Network Planning
Making a Network Plan
- Don't Rush through the planning phase
- Write down the network plan
- Let someone else read your network plan
Taking Stock
What you need to know
- Computers' processor type and speed
- size of hard disks and arrangement of partition
- Amount of RAM
- version of DOS/Windows
- type of monitor
- type of printer
- types of software
DOS - MSD (Microsoft Diagnostics) to the rescue!
Win 95,98 - Control Panel | System | Device Manager
Why Do You Need a Network, Anyway?
- share files
- share data
- share programs
- share software
- communications
Three Basic Network Decisions You Can't Avoid
BND #1: What network operating system will you use?
- Novell's NetWare
- Windows NT Server
- LANtastic
- Windows for WorkGroups
- Windows '95
- Other
BND #2: What arrangement of server computers will you use?
- Use a dedicated server (doesn't have to be the biggest and fasted computer)
- Plan how the program and data files will be arranged
- Consistently assign drive letters to network drives
- How many servers and what types (file, printer, domain controllers, etc.)
BND #3: How will you cable the network?
- Cable
- twisted-pair (UTP - 10BaseT)
- coax (thinnet - 10Base2)
- fiber (10BaseF)
- NICs
- hubs
- network diagram
Networks to Go: Using a Network Starter Kit
Usually peer-to-peer, thinnet networks
A Sample Network Plan
