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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Tech Guide: Small-business networking

By Brian Nadel, Special to ZDNet
May 28, 2004
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/peripherals/soa/Tech-Guide-Small-business-networking/0,139023417,139148960,00.htm


Guide to networking your small-businessTips for implementing a wireless, Ethernet or power-line network in a small-business environment.

Your computer is an island when you set it up, but there's no reason to keep it isolated. Your office network should help your PCs easily share information and resources. And there's payoff in large and small networks alike. Even if you connect as few as two computers, this tiny network will help very small businesess look and act more like the big guys.

Fortunately, it's never been easier or cheaper to link the offices and work spaces to exchange e-mail and instant messages, split a Web connection, and share data.

Building a network from scratch today requires neither a lot of cash nor outside consulting. Networking newbies might want to seek help, but if you're at all accustomed to working with PCs, you can do it yourself and do it right. Read on to learn more about your options.

Build an Ethernet networkBuild an Ethernet network
Cables still offer unrivaled speed and stability.
Unwire with Wi-FiUnwire with Wi-Fi
Wireless networking lets you roam freely.
Turn on a power-line networkTurn on a power-line network
Eliminate the hassle of pulling cables through walls and ceilings.
Share your Internet connectionShare your Internet connection
Save on Internet service costs by splitting a single connection.
Put your printer onlinePut your printer online
Share a single printer among multiple computers.

Brian Nadel is a freelance writer based in New York who is a regular CNET contributor. He has also written for Popular Science, PC Magazine, Mobile Computing & Communications, and Business Tokyo.
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Build an Ethernet network

If you need to support a dozen or more computers and you have to squeeze every bit out of your LAN, use traditional 100BaseT Ethernet equipment and cables. Gigabit Ethernet may be faster, but the equipment remains relatively expensive, both for small and large offices.

Don't forget that in addition to your Ethernet cables, you'll also need a router with an integrated Ethernet switch and possibly additional switches for larger networks. Some routers include print servers or USB ports that let you attach external hard drives to your network. Such features make it easy to back up data and share resources from any machine.

Finally, you'll want to hide all these cables so they don't create an eyesore. Here's your plan:

Ethernet tips:

  1. Build the network around a four-port hub or switch to connect clients. Hubs are not only inexpensive, they're also fast and reliable. If you need to connect more than 10 computers, consider a switch with more ports--switches can handle higher traffic.

  2. Hide the cables wherever you can, such as in plastic tubing, under wall molding or carpeting, in a drop ceiling, inside conduits, or snaked through baseboard heating units. Putting them inside the walls is expensive, and it locks in a floor plan.

  3. Limit cable length to less than 300 feet or the signal may become unreliable. You can always span longer distances with a repeater.


  4. Crimping can save you money and help you get just the right length of cable for your connection.
    Make your own cables. It's easier and cheaper than you think, and it means that every cable will be just the right length. The first step is to get a spool of Cat-5 cable, a crimping tool (see image), and a bunch of modular RJ-45 plugs, available at many hardware stores. Cut the cable to a little longer than you'll need and use the crimping tool to strip off a half-inch of the cable's outer cover without damaging the wires below. Carefully line up and pinch the eight wires between your thumb and forefinger, then gently push them into the plug. Finish by squeezing the crimping tool's handle. Repeat at the other end and test the cable with a connection that you're sure works.

  5. Draw a diagram of your network and save it in a place you won't forget. You may also want to consider sticking a Post-it Note on the back of each device with key specs, such as the device's name and its IP address. This will make maintenance much easier.
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Unwire with Wi-Fi

If you redo the office layout as often as the seasons change or if you want to work on your network wherever you carry your laptop, wireless is the way to go. A modern Wi-Fi router typically gives you a few Ethernet ports for cabled connections, as well as an integrated wireless access point that can connect anyone within range to your network.

