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Networking Your Choices : |
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Networking
offers the best example of the double-edged nature of commercial
standards. Networking products from different companies are practically
guaranteed to interoperate, because they conform to the same standards.
But because they conform to the same detailed standards, there is little
that companies can do to differentiate their individual products.
Standardization is a great leveler. So companies try to distinguish
their products by combining multiple features in one device, as well as
by offering different pricing and support strategies. They also do so by
stressing the different "-ities" mentioned above.
There is a tendency to group features based on the
size of the network, but size is a superficial measurement. A small
brokerage office or medical office needs fast response, high security,
and extremely high reliability. A large title search company needs high
reliability and tremendous storage capacity, but probably doesn't need
to pay for the fastest network speed. Here are some general and specific
features to look for in your networking products. The level at which you
implement the following capabilities (if at all) should be associated
closely with the reply to one very important question: How much am I
willing to pay for:
 | Availability.
Availability is a single term that combines reliability and
throughput. It's often used to identify servers designed with these
attributes.
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| Reliability. If you
measure your revenue in dollars per minute, you need high reliability.
Equipment designers primarily gain reliability by using redundant
components. High-reliability servers, routers, storage devices, and
switches feature multiple power supplies, redundant connections, and
even multiple CPUs. You can also cluster servers and routers together
so that each device monitors the operations of the others and is ready
to pick up the load for a device that fails. You can even arrange a
print server so it sends print jobs to a ready printer if the
destination printer fails.
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| Throughput.
Throughput, or network capacity, is related to speed. Fast connections
can offer high throughput if they're properly configured, but high
throughput also means that there are no constrictions or contentions
for network services (such as access to Internet or intranet
connections, to DHCP services, to DNS, and so forth ). The design of
high-throughput systems begins with sufficient transmission and
processing speed and extends to optimal addressing and network
organization.
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| Manageability. Do you
have branch offices where there is no on-site IS support? Do you have
a large campus environment or warehouses that are more than a minute
or two walk from the IS offices? If so, then your networked devices
should be equipped with management capabilities. The Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP) describes specific monitoring and
management capabilities for different kinds of devices. If you invest
in products with internal SNMP services, then you can remotely monitor
and manage their operation. You can also receive notification of
problems and detailed operation reports over time.
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| Scalability. Invest in
scalable equipment so you won't have to replace devices if your
network grows. Companies offer switches and other components in
stackable and chassis-based configurations that allow added devices to
become part of a larger single device. If the size of your network is
fixed and you don't require scalability, though, then you can consider
less expensive closed systems consisting of a single cabinet
with no expansion capability. Is scalability an issue in a home or in
home-office network configurations? Interestingly, yes. Some
home-networking routers come with 4-port switches and some come with
8- or 12-port switches. If you choose a more affordable 4-port device,
then you'll face another investment and reconfiguration of cables if
you add a fifth computer or a printer, a wireless access point, or
some other networked device.
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| Security. Generally,
security features are like insurance. You should have all that you
need, but you shouldn't pay for more than you need. The best way to
gauge your need for network security is to look at the security of the
building housing your network. Do you have a high fence and uniformed
guards controlling building access? Do you grant access to specific
areas based on possession of a key card or through more rigorous
techniques, such as fingerprint scanning? Your investment in network
security should complement your investment in building security.
Networking products offer many types of optional
security features. For example, some Ethernet adapters can encrypt the
data traveling among networked devices. Switches can keep lists of
authorized Ethernet adapters and allow only specific adapters to
access designated servers or services. Specialized certificate servers
will only allow certain individuals to access preapproved
applications. Authentication techniques, such as fingerprint or
retinal scanning, ensure that people are who they claim to be.
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| Warranties and upgrades.
One-year warranties are common on networking equipment, but many
products need periodic upgrades. Companies selling high-capacity and
high-reliability products often offer better warranties. Devices such
as firewalls, routers, and antivirus software need frequent and
regular upgrades. |
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