designing a wireless network

wireless networks can include several pieces of hardware and how you put them together dictates the efficiency of your network. This article will advise you on designing your network.

• You will need a wireless access point or router, wireless (LAN) card and computers.

• Depending on the size of the area you expect to cover you will determine how many bridges you need and the location of your access point. (Bridges connect two networks.)

• You need to determine if your network will be expected to carry inter-office email messages, video feeds, cellular phones and text messages. If so then your network will need servers and other hardware.

• Setup your network in a way that allows expansion, because a growing network will mean more users and hardware. The routers/access points and bridges should be accessible by users.

• Try to incorporate into your system, servers allowing video and cellular phone data flow, and access points/ routers that will allow expansion easily. This way is simpler for expansion purposes. In any case it doesn’t hurt to have the option.

• Decide your network type. You can choose from star, ring and tree networks.

• In star the connecting points (nodes)are attached to a central point, it resembles a star. It is fast and a breakdown does not halt the whole system.

• In a ring network, points (nodes) are connected in a loop (it looks like a ring).

• It allows free travel of data without  interruptions from other hardware.

• The tree network has one access point from which all other machines access the network.

• Network security is of utmost importance. Think about adding firewalls and anti virus programs. The bigger the network the more security will be beneficial to your network.