LAN setup, advice?///////////?

Question

What are the most important things to set up a LAN for a company having about 40 computers.
For example what devices should I use for networking apart (router, modem, NIC)??? Are hubs and bridges important here????
What should I know about the server (DHCP, File, Proxy, Web)??
What policies needed?? Is it the IP??

Answer 1

Carling is right. A company HAS to be concerned about security, and limiting internet access to "legal" uses, else the company may be held liable for "enabling" improper use.

Depending on the incoming Internet link speed, a site with 40 users using the Internet should have a web proxy, caching the access to speed up overall Internet response. That is your "speed" side of things.

A lot of that is free in Linux systems, whether they be file servers, or Linux firewalls. I would recommend a Linux firewall, free or a "supported" version (where you pay for support/config/etc.). Many have web proxy, and security filters and AV packages, to protect the company. These firewalls also do the DHCP and NTP (time sync), along with DNS caching...



For file servers, you can look at Linux servers as well, they work with Windows machines just fine. They can also support a web site, should the company decide to create one (even just an internal web site for employees only - like announcements).

Answer 2

First is the 3 S's (1) Security, (2) Stability, (3) Speed, None of which Microsoft have,



If you want to know anything and everything there is to know about Networking then you need to be looking at Linux. There are a million free tutorial on Network Systems Administration. Linux is free to download with all the software you will ever need, to set up any and every type of network LAN, and WAN Server.



check this out

http://www.google.com/search?q=Free+Linuxx+network+tutoriaals&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=Sabayon:en:unofficial&client=firefox-a

Answer 3

Actually you should have IPs .

The router usage is depend on number of subnet in your LAN . if you have only one subnet the switches are good enough .

i can give you any kind of advice about DHCP, File, Proxy, Web and Mail also