Network Design & Installation

Yellowstone has been designing and installing network systems for over twelve years. We specialize in systems ranging in size from 2-100 users, though we can cater for larger installations too.

The aim of creating a network is to share information and other resources such as printers and Internet connections.

The design of a network is critical to the success of the project. At the present time networks are normally designed to operate at quite high speeds (100Mbits per second transfer rate). The design and the installation of the required cabling can make all the difference between the system operating at these speeds or something considerably less. Reliability of data transfer is also compromised by design and installation.

Yellowstone's range of Network services include:

• Full design, installation, setup and implementation
• Network design consultancy
• Project management
• Installation of additional network ports
• Diagnostics and troubleshooting of existing networks
• Network upgrades
• Re-cabling
• Server upgrades / replacements / Operating System changes

Networks

The simplest network design uses Windows-based PC's to create a peer-to-peer network (involving no actual fileserver). This is suitable for networks of up to 10 PC's or so. This type of system does not provide many advanced features, such as security of access. It does allow several machines to be connected together, and allows access to printers, hard drives etc. on the network to be shared together. The system can still be configured with Internet access from any or all of the machines. E-mail systems can also be configured also. The system is reasonably cost-effective in the smaller business market due to there being no fileserver. This sort of system can be used with the operating systems Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4 and 2000.

Larger installations are usually based around a fileserver. This is a particular type of computer, which is a machine like any other on the network. The difference is that it's purpose is to run an operating system dedicated to the task of serving the other computers. You do not normally use this machine for everyday tasks.

The Network Operating Systems Yellowstone support are:

• Windows NT Server
• Windows 2000Server
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Linux

We also have experience with other systems such as LanTastic and UNIX. The latter is a much more complicated system to set up and administer. Linux and other flavours of the Unix operating system are rapidly becoming a reality in even the small business environment now, mainly due to their low cost of purchase.

Cabling

We provide cabling solutions either direct from ourselves or via a recommended third party. This depends on the complexity of the design, the type of building to be networked and the number of ports to be fitted. Currently cabling uses standard Category-5 data cable, to Category-5 structured cabling (ports used for data or telephone systems) through to fibre-optic solutions.

Fibre-optic cabling, though difficult to install, is now much cheaper than it used to be. It provides the ultimate in security and reliability of data transfer, and allows longer cable runs than are allowed with traditional copper cabling. It also allows separate buildings to be cabled together safely. This has the advantage of complying with government building regulations. Yellowstone is now able to install fibre optic cabling using our own trained personell, and can also effect repairs and upgrades to existing fibre installations.

Yellowstone also supplies and fits the following network devices:

• Routers
• Bridges
• Switching Hubs
• Firewalls
• Fast Network Cards
• Patch Panels
• Fibre Patch Panels
• Fibre Backbones
• Fibre-optic Hubs
• Remote Access facilities

For further details on any aspect of networking just contact Yellowstone by clicking here.