Advice on a new small business network
In the past I've always recommended wired networks. That being said its been a while since I've implemented a "new" network so I'm open to wireless if its just as reliable and fast.
I have an office that will have 4 devices on the network. This room is 22' x 15' with no walls. Its an older building and the layout of the office isn't conducive to wire molding, overhead ceilings etc. without spending a ton of money. All this being said I'd like to implement a wireless network but I want to cut down on bottle necking and other issues that are normally associated with wireless networks. I've listed the important information below. Thanks in advance.
Two PC's. One using Windows XP Pro and one using Windows 8 Pro. One HP 8500 wireless printer and one HP DesignJet 500 24" color plotter.
At some point the PC's will backup their entire drives across the network to a NAS using Acronis. CAD drawings will be sent to the DesignJet. The DesignJet will be connected to the network via USB to Ethernet adapter. Files are shared between the two computers. Some of the files are 100's of megabytes.
The PC's will need WiFi cards preferably internal as I think those are more reliable and would offer more throughput. The router should offer content filtering.
I'll also need a reliable device that will interface the USB/LPT1 connection on the plotter with the network. This device does not have to be wireless as it will sit near the router and be physically connected.
I'm not afraid of using a router with a subscription service that stops viruses, malware and all other sorts of nasty critters at the router. I won't require VPN.
I have an office that will have 4 devices on the network. This room is 22' x 15' with no walls. Its an older building and the layout of the office isn't conducive to wire molding, overhead ceilings etc. without spending a ton of money. All this being said I'd like to implement a wireless network but I want to cut down on bottle necking and other issues that are normally associated with wireless networks. I've listed the important information below. Thanks in advance.
Two PC's. One using Windows XP Pro and one using Windows 8 Pro. One HP 8500 wireless printer and one HP DesignJet 500 24" color plotter.
At some point the PC's will backup their entire drives across the network to a NAS using Acronis. CAD drawings will be sent to the DesignJet. The DesignJet will be connected to the network via USB to Ethernet adapter. Files are shared between the two computers. Some of the files are 100's of megabytes.
The PC's will need WiFi cards preferably internal as I think those are more reliable and would offer more throughput. The router should offer content filtering.
I'll also need a reliable device that will interface the USB/LPT1 connection on the plotter with the network. This device does not have to be wireless as it will sit near the router and be physically connected.
I'm not afraid of using a router with a subscription service that stops viruses, malware and all other sorts of nasty critters at the router. I won't require VPN.
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For windows 8 I not tested with this printer. But there is updated HP driver found at HP website.
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I saw the drivers there also. Plus when I connect to the printer via the share Windows pulls the drivers from the Windows update servers.
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OK. So I'm going to find out the average size of the CAD drawings. Instead of saving the Acronis backups to the NAS (which is up in the air any ways) they can save to an external HD. I know that cad drawings can be large but as fast as I've seen these open on these very basic computers they can't be that large.
As for Windows XP no longer being supported I'll remind my user of this.
As for Windows XP no longer being supported I'll remind my user of this.
Cisco Aironet devices aren't routers - they're just Access Points. They can't do filtering or AV (for example). If you want a router which will do AV, filtering, etc, look at a UTM device or a business-class router such as this:
http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigorpro5510.html
http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigorpro5510.html
For windows 8 I not tested with this printer. But there is updated HP driver found at HP website. Also I recommend a watchguard WiFi router too.
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Printer is printing from Windows 8 OK...Kind of. The program not printing properly might not be compatible with Windows 8 and the printer combined. Will have to verify this.
The largest CAD file is 7 MB. One QuickBooks 60MB file.
There is one door that I'll need to go by with the network cable if I go that route. The door doesn't open. What I don't know is how I can change from the baseboard conduit to something that is pleasing to the eye to run in front of the door then back into the baseboard conduit.
The largest CAD file is 7 MB. One QuickBooks 60MB file.
There is one door that I'll need to go by with the network cable if I go that route. The door doesn't open. What I don't know is how I can change from the baseboard conduit to something that is pleasing to the eye to run in front of the door then back into the baseboard conduit.
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Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna stick with wired. Might not be as pretty but much faster, reliable and easier to support.
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