Stage 1 - Define your needs
Posted by bwakefield on August 28th, 2007
“Measure twice, cut once.” When it comes to any major (or minor!) project, planning is everything. Many headaches will be avoided if you start planning your network infrastructure by clearly defining the requirements and needs for the network.
What do you need out of your network infrastructure? What goals or mission is going to be accomplished by your network? What does your “business” revolve around? Do you leverage technology to meet your goals or are you a provider of tools using that technology? The first thing that comes to mind for me, is email. There are many options, and this choice could determine what route you go for the rest of the network. What do you need from your email? Email is closely followed by a “domain” solution, file server, and web hosting (no particular order to the last items).
My theory is you need to go with your strengths and know when you are at your limits before you can really try to decide what you need. Too often we get caught up in one detail about something that we need to do and spend large amounts of time trying to figure out that aspect and over look other important details.
When I am working with planning a new network I start by trying to decide how best to meet the needs of the users of the network. I start by listing the tasks that need to be accomplished the software that needs to be used. It helps to get a pretty good idea of what “jobs” need to be completed.
- Do you need to provide your own email solution or is it hosted?
- Are you providing your own DNS services?
- What sort of file storage and backup is needed?
- Do any of the employees work from home? Do you need VPN?
- Is there any chance of leveraging a VoIP solution?
- Will you be hosting any websites? Are they internal or externally facing? (might influence your DNS decision!!!)
- Does it make sense to deploy thin clients?
- What sort of network services or applications are going to be used?
- What about security? Is what is provided through the ISP enough? Is a separate firewall needed?
Defining your needs is going to be the best way to avoid spending extra money or backing your organization down a path that ultimately is not going to work out. There are many other things to consider other than the above items but it provides a starting block. It may seems like you are spending a lot of time evaluating software or platforms, but in the end, it makes purchasing, deploying, and managing the resulting network far easier in the end.
Next up, Planning your network around your needs.