Networking

A couple of years back, networking simply referred to stretching lengths of cable across the office floor. However, with the advent of wireless technologies, going wired or wireless is the first hurdle and dilemma most people will encounter.

The decision to go wired or wireless will largely depend upon the type of computers you have or plan to introduce. If most of the PCs in your office are going to be desktops then I suggest you go for wired networking. However, if most people are to use laptops, then wireless is definitely the answer—primarily for the convenience it offers.

When going wired, think long term—I would recommend going the Gigabit Ethernet way. It will significantly improve network speed and also offer higher bandwidth, thus taking care of congestion. When putting up the network, choose good quality products—don’t try to cut costs and settle for anything because it’s cheaper than the rest.

Switches are getting cheaper, and hence I encourage buying them over hubs. Vendors such as 3Com, D-Link, Netgear, and HP have good LAN Switches and an unmanaged 16 port Gigabit Ethernet switch won’t cost more than Rs 16,000. Pair these Gigabit switches with proper Category 6 (CAT 6) cables to extract maximum benefits. CAT5E can also be used with Gigabit switches, but I still recommend opting for CAT 6 cables.

Deploying a wireless network requires less time than wired network and there are few considerations you need to keep in mind.

To maximise the signal coverage area, wireless devices have to be installed high up. When planning seating, locate a spot such that the wireless device falls in the centre and the client devices (laptops or cell phones) fall within the signal coverage radius. Avoid installing the wireless device near wooden cabinets, metal objects or at desk level as this will lead to attenuation of signal and hence lesser coverage. Mounting the devices high results in signal reflecting off the ceiling thus improving signal coverage.

Most devices come with omni-directional antennas and broadcast signal around the router; good when you put the router in the centre of the room but not ideal when the device is mounted on a wall. You can buy a high-gain directional antenna which will direct maximum signal in the direction you want. There might be situations where some part of your office might not get enough signal, use repeaters to improve the strength. Network security is a concern with wireless networks—ensure your devices use the highest possible security measure possible. WPA2 offers good protection and is available with almost all new Wi-Fi devices.

Vendors such as Linksys, D-Link and ASUS have some real good products. Linksys has two ranges of products—one aimed at home users and other at professional; opt for the professional (WRT) series—the WRT-54G is quite a poplar product. D-Link has come out with some real good products and they were awarded in our recently concluded test. The D-link DIR-655 has loads of features, is compatible with 802.11N devices and offers blistering performance.

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