Understanding and Determining Network Sizes

Upon determining a network size one would need his own personal or business use. Several factors or elements have to be considered before coming up with a decision. These factors are: structure, mode of connectivity, topology, and hardware.

Structure:

                The structure factor determines the mode of how the flow of work should be expected. A few individuals who aim for personal uses like file sharing can prefer a peer-to-peer model rather than a client-server model. The latter is generally used for corporations who coordinate and share information in a wide array of lines. That includes those businesses which support a stronger traffic usage.

                Several utilities are available online like applications which determine the current bandwidth and packet data usage, some of which can also provide necessary recommendations. The Network Monitor found in all Windows platform is a good network analyzer.

Mode of Connectivity:

                Simply put this factor as either wired or wireless network. For some, it is highly recommended to use a wired network with a thick bandwidth for those who work heavily like handling videos or regularly uploading and downloading large amount of files. Wireless networks are preferred by those who go light, i.e., basic sharing of information like small files, photos sharing, research, and e-mails. However, the latter is not recommended for corporate accounts since going wireless tends to be conditional to space, number of users, and the provider.

Topology:

                Topology, simply putting it, is the pattern of networking to and with which a network system flows. Some network managements would prefer using a star network, which provides direct access to server unit, while a bus network can be a good choice for those who plan to structure the environment in a linear way. This is a strong determinant since the choice you will have regarding topology will affect as to how your network overview will look and work. A creative topology can lead to a maximum network experience even to big business operations involving large amounts of traffic and bandwidth usage.

Hardware:

                This factor would involve the hardware and the procurement issue. Among the hardware concerns these questions can be asked:

1) Can a single router accommodate the needs of the working environment and would it still provide an extra ounce for special uses?

Usually the number of routers in a working network determines its size. However, few cases would tell that even small working environments would demand more routers. It would always be depending on the actual intended purpose.

2) What kind of cabling should I employ?

Among the leading cabling method is the Fiber Optics. Fiber Optics offers the highest possible bandwidth in a network. Though employing this would cost much, it would still be of worth when used. However, several problems have been tagged to this method like transmission problems compared to that of using twisted copper mediums. In such cases, more would still prefer the latter. Cat5e or Cat6, some of the variants of the twisted copper mediums, have much improved though they can still be prone to high Radio Frequencies making it not commendable in hospitals.

3) How much is my budget?

Considering the budget is but a sensitive factor to procuring hardware elements for building a network, thus the network size. Such that, insufficient funds can lead a business to poor network experience, thus entertaining more doors for downtime or inconvenience. Moreover, bartering quality over quantity, e.g., choosing an incorrect media out of being cheaper, can be risky as well as the fact that it may cripple the network and the work progress as a whole.

                Moving forward, these are but the most basic factors you might consider in determining the network size you and your company are planning to have. Above all, the key to determining the network size that's good enough for you, for your business, now and in the future is to always be quality-oriented, i.e., on what kind of experience you would rather have upon implementation.

Author : Dianne Grover