Modern networking.

In the last few years network has become commonplace. Even small offices how have a network, and they are not uncommon in the home. This widespread use of networking has been matched by developments in software, particularly as Windows now has networking built in.

However, this apparent ease of use masks the fact that there are still some highly technical issues that must be considered, or the system will have significant problems. And that is where Hazmar can help.
 

Peer to Peer networking.

It is dead easy to plug a few computers together and call it a network. But a network will only deliver any benefits if it is configured properly and the information stored on the various PCs is organised effectively.

With a small network all of this can be done in a day, and the cost of this day will be recouped inside a month, as the staff can now find, manage & backup all the data in a timely manner.
 

Server networking.

If you go to a big consultancy company they will recommend a big company solution. This normally means Microsoft Windows Server. This a wonderful piece of equipment, but the total cost of putting in something along these lines will not leave much change out of £5,000. The facilities it will give you are truly awesome. But, unless you have a full-time IT manager and hundreds of PCs dotted about the country, you will never use more than 10% of the facilities. It does earn your consultant a nice fat commission though...

If, at the planning stage, you (or your consultant) do a bit of research prior to opening the Catalogue Of Expensive Server Goodies then you will find that there are solutions out there that will do the job just as well, for a fraction of the cost. Ubuntu, the a very popular Linux-based operating system for both desktops and servers, is OpenSource, and the software is available at no cost. And don’t be put off - Linux powers the majority of the Internet.

It won’t cost you anything to ask...
 

Wireless networking.

To listen to all the glib advertising pouring out of the TV you can form the opinion that wireless networking is as simple as opening a can of beans. Well, it isn’t. There is a long list of pitfalls waiting to trap the unwary. Hazmar has a lot of experience setting these up: but please be warned - it is not an infallible technology, and sometimes it just won’t work!

But it won’t cost you anything to ask...
 

Network storage & service systems.

In earlier times the cost of hardware was so high that there was a temptation to squeeze everything into one box. A huge system housing mail server, database server, users’ files, backup system, webserver and the kitchen sink. Apart from the obvious risks of having all your eggs in one basket, all these services competed for system resources, to the detriment of all.

Times have changed. Hardware is now absurdly cheap, and top-class software from the OpenSource community is (effectively) free. It now makes much more sense to split the central network functions across several dedicated boxes. This makes the overall system easier to manage, increases performance & robustness and reduces reliance on a single supplier.

It is also possible to reuse hardware. That old (but still serviceable) PC is no longer up to being a CAD workstation, but install some free software and it will make an ideal fileserver to store first-line backups, or a webserver for testing websites on.

For some ideas, please look at our hardware page.