How To Choose LAN Operating System?
According to those who know, the first step in choosing a local area network (LAN) operating system is deciding between file-server network use or peer-to-peer service. According to some tech sites, people who choose the file-server route will need a workstation that is dedicated to the task of controlling the communication traffic (data). This station will also be the home of any special applications or databases that apply to the local area network.
This means that it is necessary to have a computer system with plenty of storage space on the drives and sufficient speed and power to handle a large volume of information. Of course, there are advantages to going in this direction, since the file-server network plan is generally faster and is reported to be quite reliable as well.
If the need for high-speed communication is not that crucial or the budget won’t allow an investment in new equipment, you may still be able to choose the peer-to-peer alternative. In this plan, users must make information available in folders and menus that can be accessed by others. Each computer must be able to handle a reasonable amount of traffic and data storage.
In the early years of networking computers, the LAN made use of printers more efficient since they were accessible from several locations. Simply put, the right operating system for the network allowed individuals to use a printer that was located somewhere else but still in the network.
In recent years, the programs designed and written for LAN control do much, much more than this simple sort of task. Those with the proper access can work on network-security issues, manage how the network operates at its most basic level, take care of most business and personal administration matters and even set up connections with other networks.
While computer knowledge is more widespread today than just a few years ago, those thinking of establishing a LAN and choosing an operating system should plan carefully, use all the suggested manuals and guidelines, and should, above all, document every step from beginning to end. Setting up a local area network can be very complex, but the process will go much more smoothly if guidelines and documentation are followed to the letter.
In the opinion of most experienced network administrators, the most popular operating systems for a LAN are the NT Server series from Microsoft and NetWare from Novell. These can be a bit expensive but users report that the systems have a tremendous positive effect on productivity within a business or organization. The change in efficiency is noticeable from the beginning, users say. Some of the features on more sophisticated LAN operating systems are the ability to recover from a hardware failure and the ability to use more than one or two processors. This alone can speed up the administration and access time.
In addition to this basic step, a business or organization that is planning to set up and maintain a local area network must consider such items as broadband, cable, Ethernet, token ring and more. But these are separate subjects that deserve their own attention.
Category: Computers, Technology