Eight tips for successful networking
- Go with the flow. Ethernet and IP have become the de facto networking standards for a reason: they're cheap and capable.
- Be redundant. The September 11 terrorist attacks caused the loss of several billions of dollars' worth of IT equipment, along with inconceivable amounts of crucial business data.
If your business depends on data-and whose doesn't?-it's a good idea to review and potentially improve the ability of your network and storage systems to survive unforeseen disruptions.
- Let your voice be heard. And your face be seen. Voice over IP and videoconferencing are now more than possible using inexpensive hardware and software. If your STD bill causes your stomach to churn each month, consider ways in which running voice and video over your network can trim costs.
- Sleep in. If you've ever been woken at 3am to fix a downed router, you'll appreciate just how useful third-party managed services can be. Telecommunications carriers and service providers have been rushing to take on the hassle of watching your network and responding in the event of a crisis, so let them. As long as you've set up a good service level agreement, you even get the pleasure of blaming someone else if things aren't fixed quickly.
- Shop around. Vendors are in a bit of a difficult financial situation these days, and you may be able to use this to your advantage to negotiate more favourable pricing or purchasing terms.
- Pull the plug. Wireless networks are faster and more robust than ever, and should be high on your shopping list if you have a highly mobile workforce or just want to eliminate wiring dramas.
- Distribute. With high-speed metropolitan area networks now coming into their own, it's possible to centralise storage and application servers for offices within the same city, and to outsource these and other applications to third parties.
- Use the Net. It's not just for surfing anymore. With the right tools, the Net can become a major part of your network infrastructure. Virtual private networks, Voice over IP, videoconferencing, rented applications and even outsourced storage systems can all turbo-charge your company network.
Your story gets a bit repetitive around paragraph nine in the MAN chapter...