Re: FN-FORUM: Setting up a LAN - info and quotes please.

date posted 5th January 2008 03:31

Alex Townsend wrote:
>
> [snip]
>> Is it possible to setup the child company with a separate network (but
>> sharing the same LAN cables as the parent company, within their
>> current office)?

snip

>> First thing I'd suggest to do, if they're wanting to run (at the moment)
> on the same cables etc., is use a different subnet.
>

agreed,

you might also consider a serious router which will allow you some more
flexibility,

I use a Draytek router with adsl which offers very good configurability
to deal with situations like this but its not cheap - lots cheaper than
hiring someone though.

- draytek site

Virtual LAN (VLAN)

The Vigor 2800's VLAN facility enables you to segment each of the
router's four Ethernet ports, so that each is a separate virtual LAN.
You can create VLAN groups which include or exclude any of the ports so
that groups, departments and companies can communicate with each other,
or not. For example, two companies could share the same broadband feed,
without having access to each other's networks.

http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2800.html

you can manage it remotely, and if you need access the VPN stuff works well.

Sorry I sound like an advert - but a pair of these over a distributed
site saved my sanity
- the client was an organic farm, with various operations all running
out of the same place - with two offices about 3 miles apart on
different telephone exchanges, some people should be able to see all the
network some couldn't depending on their role, additionally some people
needed to be able to get access to the accounts package from either
office with vary degrees of permissions. nightmare.

I put in pair of these about 2 years ago and got it all sorted with in
a week (calender time - about 3 days - hours) and if they rang up
afterwards because something was wrong I could see the network and if
necessary directly access the pc involved.

Sadly this reduced my revenue a bit, but I did have more time to get on
with more interesting stuff. ( and I negotiated a maintenance contract!)

After that I bought the really expensive one - with voip and wireless,
cost about Ł170, never falls over, 100% satisfied, apart from the
printer port/usb port which seems to be an afterthought/hangover and
didn't have proper support when I last looked.

Check out the new models now about Ł150
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/MFR/?SupplierID=9

I can't be bothered to look right now as mine does all that I need.
Please tell me if I am missing anything.

HTH
Carrie