Re: Office network

pilch <pilch.30nqk5@no-mx.wirelessforums.org> hath wroth:

>my business is moving premises - nice.

Your machines move themselves?

>I'd like to make or new location wireless, i'm planning to get a nice
>fat pipe in for the broadband connection (if anyone knows any killer
>deals, that would be appreciated).

Rent some shared server space at a colocation facility. Set up some
software so that the customers can pickup and drop off their work.
Upload and download work from your business to/from the shared server.
The idea is to keep the customers off your inhouse system. You don't
want them to directly access the machines, or to bring your internet
connection to a standstill by uploading while you're trying to use the
internet connection.

>As far as networking goes, I need a range of approx. 2000sq ft, but I
>need a real fast connection thats capable of handling large graphics
>files and general traffic - we are a print company so the files can be
>upto 300mb+. Plus we are also sharing a raid server that's got all the
>work on.
>
>There is a mixture of macs & PCs on the network, image setters and
>digital presses - any suggestions please?

Bad idea. Massive file transfers will not move anywhere near as fast
as you expect. Under ideal conditions, a 54Mbit/sec connection will
move data at perhaps 25Mbits/sec. Usually, it's less. If there are
two PC's moving large files, the speed is cut in half or less. Put a
few walls and sources of interference in the area, and your speed with
be much less.

That's not what happens with an ethernet switch. Most copiers are
100baseTX-FDX (full duplex) which can move files at wire speed of
perhaps 90Mbits/sec. If you upgrade to all gigabit ethernet
(recommended), you can easily go at 10 times that speed. Fast is fun.
(Slow is no fun).

Ethernet is usually done with an ethernet switch. The idea is that
traffic going between two ports does not affect the rest of the
network. You can move large files, for long durations, and none of
the machines that are NOT involved in the transfer see any of the
traffic or are slowed down by the traffic. That is NOT the case with
wireless. Wireless is a shared medium, where only one transmitter in
an given area can be on the air at a time. If you perform a bulk file
transfer via wireless, all the other machines come to a grinding halt
during the transfer. You also get to share the channel with the
neighbors, the pizza joint next door, and city municipal network.

Run CAT5 or fiber optic cables. Gigabit ethernet if possible. Save
the wireless for the laptops and PDA's that come and go.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558