Dell Systems Widen Networking Options
Dell Computer is the latest major PC maker to jump on the small-office networking bandwagon. The company is billing its new Dell Networks program as “an easy and affordable way for small businesses to network their offices.”
IBM, Compaq and other vendors have announced network solutions for small business. A local area network allows PCs in the office to exchange files, send internal e-mail and share resources such as printers and a connection to the Internet.
The Dell systems, which are aimed at companies with fewer than 100 employees, feature dedicated servers along with workstations (a fancy word for PCs with network cards) that are able to share data with the server and one another.
The new Dell server line starts with the $1,821 PowerEdge 1300, which doesn’t come with a monitor or any operating system. For $3,999 (plus the cost of a monitor) you can get a system with Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server software that comes with a license for up to 10 users.
A network server is basically just a PC that runs software so that it can serve as a central storage facility and in some cases e-mail sorter for the machines connected to it. Other tasks sometimes performed by servers include hosting Web sites; hosting an intranet, or an internal Web site; and helping to coordinate transactions within your company or between your company and its customers. Servers can also have security software that protects company information from being accessed via the Internet.
As far as hardware is concerned, all you need is a computer with 64 megabytes or more of memory and enough hard disk space to store the operating system, any network applications and whatever data files you want to store on the server itself. Machines that are designed as servers typically have at least this much storage and memory and are often a bit more rugged than PCs. Servers are generally designed to operate 24 hours a day and, because they are the hub of the organization’s computing system, reliability is of the utmost importance.
Dell’s most expensive new server (the $7,349 PowerEdge 6350), comes with “redundant subsystems,” a fancy way of saying that there are circuits in the machine that are designed to take over in the event something fails. It’s not foolproof, but it’s more reliable than your average PC.
Expandability is another important characteristic of a server. A server should be able to accommodate plenty of memory and disk storage. Compaq’s Prosignia Server 740 (starting at about $3,000) can be equipped with anything from 64 megabytes to a gigabyte of memory. It comes with one 9.1-gigabyte hard drive but has room for three additional internal SCSI drives. Dell’s PowerEdge servers can be configured with two 18gb drives and two 9gb drives for a total of 54 gigabytes.
Some companies use servers as a central repository of files that are used by the entire company. This might include a scheduling program or an intranet that provides information to employees. In addition, it’s possible to use the server as a backup device for individual users’ data files. A user on the network can store a file on his or her hard disk and then back up a copy of it to the server just in case something goes wrong with his or her desktop PC.
As it turns out, you don’t necessarily need a server or any special software to set up a local area network. Windows 95, Windows 98 and the Macintosh operating systems all come with the software you need to create a peer-to-peer network among the computers in your office. Instead of using a centralized server, any computer in the office can be configured to share its hard disk space, printer and (with special software) modem with any other computer in the office. Peer-to-peer networks aren’t for every office, but if you have only a handful of PCs or Macs to connect, they will do the job for less money (and hassle) than a dedicated server.
Although you may not need a server, you do need an Ethernet card (sometimes called a network interface card) in each machine on the network. Most Macs come with a built-in Ethernet connector, but PCs typically don’t. If you’re in the market for a new PC, it’s a good idea to get a pre-installed Ethernet card. Ethernet cards start at under $30.
In addition to the Ethernet cards, you need one or more hubs. A hub is basically a power strip for computers. A four-port hub, which starts at under $50, will let you connect up to four PCs. You can also buy hubs designed for eight, 16, 32 or more PCs.
One decision you’ll have to make when installing a network is whether to go for a 10-megabit or 100-megabit network. The 100-megabit network is 10 times faster, but 10 megabits is probably fast enough unless you plan to run video over the network. Still, the cost difference between 10 megabits and 100 megabits is pretty minimal so you may as well go for the faster network.
Regardless of whether you set up a peer-to-peer network or purchase a server, you’ll soon find yourself wondering how you ever got along without one. The ability to move files between machines, exchange e-mail and share resources can be a big advantage. But it can also bring its share of headaches. Be sure you have someone in the office designated as a network administrator who can keep the network going, call the repair person and listen to the inevitable gripes from fellow workers when that network is down.
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Lawrence J. Magid can be reached via e-mail at larry.magid@latimescom.
