Skip Miller
Final Approach
I need some advice about setting up a small network for a business that my wife and her friend will be starting late this summer. I will not be directly involved with this business as an employee but since my wife will be a principal, and as my wife and her friend both have little IT skill beyond knowing where the BRS is and how to do a three-finger salute, I am the de facto IT Consultant and probably the whole IT Department as well.
I can’t say exactly what the business is, as my wife’s current employer doesn’t yet know that she is leaving. Same with the other lady in the business. They are intermediaries in that the end product is a series of educational seminars provided to a highly educated group of people, that is paid for by a different company. Their job is to figure out what will sell, pitch the idea to the large company, and upon getting approval and a budget, hiring a “star power” faculty, renting a hall, advertising the seminar, paying all the bills, and pocketing the surplus.
My wife and her friend are good at this. They have been doing this for their existing employers for years. The business swings on what they know, who they know, and their reputation.
OK, to the IT requirements: I need to design a PC-Windows based network for their office. We should plan on a Phase I system until the revenue stream gets established (could be a year), and then the business could afford a more sophisticated Phase II system. Let’s concentrate on Phase I, but let’s not build a system that must be totally scrapped when Phase II comes along. Phase I is not looking to be as cheap as possible, but expense is a consideration. “Fast. Cheap. Reliable. Pick any two.” Yes, I know that! Let’s not say “cheap”, let’s say cost effective. Phase I should be very cost effective. It must be safe and reliable.
Phase I requires a bare minimum of 3 workstations although even in Phase I, I think planning for 5 is better. The application software necessary is Microsoft Office (primarily Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) and something like Quickbooks. The network will be used for internet connectivity to the workstations and file sharing. The files can be large: 20 meg Powerpoint files are common and maybe up to 50 megs. These files also need to be sent over the internet.
A backup system is required. File and printer sharing among network members is required. Virus protection is a must. There is no need for access to the network from a remote location by laptop in Phase I.
OK, design the network! Should this be peer-to-peer or server based? Why? What network software is required, or will the networking capability of XP suffice? Tape backup, removable HD backup? What virus software? Etc. etc. etc. Remember, chea… umm cost effective. We have to have a system that is reliable and safe, but bells and whistles are not necessary.
With huge thanks in advance.
-Skip
I can’t say exactly what the business is, as my wife’s current employer doesn’t yet know that she is leaving. Same with the other lady in the business. They are intermediaries in that the end product is a series of educational seminars provided to a highly educated group of people, that is paid for by a different company. Their job is to figure out what will sell, pitch the idea to the large company, and upon getting approval and a budget, hiring a “star power” faculty, renting a hall, advertising the seminar, paying all the bills, and pocketing the surplus.
My wife and her friend are good at this. They have been doing this for their existing employers for years. The business swings on what they know, who they know, and their reputation.
OK, to the IT requirements: I need to design a PC-Windows based network for their office. We should plan on a Phase I system until the revenue stream gets established (could be a year), and then the business could afford a more sophisticated Phase II system. Let’s concentrate on Phase I, but let’s not build a system that must be totally scrapped when Phase II comes along. Phase I is not looking to be as cheap as possible, but expense is a consideration. “Fast. Cheap. Reliable. Pick any two.” Yes, I know that! Let’s not say “cheap”, let’s say cost effective. Phase I should be very cost effective. It must be safe and reliable.
Phase I requires a bare minimum of 3 workstations although even in Phase I, I think planning for 5 is better. The application software necessary is Microsoft Office (primarily Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) and something like Quickbooks. The network will be used for internet connectivity to the workstations and file sharing. The files can be large: 20 meg Powerpoint files are common and maybe up to 50 megs. These files also need to be sent over the internet.
A backup system is required. File and printer sharing among network members is required. Virus protection is a must. There is no need for access to the network from a remote location by laptop in Phase I.
OK, design the network! Should this be peer-to-peer or server based? Why? What network software is required, or will the networking capability of XP suffice? Tape backup, removable HD backup? What virus software? Etc. etc. etc. Remember, chea… umm cost effective. We have to have a system that is reliable and safe, but bells and whistles are not necessary.
With huge thanks in advance.
-Skip
The built in print server means any printer can become a network printer.
