Sorry I didn't respond to your last question, I got bogged down over the
past couple days w/ customers and "issues", just couldn't find the time.
marsha said:
We have an office of 5 or 6 users (depending on if they all show up
.
We use a peer-to-peer network with data on one machine that is shared
and that folder is mapped on the user machines. The problem is that
the users also have to be able to get out on the internet to check web
info for the work that we do (real estate related). I'm wondering if
it would be advantageous to install an additional NIC in each user
machine and run those ethernet cables to a hub that is dedicated to sharing
our dsl connection. The other NIC would be dedicated to sharing the
data folder via our specialized software. That way the hub for the
LAN would not be as subject to problems.
This last statement illustrates what's wrong with your analysis. WHAT
PROBLEM?! You've constructed a solution to "a problem", a problem you
actually haven't described (at best, vaguely). So while it certainly is
possible to construct separate networks, fact is, no one has sufficient
information to know if this even makes sense, or whether it would provide
any benefit, or worse, aggravate the situation even further. You've put the
cart before the horse, iow.
It would be VERY unusual for a small office situation to require two
networks. It would have to be a very unorthodox or unusual set of
circumstances before I would even begin to consider such a solution. My
fear is you could easily spend a lot of time and money constructing a
perfectly executed solution for the wrong problem! It could work
beautifully and solve nothing
OTOH, what appears to be a complex, difficult problem might be easily solved
with a very simple solution, such as relocating a PC, optimizing an
application or OS, updating a component, whatever.
I get the sense you're "throwing darts" at a problem without really being
able to describe it. You seem to know you have "some" problems, but are
groping for accurate descriptions and solutions.
Anyway, I can't imagine for such a small, simple real estate office that
resorting to two networks would actually address your problems. More likely
than not, you have a VERY typical set of issues that any moderately
experienced consultant should be able to address w/ far less draconian
solutions.
I strongly suggest hiring a consultant, or at least spending more time
describing your typical problems so that more "targeted" solutions can be
suggested. As I indicated in my prior response (before reading your answer
about having a switch, not a hub), just finding out that you had a hub, for
example, would itself send up red flags. The more you describe, in detail,
your day to day workings, problems, incidents, etc., the more you'll get out
of the NG. That's what a good consultant would do, they'd pump you for
information, analyze it, then offer solutions. Unfortunately, the tendency
in these NGs is to work backwards -- ppl offer a solution, have ppl question
what problem you're trying to solve, then in response, provide the
information. It's incredibly tedious and difficult to work effectively in
this manner. The more you can provide information, as if you were
describing your problems to a consultant, the more effective the NG can be.
Jim
