Speak to me of Networking

July 23, 2007 10:52 AM

I need to understand all that is involved with the Networking of computers in an office setting. What are the benefits and what are the downfalls or negatives to doing this?

My main questions are, can everyone access everyone else's files and programs? And what about Internet usage? Will I, as a supervisor, be able to monitor Internet use throughout the office?
Any and all info appreciated!

posted by SoftSummerBreeze to computers & internet (7 comments total)

this is a much more complicated question than you think. the basic answer is...well,it all depends on how you (or whoever) sets it up.
posted by jare2003 at 10:56 AM on July 23, 2007

What are you trying to accomplish? Shared internet access is relatively simple- just get a router. Of course, you'll need to deal with the firewall and virus protection. Are you ready for that?

If you want shared storage, you'll either need a networked drive or a piece of server hardware. Permissioning it properly will require a consultant.

can everyone access everyone else's files and programs?

By default, no. And generally, you don't want people accessing other people's machines directly. You want the shared storage I was referring to.

Will I, as a supervisor, be able to monitor Internet use throughout the office?

There is software that can technically do this, but it's (relatively) expensive and not nearly as effective as a simple "stop surfing the web during work hours" mandate. People really really really resent that level of monitoring.

My advice to you is to get an IT consultant and NOT do this yourself. The road to massive virus infections is paved with good intentions.
posted by mkultra at 11:09 AM on July 23, 2007

Benefits: Everyone can share information on group drives or other central storage areas. You can use all kinds of web-based tools (especially project management tools) like Basecamp or a wiki. You can all access the internet. You can all share one printer (or buy a combination copier/printer.) You can have a central authentication system where users can sit down and log in at any computer and their password will work. Everyone can have email.

Downsides: Everyone can access the internet. Of course, there's many ways to track and monitor internet use, but there's equally many ways around the tracking if the users are computer savvy.

There's lots of productivity gains to be made from networking, especially if you ever need to share files. Just the productivity savings my friends' business made from being able to all work in quickbooks at the same time instead of having to pass disks with quickbooks files around have outweighed any time they spend checking email from home.
posted by SpecialK at 11:09 AM on July 23, 2007

Yes, you definitely need to sit down with a professional to go over the details of what you WANT your network to be. Typically, though, users will NOT be able to access the files on another client's PC unless it is specifically allowed. Almost NEVER will one client be able to use the software on another client's computer.

Usually, you will want any files or information that is to be shared, to be gathered in a central repository which clients can connect to, rather than to each others' computers.

Also, it can be rigged so you can monitor or log internet usage, though this is also something that must be asked for and set up specially.

Networking your office computers is usually a positive step - it can increase opportunites for collaberation, enable such basic tools as e-mail, and allow you to set up a centralized andautomated data backup and recovery plan for important company information. You should really talk to an expert.
posted by BigLankyBastard at 11:11 AM on July 23, 2007

Another issue you'll probably have to deal with is centralized authentication/authorization. If you have a file server you're going to want access controls over who can read/write/delete what files & directories. Unless you're OK with an anarchic free-for-all, that means you'll need to have a server that handles logins & authorization checks. In a small office you should be able to get away with having the file server & login server be the same machine. But again, designing & implementing this kind of thing is not a trivial task; and you're also going to want to have someone manage it after it's up & running.
posted by scalefree at 12:13 PM on July 23, 2007

This is somewhat beating a dead horse, but I disagree with this:

If you have a file server you're going to want access controls over who can read/write/delete what files & directories. Unless you're OK with an anarchic free-for-all, that means you'll need to have a server that handles logins & authorization checks.

In a small office setup like I assume the OP is envisioning, you don't need any kind of login server- everyone is probably only logging into one shared volume, so you just set local accounts there.

BTW- what is your plan for email? Do you have a domain? Most plans come with a good chunk of disk space available via FTP/SFTP. If you have a half-decent connection, you can set people up with a decent client that supports bookmarks. For a minimal cost, you can at least get people used to the idea of storing documents somewhere other than their local computers, which is going to be a bigger hurdle than anything technical. After a few months, when they're still griping about speed and convenience, but recognize the value of shared space, you can hit them with the hardware costs.
posted by mkultra at 12:31 PM on July 23, 2007

Echoing the hints in many of the answers above: you know not whereof you speak. And this is a case where not knowing can be dangerous in exactly the ways that worry you in the question: security, privacy, data loss.

Get a pro. This is not something you figure out on your own unless you have basic knowledge you clearly do not have. No insult intended.
posted by spitbull at 5:59 PM on July 23, 2007