
Buying
Networks: The Basics
If you are establishing
a new network, we recommend 10/100 Mbps networking hardware as it is
the most common and compatible type available. Using 10/100 technology
will allow your hardware to run at either 10 or 100Mbps speeds and ensure
downward compatibility with older/slower hardware. Newer networks
also support Gigabit speeds (1000 Mbps)!
Finding out the
answers to the following questions can help you create a shopping list
for the hardware that would best suit your needs:
Is your existing network 10Mbps or 10/100Mbps?
If your network
is 10/100 or you want to upgrade your 10Mbps network to 100Mbps, then
we recommend 10/100 PCI LAN Cards, 10/100 PCMCIA LAN Cards, and 10/100
Switches. If you really want to go fast; we can
even consider
Gigabit (10/100/1000) as an option!

HP Procurve Switch (24 Port)
Do you
anticipate the need to expand your network in the future?
If the potential
for future expansion exists, we recommend using stackable 10/100 Mbps
hubs which will allow you to increase the capacity of your network in
the future. If the need for expansion is not anticipated, then a standard,
10/100 hub is acceptable.
Do you experience bottlenecks on your
existing network or want to maximize performance on your new network?
If so, then we
recommend replacing your existing hubs with Ethernet
switches to optimize data flow over the network.
Do you require printers on your network?
If you need your
printer(s) to be networked, we recommend a 10/100 Mbps print server
to allow centralized control of network printing and permit the easy
addition of new printers to the network.
Determining the
answers to these basic questions will allow you to determine the hardware
requirements for your network installation.


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