Office Network Build!!

[richman]

Hello Guys,

Iam after some help on selecting products and layout for the new office network iam currently developing, i was wondering if you guys could share some of your thoughts on how to get this set-up.

The Office is only a small one comprising of 5 machines, their will be a windows small business server in the loop aswell.

What switch would you guys reccomend? Also what about a router iam not really sure what their is available for businessess.

Any information you have on your networks plans, products you used etc would be very useful.

Thanks
Richard

[herulach]

Id imagine something along the lines of router + firewall (either a dedicated machine, or an all in one rack mount effort) to a good switch (Ive had good experience with HP 46xx series, i think thats right, it was definately 4xxx, theyre managed, but if you dont need management then the 2xxx should do) Connected via gigabit (eitehr fibre or copper) to your server, probably about a grand plus cabling though.

[ultim8um]

I would look at something like this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=168499 if you are building for the future... If you want to keep costs down then look at a more basic switch like: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=19140

As for routers the ZyXEL Prestige 662H would probably be a good choice... http://www.shopmagenta.com/product/P662H.aspx

[richman]

Hey guys,

Thanks for that, i would like to ask what ip addresses should you use and what address would u assign to routers, servers and workstations alike.

Richard

[herulach]

Depends what you have from your ISP and if you have anything that needs an outward facing IP address behind your router (Web server, email etc, although they dont strictly need ip addresses either.) AS far as IPs go, whatever you like, as long as you can remember it doesnt desperately matter. Stick in the reserved address range though 10.xxx.xxx.xxx or 192.168.xxx.xxx, and remember to have everything on the same subnet.

[Matt1eD]

you won't need a hardware firewall if you've got SBS Premium. I'd go mode > SBS > switch.... with SBS being the DHCP server. Nice to keep everything managed by it.

[Moby-Dick]

SBS likes to be used with 2 network cards and can ( if needed ) act as a NAT gateway ( even the non premium version )

our Standard install for an sbs + 5 clients was a draytek 2600 router , an 8 port switch ( not ness branded )

[kirkabus]

Richman,

To answer your question about IP's SBS server will probably want you to setup a 192.168.16.x range. With only 5 machines this will be easy to implement!

[richman]

Thanks for all this information guys, i dont suppose anyone has any diargrams to show a network with servers and things implemented??

Richard

[Moby-Dick]

if you wangt to run your web connection through the sbs box then you'd remove the connection between the router and the switch and connect a 2nd network card from the sbs server to the router ( in red )

[richman]

Thanks for all the information guys, i do have a few questions however.

If we use SBS on our network to manage files and connection etc would it be best ot get two gigabit ethernet lan cards and use one to connect the server to the network (Server -> Switch) and one to connect to the internet (Internet -> Server) and then manage the internet connection and things through SBS??

We are also looking into proxy servers, does SBS have a proxy server built in or is it best to get a third party box with some other software you may know of and use that for the proxy side of things.

Any other pointers you may have regarding the setup would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks
Richard Howell

[Moby-Dick]

If you buy SBS premium then it comes with ISA proxy server - which may or may not be overkill for what you want.

If you choose to use that then you'll need the following
2 network cards in your SBS box ( they dont have to be Gigabit)
an ADSL account that will give you multiple external IP's ( you'll need them to be able to give your SBS box a probler public address )