Computer Networking

Also read: IT | Software | Hardware | Internet

As a company grows so will its need for more computers. A network will need to be formed linking them together and or linking them to such equipment as printers and scanners. Information will need to be shared between a number of computers in order to help your business run smoothly, efficiently and profitably.

Networking your computers

As a company grows so will its need for more computers. A network will need to be formed linking them together and or linking them to such equipment as printers and scanners. Information will need to be shared between a number of computers in order to help your business run smoothly, efficiently and profitably. By sharing such hardware as tape drives, internet access, printers and scanners you can cut costs. It can get very expensive if everyone has their own printer, scanner etc.

Customer databases can be shared so you can deal with a number of customers at the same time. Orders can be dealt with and dispatched quickly. The most relevant and up to date versions of any data is available to share by everyone on the network.

A scheduled data back up system can be operated form one single point, reducing the risk of data being lost due to an error made by one person.
You will need to find the right linking system for your business, one that will benefit you the most, seek professional advice if you feel the need to it can save you money in the long run.

Questions to consider:

• What number of people should be able to access the network system, how many scanners, computers, printers etc do you believe you will need.
• Do you have enough outlets to support all the hardware you will be acquiring?
• Is there any training required in any field before ruing the hardware.
• Decide what should be connected to what.
• What does the business’s future hold and will the hardware you have or are about to acquire support the future.
• You can always test out any operating system you choose and test software.
• Do you have all the relevant security systems you require; firewall, passwords, UPS, anti virus etc.
• Do you require outside IT support or do you opt for in house IT staff.

Types of Office networks (LANs)

Local Area Network (LAN) can be set up so that employees can share software, files or any hardware equipment. A single internet connection can also be shared.

‘Peer to Peer’ or computer to computer

This means that two or more computers are directly connected. It is a cheap way of networking but often is not as reliable as a server based network and is relatively slower. Any failure incurred at one point will inevitably affect all other computers that are networked.

Client/server

Client/server network. This is where a server is used, one computer that is very powerful stores all your data and each employee is then able to access it from their own PC. Because different types of computers can be linked in this way you can link up a larger number of computers than Peer to Peer networks.
Peer-to-peer systems connect users through others so a failure at one point in the network will affect every computer connected to that network. A failure at a single point in a client/server network will not affect other computers on the network, so long as the server remains intact.
There is wireless networking technology out there. Wireless networking can of course replace cabling networks.