Low Cost Network Installations for Small Business

The costs incurred to install a network into a small business environment can be greatly reduced by careful planning and selection of the correct components to build the solution.

The most important factor to consider is the actual wiring connecting the computers, and possibly the telephones, to the integrated system. Network cable can be supplied in a variety of standards, the best value for money standard is Category 5e. This cable is screened to prevent interference and can carry data at speeds of 10Mbs, 100Mbs and 1Gbs when correctly laid and connected. By installing Category 5e cable from the start you ensure that when you wish to upgrade the speed of your network or install additional devices you do not have to replace the cabling.

Once the cable is in place the next step is to decide whether you'll use hubs or switches to connect the computers into the network. The difference between a hub and a switch is quite simple; a hub shares the network flow between all the computers connected to it. Whereas a switch provides the maximum network flow to each individual connection. Therefore, it is necessary to to evaluate the amount of network data that will flow between the computers to make an accurate decision. The best solution is usually to connect the servers and power user computers by switches and then connect the administration computers using a hub which shares the capacity from one of the switch connections.

The NetGear range of switches and hubs are specifically designed to support cascading and allow fast, good value for money Network Solutions to be constructed.

Once the network has been installed the next stage is usually to design a connection method to the Internet. Additionally, the telephone and fax requirements for the company should also be considered with a view to binding some of the systems together. Most small companies would take advantage of either ADSL or ISDN as their connection type to the Internet, and possibly consider ISDN for their telephone and fax needs.

For a Small Office Home Office (SOHO) environment it may be more cost-effective to install one of the Network Alchemy range of ISDN devices. The Network Alchemy CyberGear Gold is a stand-alone device which can act with a single ISDN 2e telephone line to provide a Firewall protected Internet connection, together with up to six telephone extensions running off an integrated PABX. Normal low-cost telephones and fax devices are able to be connected into the CyberGear Gold Gold, allowing you to take your current phones into the new system. Additionally, if you have a server computer in the network, the CyberGear Gold provides a voicemail system which can be integrated into your email and mobile phone systems.

We hope that this quick introduction on how we can network your office gives you an understanding of the processes and equipment involved, for further advice please complete an information request form and one of our team will call to discuss your requirements with you.

For more information please complete an information request form and one of our team will contact you to discuss your requirements