A Guide To Choosing The Right Network Hardware For Your Business

A GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT NETWORK HARDWARE FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Guide to Network Hardware Selection

Your hardware is a basis of your network. All of your network's communications go via your switches and routers. Business is impacted when these things don't communicate at the levels you need them to. A network that suffers disruption frequently faces financial consequences.

Investing in network gear that best suits your company's requirements while establishing a new network helps ensure the success of your network architecture. You must be able to prioritize your hardware upgrade demands if you are thinking about making hardware modifications to an already-existing network. This prioritizing procedure has to take your network's demands into account.

Determine requirements: To begin, ascertain the business's networking needs. Take into account variables like user count, network traffic, necessary services (including voice, video, and data), and any unique requirements like security or remote access.

Evaluate the scalability: Ascertain the business's requirements for scalability. Think on future expansion in terms of device, user, and network requirements. Select networking hardware that will grow with your business without necessitating major updates or replacements.

Network topology: Choose the configuration that works best for your company. A star (centralized), mesh (distributed), or hybrid topology are common configurations. Take into account elements including the building's physical design, the intricacy of the network, and the requirement for fault tolerance or redundancy.

Internet connectivity: Evaluate the needs of the company with regard to internet access. Think about things like dependability, redundancy, and necessary bandwidth. Ascertain if wired (such as Ethernet) or wireless (such as Wi-Fi or cellular) connections are required for the business.

SWITCHES:

Network switches manage local communications, while your router handles all traffic to and from the outside world. They genuinely serve as the network's skeleton. It's critical to understand the speeds and port count you'll need, as well as how controllable your switches need to be.

Choose switches that meet the demands of the company. Larger networks might benefit from managed switches' sophisticated capabilities, which include VLANs, Quality of Service (QoS), and Security. Unmanaged switches are less expensive and better suited for smaller networks with simpler needs.

Management Features

Network switches come with two fundamental management feature levels: managed and unmanaged. There exist several rationales for selecting either option.

Complexity: Unmanaged switches are easy to use and don't require setup. Even with their extensive experience, many administrators still struggle to understand the intricacies of configuring managed switches. If it's not essential, don't add further complexity to administration.

Price: The cost of a managed switch can be at least double that of an unmanaged switch. Investing in an unmanaged switch will save you money if you're not going to use the managed switch's features.

Configurability: If your network requires VLAN technology, you'll need a managed switch. A controlled switch allows you to set each port to do exactly what you need. This method is frequently utilized in networks employing VoIP phone technology.

Speeds

When buying for switches, one often cited specification is link speed. There are three speed classes to consider, but just one should be the primary focus of your buying.

10/100 mbps. This was originally a viable speed on most networks, but it is currently considered a slower alternative. Switches with these speeds are presently available on many networks that use older infrastructure. new network setups should avoid utilizing switches at this speeds.

1000 Mbps (or 1 Gbps). This speed standard achieves a fair balance between speed needs and cost effectiveness. While these switches are more expensive than the 10/100 mbps ones, most modern networks can use these speeds, thus the upgrading is worthwhile.

10 Gbps. While these switches can be found in specialized enterprise environments, they are typically unnecessary for a typical company network.

Number of Ports

Switches occur in a variety of port configurations, ranging from 5 to 48 (and occasionally more). It is usually a good idea to have an accurate count of the number of devices in your network that will require switch ports. It's also a good idea to keep enough open ports accessible for future growth.

Wireless networks

Wireless networks are increasingly becoming an integral element of the network, rivaling the wired network in importance. Administrators should have a thorough awareness of wireless coverage across their network through mapping. Additionally, they should consider speed and security.

Switches occur in a variety of port configurations, ranging from 5 to 48 (and occasionally more). It is usually a good idea to have an accurate count of the number of devices in your network that will require switch ports. It's also excellent practice to make sure there are enough open ports.

Network Map

Creating a map allows administrators to better understand the wireless coverage in their network. Here's what you hope to accomplish with your map.

Wireless coverage. You should be aware of which areas of your building will struggle to maintain a robust wifi connection. With this information, you may make changes to alleviate these concerns.

Placing access points. Administrators must determine the number of access points required and their placement within a network. A map might help to show the ideal placement for various devices.

ROUTERS:

Your router connects your internal network to the outside world. It is a critical component of your network. All traffic intended for the outside world must pass via your routing devices. There are several factors to consider when selecting the finest router for your business. Select routers based on what the company requires. Think about things like routing capabilities (e.g., support for multiple WAN connections), security features (e.g., firewall, VPN), and internet connectivity types (e.g., ADSL, fiber, or cable).

Class Level

Will a consumer or small office router work for your company? Do you require a costlier product with additional features? Cutting expenses wherever possible is a good concept, but is this the place to do so? Here are some considerations for router classes.

Wireless access points (APs): Determine the wireless needs of your company. Consider the coverage area, the number of concurrent users, and the needed security measures. Select APs that support the necessary wifi standards (for example, Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6).

Network security: Assess the company's security requirements. Consider firewall capabilities, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), Virtual Private Network (VPN) support, and content filtering. Ensure that the networking equipment is consistent with the company's security rules.

Budgeting considerations: Determine your available budget for networking equipment. Maintain a balance between the demands of the business and cost-effectiveness. Consider the original investment, ongoing maintenance expenses, and total cost of ownership during the equipment's lifecycle.

Vendor reputation and support: Do your homework and choose trustworthy distributors or suppliers who provide high-quality networking equipment. A vast array of networking products, including switches, routers, firewalls, wireless access points, and security systems, are available from etree. We collaborate with respectable producers of dependable, cutting-edge networking equipment.

Investing for the future: Think about upcoming technology and market developments. Consider how well it integrates with nascent technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) devices or how well it works with upcoming standards like Wi-Fi 6E or 5G.

Expertise and consultation: If you're unsure about the right networking hardware, speak with network experts or IT specialists. They may offer professional guidance based on your unique company requirements and assist you in reaching well-informed judgments.

maximum throughput. What speed requirements does your company have? A gigabit of internet bandwidth is available from some internet service providers. Could your router manage even nearly that? What impact does enabling security services have on speeds?

Support level. What type of service plan is offered by the company that made your router? Is it part of the purchasing price? If not, how much do support packages cost? It's helpful to know where to look for assistance if you have problems with router management. It is important for you to know what kind of help you might anticipate.

Configurability. Compared to enterprise-class routers, consumer routers have fewer configuration options. These choices can include port forwarding and VPN setup, to mention a couple.

Security Options

It is critical to ensure the security of your network. While virtually all routers provide at least some basic security settings and capabilities, you should ensure that your router's characteristics fit your needs. Here are some offerings to look for.

Content Filtering. You may wish to be able to restrict and monitor the websites your workers access. Find a content filter that offers you the freedom you want.

Intrusion Prevention and Gateway Antivirus. Many routers promote this service. You need a device that is not only functional, but also easy to configure and provides decent reporting.

Firewall. Almost all routers include a firewall. The configurability of each firewall is determined by the quality of the router.