The current setup is the cable modem > linksys 4 port router >> SR224 24 port switch AND 2 computers >>> the switch goes to about 6 or 8 of the employees and then to another router type of device. >>>> then the other router type of device goes to another small set of computers. ???
Can anyone tell me the proper way this OFFICE should be set up with each other and with the internet?
We are a graphics design company with 12 or so employees and we share work continuously… we do banner, billboards, commercials, film work, post production etc…
If anyone out there can we I will really appreciate it.
Thanks.
really, the way it ‘should’ be done is based entirely on your needs as a company. do you have seperate divisions in your office, or does everyone communicate with everyone else? are you looking for a client-server network, or peer-peer?
based on the information provided above, i think your network could be simplified. your 24port switch is entirely capable of handling all of your pc’s. if you use the DHCP server in your router, it will assign addresses to all of your pc’s in your network, simplifying it. don’t try to use the dhcp in the cable modem, as it only allows 1 address, and doesn’t have NAT. with no server, here’s how i would do it:
cable modem -> linksys 4port router -> SR224 24p switch -> all the pc’s in your office. this will ensure the fastest connection between all of your pc’s. i’m assuming that you share large files on a regular basis, it may very easily max out your 100mb lan when u do. the small group of pc’s that are currently restrained to 1 cable to your switch are limited in their bandwidth to the rest of your office.
to increase the efficiency of your network, you should divide the workstations into workgroups, linking them to a switch with a 100 mb connection. then you would want to link the switches of all the workgroups with 1 gb connections to your top tier connection, which is then connected to your server or your Internet connection.
if you want to make your network as productive as possible, u can always hire a consultant to design and implement a secure network for you. if u do, make sure that it is scalable, u don’t want to redo your network everytime you expand.
note: i wouldn’t recommend wireless for your installation, as it is severely limited in bandwith and scalability. its a pretty heavy investment to replace all the netcards in your workstations every time a new wireless protocol comes out.
the only wireless i would recommend is for laptops, for presentations, or network monitoring.
Since you have a 4 ports router (and 1 port already taken up to link to your switch), you may use the other 3 ports to link 3 PCs up.
The rest of the PCs (9 others) may use the available ports of the switch.
You may also link all 12 PCs through switch. It’s really up to you how you want it to be since there is no harm whatsoever.
For my point of view you have to options. You can either go wireless or go simple wire.
I know that most business are afraid of wireless for security issues, but now wireless has implement many otherencrytion for their signal that makes them pretty safe to rely on. If you decide to go wireless you only need you cable modem and a wireless router, and wireless adapter for each computer you want to use. The you can select your folders that you want to share, then do a right click and select on sharing. You can put your printer in this way to, if you do that all computers can use that printer.
If you decide to go wired, you only need your cable modem and a 12 port switch minimun. You don;t need an extra router because the cable modem is already doing the function of a gateway router and it usually do the DHCP, thing that the swich doesn;t do because it;s a layer 2 device.
If you have the switch in place you can do Virtual Lan so you can restrict or grant access to your computers. If you don;t use virtual lans all your computers will be in one virtual lan anyways which is Virtual Lan 1.
You should not need a second router. You would get the best results from cabling direct from the 24 port switch direct to all the machines.
Additional, from experience wireless is too slow for graphics.
You want as clean an environment as possible. Every network device creates latency (and a point of failure). The setup should be cable modem > router >switch > computers.