Wi-Fi networking tips:

  1. Before you lay down your cash, settle on the right standard for your network. You can choose from the following options:
    • 802.11b is on the verge of becoming a legacy technology. It delivers about 5Mbps of bandwidth and an indoor range of about 100 feet; it's perfect for most small offices.
    • 802.11a boosts throughput past that of 802.11b, but it has shorter range. 802.11a is less susceptible to interference than the other Wi-Fi standards.
    • 802.11g is the top choice for most new wireless networks these days. It's compatible with 802.11b equipment, and it's as fast as 802.11a.
    • Dual-band equipment gives you the best of both worlds: these devices combine 802.11g and 802.11a into a single device.

    Networking standards Actual
    speed    		 Indoor
    r ange    		 Frequency and risk of
    interference    		 Power drain Cost
    802.11b 5Mbps 150 feet 2.4GHz; high Moderate Low
    802.11a 22Mbps 100 feet 5GHz: low High High
    802.11g 20Mbps 150 feet 2.4GHz; high Moderate Moderate
    Dual band 22Mbps 150 feet 2.4GHz 5GHz; varies Moderate High

  2. Position the access point in a central location to create a sphere of connectivity that hits all of the office's nooks and crannies. A good Wi-Fi access point can reach one floor above and below.

  3. Mount the access point above objects that can block radio signals. Put the access point or the router on top of a tall bookshelf or cubicle wall or attach it high on a wall or a ceiling.

  4. Try using an antenna or a wireless repeater if there are areas that your Wi-Fi router can't reach.

  5. Because hackers browse wireless networks for free rides or worse, for access to your data, use the strongest WEP or WPA encryption settings available to your device; don't broadcast the network's name if you can help it. Many routers allow you to disable the broadcast through a simple check box on their management interface.
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Turn on a power-line network

One of the easiest ways to connect machines is with a power-line network. Power-line gear transforms any AC outlet into a networking port and can deliver data at about the same speed as 802.11b equipment.

Power-line tips:

  1. Power line is a good choice for technophobes. You literally just plug in the network adapter, and you're online. Most power-line adapters come in Ethernet or USB flavors, making them easy to connect to just about any computer.

  2. Plug the power-line bridge directly into an outlet; a surge suppressor can rob bandwidth or make for unreliable connections.

  3. While most devices have a range of more than 300 feet, sometimes adjacent outlets won't connect because there are actually hundreds of feet of wire between them. If you can't connect, try a different outlet.

  4. Most power-line gear is based on the HomePlug standard, which provides adequate 56-bit DES encryption and excellent compatibility, but be sure to change your power-line network's name and password from the default settings.
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Share your Internet connection

How do you get a Web connection to each PC? It's easy. In fact, a single broadband connection can be shared by dozens of workers so that each computer has access to all that the Internet has to offer.

Internet-connection sharing tips:

  1. Consider getting a combo cable or DSL modem with a wireless router. These devices do it all, save space, and integrate the setup.

  2. You'll need to make sure that each connected computer has the same workgroup name, found in the Windows System Properties section. Windows computers use the workgroup name for services such as file and printer sharing.

  3. Set the hard drives of each PC so that they can share data. That way you can forget about running around with floppy disks or CDs. You can share a folder or a drive by right-clicking it in Windows and selecting Sharing and Security. The Sharing and Security panel also lets you establish permissions for specific user groups so that you can give certain users access while denying access to others.


Right-clicking your My Computer icon and selecting Properties lets you choose the workgroup name for your Windows network.
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Put your printer online

What about printers and network storage? You can share connected printers, making each one accessible to any computer on your network.

Printer-sharing tips:

  1. LAN-ready printers make printer sharing easy, but they can be expensive.

  2. You can use a print server to connect a printer directly to the network.

  3. You can also share printers that are connected directly to computers on your network. This puts an extra load on the computers sharing their printers because they have to manage all of the print jobs for the network, but sharing a printer from a PC saves you the additional cost of a print server, and it's a good solution for small offices with light to moderate printer use. You can share a printer through the Printers and Faxes control panel. Just right-click the printer icon for the printer you want to share and select Sharing.

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