Network Design and Support

I've long maintained that a computer without a network is about as useful as a Ferrari without a road. The power expands with the connections, you get flexibility instead of straitjackets, and you can forget about garbage peripherals by scattering first-class tools at various places on the network instead of putting cheap junk everywhere.

I've built most of the Windows NT-based networks on South Whidbey. Each uses a moderate system running Windows NT as a file server, they all provide high-speed Internet connections (DSL provided by Whidbey.NET), they host from 3 to 25 client systems running Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP, not to mention Macintoshes. I spend a good chunk of my time keeping these running smoothly, but I spend the bulk of that time on the client machines, not the servers, which just keep plugging along.

For both cost and security reasons I am now starting to install Samba servers instead of NT. The same hardware will provide better network performance, and there are no license fees for either Linux or Samba. Combined with central user administration as an option, this is a powerful way to expand a network without committing buckets of ongoing money to Microsoft.

For one client with five locations I have integrated SmoothWall firewalls between the network and the Internet. This offers unbeatable security to the network, and provides a path to connect ("tunnel" is the technical term) the computers in different offices at low cost with high-level encryption for security.

One client was outgrowing their office when the space directly across the street became available for rent. Rather than put another Internet connection and another server in the second office, I built a wireless "bridge" between the two offices. An Apple Airport mounted on the wall of each office talks to the other Airport, passing data over the street at 11 megabits per second. This link was done with inexpensive antennas and spans about 150 feet, by choosing higher-gain focused antennas this technology can extend up to 15 miles if there is a line of sight between them. I'd enjoy doing another one of these.

For more information: vanhorn at whidbey.com