into the hub. The rest of us are wireless.

I don't like this as we often lose our internet connections because the Netgear router is crap. And we often cannot find the printer.

I want to start from ther ground up, suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I know a little about computers but am out of my depth on setting up and maintaining an office environment.

I want to keep the lappy's wireless, the rest I want wired.

Thanks

 

[ste_bla]

How much £ ?
how big is the wireless coverage needed to be?

 

[2bullish]

How much £ ?
how big is the wireless coverage needed to be?

Don't have an allocated budget, whatever is the cost, it will have to be paid. The office is 1600 sq feet.

All the equipment I mentioned earlier exists already, apart from the print server which is being built at the moment from some old parts I have lying around.

I want to replace the router we have at the moment because I think its rubbish.

 

[csmager]

Best thing for you to do if you think the netgear's crap is to go for separates:

i.e. get a decent wired router and a wireless access point.

 

[2bullish]

Best thing for you to do if you think the netgear's crap is to go for separates:

i.e. get a decent wired router and a wireless access point.

Thats what I want. What I need advice on is the equipment I will need and how to best set everything up. I dont know much about networking. If you can help or point me in the right direction that would be cool and much appreciated.

On another note if there are network specialists out there on this board that want a bit of foreigner work and are based in Manchester, Im all ears.

I could do with someone to "set up" the office and the machines and also advice on the best way to setup the file system and advise on security, data protection etc.

 

[Deleted member 58846]

OK, we are moving offices and I want to change the current setup.

The office will have a...

data server
print server
3 x printers
1 x photocopier
2 x pc's
6 x laptops

All the laptops have wireless tech.

Whats the best way to setup an efficient working environment. We are using a negear wireless modem, router at the moment with the server wired into the hub and 1 printer wired into the hub. The rest of us are wireless.

I don't like this as we often lose our internet connections because the Netgear router is crap. And we often cannot find the printer.

I want to start from ther ground up, suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I know a little about computers but am out of my depth on setting up and maintaining an office environment.

I want to keep the lappy's wireless, the rest I want wired.

Thanks

If I was running this tiny network what I would do is basically set the server as the print server / file server (depends if they are network printers or usb or parallele).

I would then buy a 10/100/1000 8 port switch (the gigabit to make it future proof and expansion)

Off one of the gigabit switches I would place the adsl wireless router (or a cable router) coming off it, maybe a cisco brand if money is not an issue or a linksys for budget (This network is money dependant really..........).

I would put the 2 desktops on a gigabit link and wireless on the laptops.

I would then create 1 share on the server Called:
1: USERS (All Access This Share Where Main Files Added)
--- with sub folders if needed

On The Server create a new login identity the same as all the other identities on the laptop because this allows password syncronisation to allow easy access to files e.t.c, but because it is not more than 15 workstations a domain controller isn't really needed so your os could be anything on the server that allows permissions and shares and allow printers to be installed.

 

[2bullish]

I forgot to mention all hardware has XP pro and is of decent quality e.g the server will be the rig in my sig but with added raptor for raid + 1 and another big hard drive. It will have usb backup HD as well.

Money is not an option as all the computers exist, just bought some more Dell laptops of OcUK. I will buy myself another rig for my home, hence swapping my home PC. If you want a budget guideline then £5000 or below would be acceptable, this needs to include a large plasma scree as well and my replacemnt home rig.

We have a large boardroom which we will stick in a plasma screen, and I want the server to be attached to that as well as its own monitor, so I can display walkthrough CGI to clients that will be on the server.

Does that make sense.

 

[Deleted member 58846]

I forgot to mention all hardware has XP pro and is of decent quality e.g the server will be the rig in my sig but with added raptor for raid + 1 and another big hard drive. It will have usb backup HD as well.

Money is not an option as all the computers exist, just bought some more Dell laptops of OcUK. I will buy myself another rig for my home, hence swapping my home PC. If you want a budget guideline then £5000 or below would be acceptable, this needs to include a large plasma scree as well and my replacemnt home rig.

We have a large boardroom which we will stick in a plasma screen, and I want the server to be attached to that as well as its own monitor, so I can display walkthrough CGI to clients that will be on the server.

Does that make sense.

Makes perfect sence

Well since money is not an issue maybe rack mounted would be nice to keep it all nice and tidy and locked for security.

Also you may want to consider antivirus security on all machines that monitors the server aswell as the workstations.

Seems to me that its going to be a nice little network.

 

[R4z0r]

Get yourself a Juniper Networks NetScreen-5GT Wireless. This will take care of wireless, ADSL and has a small switch. Not to mention one of the best firewalls available. Shop around and perhaps check out the major auction site as these things aren't cheap.

As for the printers, you should be able to run of the fileserver, if not, pickup one of those HP print servers as they are pretty good.

