A Dedicated Network Design and Installation Primer

                                                   A Dedicated Network Primer

A network is defined as a group of computers, printers, and other devices that are connected together with cables. Information travels over the cables, allowing network users to exchange documents and data with each other, print to the same printers, and generally share any hardware or software that is connected to the network. Each computer, printer or other peripheral device connected to the network is called a node. Networks can have tens, thousands, or even millions of nodes.

These nodes are connected to a dedicated computer known as a server. This dedicated computer provides a centralized point for file sharing, storage, and access to printers and other devices. Although this sharing can be distributed among the attached nodes, the majority of services are administered via the server. There may be as few as one server or as many  servers as are required to meet company needs. These servers may be only local or can be distributed over a global network.

The server provides a number of additional services which can be as important if not more important than the "sharing"  process. One of the major functions provided is the management of security requirements for the network, as defined by the system administrator. These security functions cover access to the server and network resources in general, which covers files, printers and other devices. The rules set up by the administrator can be as tight or as loose as needed to meet company requirements.

Another service is providing and administering remote access to the network from outside nodes. Remote access capability is made available through a number of different methods. VPN or  Virtual Private Network access makes network services available to the user as if directly connected locally to the server. Another access method is via Terminal Services Support. This gives the user access to the Terminal Services Server which appears to the user node as if all services were locally resident on the node. Access methods can be via dial-up modem, LAN, WAN, T1, or DSL.

Dedicated servers also support Domain Services which can cluster a group of servers together for security and administration purposes. This relieves the local server of the responsibility of security and administration which then releases that computing power to be used for sharing purposes. Administrative time and effort can be concentrated on the domain server.

All-in-all the domain sever is very efficient from the view point of providing services, however, it requires that  man power must allocated for administering the system plus  the cost of an extra computer that is dedicated to the domain. For this reason many companies find that the use of a "peer-to-peer" network is the way to go for networking.

The information provided here is very simplified and uncomplicated, many things were left out of the discussion for purposes of brevity. The decision about which way to go should be left up to knowledgeable analysts and all factors effecting the decision reviewed closely prior to proceeding.

L.J. CRAIG & Associates, Inc. can assist your company with these decisions.