Computer Network Management Help

Computer networks can be of several types, such as local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and wide area networks (WANs). With a computer network in place, home users and businesses can share resources that are available on different computers. For example, if a network is in place, one Internet connection or CD-ROM drive can serve several computers, or one computer can be used to perform backup operations on other computers.

However, if a computer network is to work well, it has to be designed and managed well. The design can be of any kind—bus, ring, or star—and should be based on a topology, such as Ethernet. You can use cabling such as twisted pair or thin coax, as well as a network interface card (NIC) to connect each computer on the network.

When you plan a network, you should begin by defining the business requirements and growth plans for your organization. For instance, growth plans for a network contained on a single floor of a building will differ from those of a citywide, countrywide, or worldwide network. You will need to assess usage requirement issues, such as the number of multimedia computers required, and network management issues, such as who will manage the network.

Next, you will need to assess what hardware you require and what hardware the network will support. Hardware items could include network printers, backup devices, hubs, switches, firewalls, routers, proxy servers, network processors, bridges, repeaters, and uninterruptible power supplies. You will also need to work out how many network points will be required.

You need to select the kind of topology required, the network operating system to be used, the network interface cards, and cabling. You can use a basic topology for a small network but a more complex network requires a hybrid of two or more technologies. You also need to locate the network cables and other devices suitably. You also need to determine where to locate consultants and other support staff for management, security, maintenance, and training.

A good computer network management system can help you share information, access the Internet, and work collaboratively. Since networks are so essential for business operations, you should investigate and analyze various technologies to see which can be used in your organization. You will need qualified engineers to help you set up a network. You can use turnkey solutions to install networks that can be easily upgraded.