 

[2bullish]

Get yourself a Juniper Networks NetScreen-5GT Wireless. This will take care of wireless, ADSL and has a small switch. Not to mention one of the best firewalls available. Shop around and perhaps check out the major auction site as these things aren't cheap.

As for the printers, you should be able to run of the fileserver, if not, pickup one of those HP print servers as they are pretty good.

With respect mate Ive looked this up and its less than a hundred pounds for the Juniper so I think i can stretch.

 

[bigredshark]

With respect mate Ive looked this up and its less than a hundred pounds for the Juniper so I think i can stretch.

Umm, no it's not, a NS5GT ADSL goes for about £350 new off the top of my head, a wireless version would be more.

I've get the non wireless version for router and firewall and get cisco or 3com access points depending on budget

 

[2bullish]

Umm, no it's not, a NS5GT ADSL goes for about £350 new off the top of my head, a wireless version would be more.

I've get the non wireless version for router and firewall and get cisco or 3com access points depending on budget

Oops looking at the wrong product. Looks just what I need. You say Cisco, or 3com what do I need in your opinion. I will be adding an extra 4 comps to this through staff over the next year.

EDIT

To be honest with you mate I'm gonna get a pro in I think. If I mention other products I get deleted. If I say I want someone to come in and fix my network, it gets deleted, if I say I want someone to help re-design my web site it gets deleted. All I wanted to do is keep it within the OcUK family but I cannot do that even though I buy my product from here and am not a competitor, well, unless you think seeling house is the same a selling computers that is.

Left a bit of a bad taste tbh so I'll go elsewhere. Thanks for your help anyway dude.

 

[bigredshark]

Well cisco access points are good but not cheap, 3com seem to work well and won't break the bank. for a switch, a cheap linksys or whatever box will do but if you're looking for the best on the market you couldn't go far wrong with the cisco catalyst express series, web interface and easy to use!

 

[robjf]

Dont be disheartened by these forums as over the years i have learnt a lot for free (members input). This is the reason why some of your posts have been deleted, it would be possible for members to make a financial gain through some of the services you have asked for, which is against the rules (quiet understandably) here.

Hope you understand this and also hope you get the network you want, just follow the suggestions and you should be able to get the level of advice you need.

Rob

 

[2bullish]

Dont be disheartened by these forums as over the years i have learnt a lot for free (members input). This is the reason why some of your posts have been deleted, it would be possible for members to make a financial gain through some of the services you have asked for, which is against the rules (quiet understandably) here.

Hope you understand this and also hope you get the network you want, just follow the suggestions and you should be able to get the level of advice you need.

Rob

No problemo.

So to recap I need a Juniper wireless router, a cisco switch I take it I din't need an access point as thats taken care of by the Jupiter, is that right?

 

[Curiosityx]

If money is no object have a consultant come in and give you a spec so that it gets done properly and efficiently.

Firstly though your going to want to look at cabling and the avaliablity of network points for all your equipment. Once you have a good idea of placement you can then move onto the infrastructure.

 

[2bullish]

If money is no object have a consultant come in and give you a spec so that it gets done properly and efficiently.

Firstly though your going to want to look at cabling and the avaliablity of network points for all your equipment. Once you have a good idea of placement you can then move onto the infrastructure.

May still do that if I think its beyond me as it has to be done right and on time for the office move. The office has cabling ducts all the way around the walls, with banks of rj45 sockets at intervals, so the cablingt should ba a doddle, once Ive worked out how much I need and in what lengths they need to be cut etc.

Been given a contact name of a consultant and will get a quote from him and then another to compare.

 

[Curiosityx]

Ok, is the equipment free standing or rack mounted?

Have you got an area that is well ventilated that could be designated a comms room?

If you want reliable wireless connectivity for not just internet access but also file and print services consider getting rid of the netgear box and buy a business grade device such as a Cisco intergrated services router like an 877w. Its should be sufficient for 6 laptop users.

Printers ideally should come off there own print server, if they have ethernet connectivity connect them into the infrastructure using a patch pannel and switch then share them off the server.

 

[bigredshark]

If it was me I'd seperate the wireless access point and the router, seperate components is usually the best way. I'd also use the juniper netscreen 5 adsl instead of a cisco router in a small business, because it doesn't require you to know IOS to use it effectively and it's a very very good firewall.

A stand alone access point or two if coverage needs it and a decent switch should do the job, a managed switch will help if you ever move to a voip phone system in the future and is probably a better investment than a cheap gigabit switch (though most cheapish managed switches will have a pair of gigabit ports you could use to connect your server)

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6545/index.html

- the 24LC would be my choice, though you'll find cheaper options from 3com or HP

 

[zetec452]

The 3com wireless units aren't bad at all. Put in three bridged WAP points in a big house, just so the chap could use his laptop by the swimming pool.