Guide to Networking Essentials Fifth Edition

1
Guide to Networking EssentialsFifth Edition

• Chapter 11
• Supporting a Small Business Network

2
Objectives

• Address the needs of a small business network
• Identify small business network equipment
  requirements
• Identify small business application requirements
• Describe the issues of supporting a small business

3
Addressing the Needs of Small Business Networks

• Small business
• Independently owned and operated
• Does not dominate its field of operation
• Revenues of less than 500,000 and/or fewer than
  500 employees

4
Addressing the Needs of Small Business Networks
(continued)

• In this chapter, a small business has
• Fewer than 200 computers
• One or two locations
• Modest technology needs
• Most small businesses dont require a complex,
  highly restrictive security policy, data
  encryption, or advanced WAN technologies
• There are exceptions one size does not fit all

5
Data and Application Sharing in a Small Business

• Peer-to-peer or server based network?
• When possible and when funds allow, use a server
• If you use a peer-to-peer scheme, limit the
  number of computers hosting network resources to
  minimize potential problems
• Designate as few computers as possible as
  file-sharing computers
• Each user should have a home directory on the
  server, making backups easier
• Other users may have read access to each others
  home directory to facilitate file sharing

6
Data and Application Sharing in a Small Business
(continued)

• Typically, one or more common folders that the
  entire company has access to or departmental
  folders shared among members of a department
• Applications can also be shared across a network
• Many applications can be installed on a network
  file server and run from workstations

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Configuring Simple File Sharing in a Windows XP
Network
8
Configuring Simple File Sharing in a Windows XP
Network (continued)
9
Configuring Advanced File Sharing in a Windows XP
Network
10
Configuring Advanced File Sharing in a Windows XP
Network (continued)
11
Configuring Advanced File Sharing in a Windows XP
Network (continued)
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Sharing Files in a Windows Domain Environment

• If more than one computer is required to share
  files, using a file server with a centralized
  user database is best
• In Windows, install a domain controller
• User accounts only created on the domain
  controller
• Desktop computers/servers become domain members
• This centralization of accounts vastly simplifies
  resource management when resources are spread
  among two or more computers

13
Sharing Files in a Linux Environment
14
Equipment Sharing in a Small Business

• Printers are usually shared in a network
• A typical issue in small businesses is sharing
  personal printers attached directly to a users
  PC
• Better connect printer directly to the network
• Or, use a small network print server box
• Scanners can also be shared
• Some scanners come with their own sharing
  software and cant be shared like printers
• External HDs and card readers can also be shared

15
Communicating on a Small Business Network

• Network communication methods
• E-mail, instant messaging, calendar sharing,
  whiteboard sharing, and video conferencing
• E-mail in-house systems
• Microsoft Small Business Server
• Novells Small Business Suite
• Linux built-in e-mail server (sendmail)
• Instant messaging (IM) is a popular application
  because communication happens in real time
• E.g., Microsoft Messenger, AIM, ICQ, IRC

16
Equipping Small Business Networks

• Most advertisements for network equipment are
  aimed at large enterprise network administrators
• Equipment required for most small businesses is
  considerably more modest
• A rack full of blade servers is overkill for most
  small businesses, unless their business is Web
  hosting
• A typical small business environment might
  consist of one or two servers, some workstations,
  a few switches, and a router to connect to the
  Internet

17
Servers and Desktops

• You may go to small business solution centers
• When purchasing a server
• Buy as much HW as the budget allows, to meet the
  estimated needs for the next 2-3 years
• Memory and storage expansion are critical
• Look for fault-tolerant storage solutions
• E.g., use RAID 1 (disk mirroring) on the drives
  containing the OS and applications and RAID 5
  (disk striping with parity) on data drives
• Business desktop computers emphasize productivity
  software and manageability

18
Networking Equipment

• Where should you put the equipment?
• Most small businesses dont have a large wiring
  closet made especially for the network
• An existing cabinet can be used with an
  eight-port switch bolted to the wall of the
  cabinet
• Dont forget to ensure adequate ventilation

19
Making a Wired Connection

• Running cable from the back of the computer
  directly to the hub or switch might be tempting
• Dont! When you move the computer, you might not
  have enough cable slack
• You should have network jacks at the work area
  wired to a patch panel in the wiring closet
• Category 5e or 6 cable should be used and tested
• Preferable to use switches instead of hubs
• Consider speed, managed/unmanaged, support for
  multiple media types
• Be sure to keep in mind companys security policy

20
Making a Wireless Connection
21
Communicating with the Outside World

• Even small businesses need to communicate with
  the outside world
• Besides Internet connections, many businesses
  need employees to access the company network from
  home or while away on business
• Some issues discussed in this section include
  Internet access, dial-up connections, and virtual
  private network connections

22
Accessing the Internet
23
Accessing the Internet (continued)
24
Accessing the Internet (continued)
25
Dial-up Remote Access
26
VPN Remote Access

• A VPN remote access connection can be made as
  long as both parties are connected to the
  Internet
• VPN modes
• Gateway-to-gateway VPN mode
• Client-to-gateway VPN mode
• Some inexpensive VPN routers support either mode
• Beware, VPN pass-through doesnt create a VPN
  connection
• The number of endpoints or tunnels router
  supports tells how many VPN connections can be
  established

