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ORGANIZATION Easy as
EASY ANSWERS
END-TO-END SOLUTIONS
TO NETWORKING YOUR SMALL
ORGANIZATION
.
END-TO-END SOLUTIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Network Solutions for Your Organizations Needs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4
Network Example _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
5
Network Basics What is a Network? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
6
Network Characteristics and Capabilities _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
7
Laying the Groundwork
Before You Begin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10
Planning Your Network _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10
Choosing the Right Equipment
Where People Work Personal Computers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13
Tying it Together Cabling and Wiring _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13
Talking to Each Other Network Traffic _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
15
The Power of Networking Shared Resources _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
17
Deploying Your Solution
Where People Work Personal Computers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
19
Tying it Together Cabling and Wiring _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
19
Talking to Each Other Network Traffic _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
20
The Power of Networking Shared Resources _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
21
Small Organization Networking Example
The Organization and Its Needs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
23
Where People Work Personal Computers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
24
Tying it Together Cabling and Wiring _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
24
Talking to Each Other Network Traffic _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
25
The Power of Networking Shared Resources _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
26
Conclusion
Planning is Key Here is More Help _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
28
Glossary
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
29
Appendix
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
33 INTRODUCTION The primary reasons organizations choose to build networked solutions are basic:
connecting computers and sharing resources can help increase your productivity
and reduce costs. The right solution for you will be determined by your individual
needs, but one fact is true for everyone as an organization evolves or expands,
so does its need to share resources and data, and communicate between users.
Those users often are in different locations. Thats why it is so important to
approach your configuration with careful planning and flexible design. From
running cables to protecting your equipment, you have to be ready for todays
needsand tomorrows growth.
Its easy, for example, to design and deploy a high performance networked
solution using Dells comprehensive line of products and services. And an easy,
effective solution is what you want, whether you are a small office with just a
couple of computers or a larger organization with several hundred. Your computing
resources are a key to success.
Were Here to Help
Dell can help you meet your needs for connectivity and resource sharing, as Dell
has been a partner of small organizations since its inception. Because you are
dealing directly with Dell, your solution from Dell will not only help your
organization, it will be backed by a partner with a proven track record of support
for small organizations.
In the pages that follow, youll find answers to many of your questions about
connecting the computer resources in your office. While it doesnt attempt to cover
all networking technologies to make you an expert, this booklet does cover the
basic building blocks of a network workstations, servers, storage, switches
and printers and the role each building block plays in creating a solution. Using
this information, youll be ready to begin designing a network solution that meets
your needs.
This guide is
your first step
in realizing
how easy a
Dell networked
solution can be.
NETWORK SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR
ORGANIZATION S NEEDS
4
INTRODUCTION NETWORK EXAMPLE
5
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Below is an example of a small organizations network. The various elements of
this network that are highlighted will be explained in detail throughout this guide.
Office
Office
Office
Office
Traffic and Security
Personal Workstations
Cable and Wiring
Shared Resources
Figure 1: A Small Organization Network Example A local area network (LAN) includes at least two computers that contain network
interface cards (NICs) that are connected. The network operating system (NOS)
software allows the computers to communicate with each other. Most current
operating systems including Microsoft
®
Windows
®
, Novell
®
and Linux
® provide a NOS. For getting started with networking, there are two types of networks
that you can consider.
Peer-to-Peer Network
With a peer-to-peer network, there is no central server. This configuration
generally has a single string of computers connected via cabling. Each computer
is an equal, or peer, of the others, and it can share the files and peripherals of
other computers connected to the network. This very simple type of network is
generally best suited for less than five users who need to casually share files and
peripherals.
While a peer-to-peer network is a low-cost, easy-to-install solution, it has some
drawbacks. If one user turns off her workstation, her information or peripherals
will no longer be available for others to share. In addition, accessing data and
applications from another persons workstation can be very slow.
Client/Server Network
A client/server network provides more flexibility than a peer-to-peer network. A
network switch acts as the central communications device connecting your
desktops and notebooks to your server. (See figure 2) A dedicated server in the
network then enables users to access information and share peripherals without
being dependent upon other colleagues systems. In addition, a tape backup can be
installed into a dedicated server, allowing you to back up data on both the server
and all workstations. Client/server networks are typically used when there is a
constant need to access large files and applications or when multiple users want
to share peripherals.
NETWORK BASICS
6
INTRODUCTION
W H A T
I S
A
N E T W O R K
?
Computer with NIC
Computer with NIC
Server
NAS Storage Server
CAT 5e
CAT 5e
CAT 5e
Cable
CAT 5e
CAT 5e
cable
cable
CAT 5e
cable
Ethernet Switch
Figure 2: Simple Network Diagram
Dell Recommends
Start with a client
server network
if you expect
your organization
and information
needs to grow. Small Office Ethernet Network
A small office Ethernet network consists of computers, printers, switches and
other network devices connected using twisted pair cable. You can simplify the
setup and installation of your network by using Dell computers and servers with
integrated network cards along with Dell plug-and-play network switches.
Wireless Network
Adding wireless connectivity to a small network can be as easy as
connecting an access point to the existing network and adding wireless network
cards to the computers that need to access the wireless network. Dells
TrueMobile Wireless products offer standards-based technologies that are
designed to quickly and easily integrate into an existing network.
NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS
AND CAPABILITIES
7
INTRODUCTION
Wireless Network
Workgroups
Ethernet
Switch
Access
Point
Application/Database
Server
Printer
NAS
Storage Server
Figure 3: Small Office Network
Figure 4: Small Office Network with Wireless Support
Workgroup
Ethernet
Switch
Application/Database Server
CAT 5e
CAT 5e
Cable
Cable
CAT 5e
Cable
Printer
NAS Storage Server Wide Area Network
Wide area networks (WANs) connect users and LANs across sites, usually using
analog, integrated services digital network (ISDN), leased lines, cable modem or
digital subscriber lines (DSL) service. Overall, WAN speeds are usually much
slower than speeds on a LAN.
The Internet
Connecting a small office network to the Internet is as simple as connecting a
computer to a modem and dialing an Internet service provider (ISP), for example
the local phone or cable company. For a connection that requires higher
performance or a constant connection, check with a local ISP to find out the
availability of DSL, cable modem, ISDN or T1 lines.
8
INTRODUCTION
ASP and Internet
DSL or
Ca