27
Identifying Requirements for Small Business
Applications

• The application needs of small businesses range
  from ho-hum simple to quirky and complex
• Not all software is designed to operate over a
  network with multiple users accessing the data
• Software licensing is also an issue
• Just because an application has been purchased
  doesnt necessarily mean it can be installed on
  the network or on multiple computers
• Consult the end user license agreement (EULA)

28
Small Business Accounting Software

• A number of accounting or bookkeeping
  applications are tailored to small businesses
• As a network technician/administrator, your job
  is not to support the function of these
  applications, but to help ensure that the network
  is set up to adequately run them and to be sure
  data is backed up
• Should the SW be accessible by multiple users?
• How should access to the application be secured?
• Older software packages might not integrate with
  Windows well or support networking directly
• How is the software and its data backed up?

29
Sales and Contact Management Software

• Sales and contact management software offers
  features that are way ahead of a rolodex
• Industry standards Goldmine, Maximizer, and ACT!
• These packages are customer relationship
  management (CRM)
• CRM software has support issues similar to
  accounting software

30
Is Linux a Viable Desktop Alternative to Windows?

• Consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) and
  application support
• TCO is the cost including intangibles such as
  support costs and productivity gain or loss
• In application support, Linux-based Web browsers
  and e-mail clients are more than satisfactory,
  and a number of powerful (and often free) office
  application suites are available (e.g., KOffice,
  OpenOffice.org)
• Support for industry-specific applications is
  lacking
• There are solutions for running Windows
  applications in Linux (e.g., WINE and VMware)

31
Supporting a Small Business

• The job of supporting small businesses can be
  more difficult than supporting a large business
• Large businesses might have somebody who
  specializes in supporting the network
  infrastructure, another who supports servers, one
  who supports desktop OS, and still another who
  supports specialized applications
• Small businesses often use a hired consultant
• This is where you, the entrepreneur, come in

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Entrepreneurs Wanted

• If you decide to specialize in working with small
  businesses
• Understand their needs
• Tell them what technology can do for them
• Important to know the choices available
  (accounting/CRM software, office suites)

33
Entrepreneurs Wanted (continued)

• Understand and respect the way companies do
  business
• Working with small businesses can be financially
  rewarding and create a sense of achievement
• First, convince small business owners to place
  their information technology in your hands

34
Getting the Job

• Before developing proposal, listen to
  requirements
• Talk to owner, manager, people actually using
  the computers, working with customers, etc.
• Small businesses expect vendors to be customer
  friendly
• Be responsive when (potential) customer calls you
• In the proposal, be detailed about whats
  included in the price you are quoting
• Provide multiple quotes when appropriate, and
  spell out the advantages of the higher-priced
  option

35
Securing a Small Business Network

• Do not neglect security in your proposal
• Spell out how you plan to secure network and data
• Determine what type of security will work best
  with the business
• When discussing a businesss needs, be sure to
  emphasize the trade-offs between an open policy
  and a more secure policy
• Factor in how this company currently does
  business and whether tight security is even a
  requirement for its business

36
Passwords and Backup

• Not all businesses need password policies that
  require frequent changes and complex passwords
• It is the consultants job to make technology
  work for a business, not against it
• As long as you explain the ramifications of an
  open security policy, and thats what the
  business wants, you need only carry it out
• Every business needs backup
• Process should be clear and concise so that any
  one of the businesss users can do it
• Can create an image of a hard disk

37
Security from the Outside World

• Antivirus and antispyware software are a must for
  any computer with an Internet connection
• A firewall should be in place for most businesses
  that share a connection to the Internet (e.g.,
  DSL)
• You may use a software firewall (e.g., Windows
  Firewall) or a router equipped with a firewall
• For more complete protection, opt for a router
  described as a firewall router
• If youre running a WLAN, extra care must be
  taken to ensure that outside wardrivers cant
  break into your network and gain free reign of
  its resources

38
Managing a Small Business Network

• In managing a small business network, theres
  nothing like personal contact
• However, sometimes on-site visits are impractical
  or unnecessary
• Ways to achieve remote access to a network
• VPN
• Dial-up
• Telnet
• Windows Remote Assistance
• However remote access to the network is done, it
  must be done securely

39
Summary

• Most small businesses have modest computer
  network requirements that dont require advanced
  WAN technologies, data encryption, or highly
  restrictive security policies
• A server-based solution is often the best
  solution, but a peer-to-peer network is an option
• By default, on Windows XP, file sharing is
  disabled
• When enabled, simple file sharing is on by
  default
• Two most common choices for file sharing in a
  Linux environment are Samba and NFS

40
Summary (continued)

• E-mail is the primary communication tool in most
  networks other tools include instant messaging,
  calendar/ whiteboard sharing, and
  videoconferencing
• When choosing network equipment, you need to
  decide between a wired and wireless network
• Internet connection and remote access usually
  require a broadband connection and a router
• Small business application requirements can range
  from simple and straightforward to very complex

41
Summary (continued)

• Common applications small businesses use
• Office applications (word processor/spreadsheets)
• Accounting software
• Sales and contact management SW
• Working with small businesses requires excellent
  communication skills
• Remote control options should be considered,
  including Remote Desktop through VPN, dial-up,
  Telnet, and Windows Remote Assistance