NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: RON NUTTER WITH ASK THE EXPERTS 12/01/04 Today's focus: Networking for small business
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Help Desk columnist Ron Nutter helps an SMB look at options ��for their future network * Links related to Ask the Experts * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by SBC Dialing for Dollars CRATE & BARREL'S VOIP MOVE NETS SAVINGS AND FLEXIBILITY An apples-to-apples comparison showed that a centralized, software-based, IP-based platform could provide significant cost savings and productivity benefits over a comparable, traditional PBX system. Download whitepaper now, click here http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=88788 _______________________________________________________________ COMPREHENSIVE ENTERPRISE STORAGE INFORMATION Go to NW Fusion's Research Center for detailed information on enterprise storage. Find the latest breaking news, case studies, white papers, commentary, reviews and more. Topics on how ILM impacts your storage strategy, how to migrate to a new tape drive, how to link SAN islands and more are all found in the Research Center. Click here: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=89292 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Networking for small business By Ron Nutter I work at a small company. We have a few computers, but that number is growing. We're thinking about putting in a network, but when we start looking at the options and start hearing terms such as Active Directory, DNS, etc., we start getting confused. I get more concerned when I start looking at the errors showing up in the event log and fixing them. How do we figure this out and get things set up right? - Via the Internet Your right, the terms can be confusing. This is where Microsoft and Novell both have small business solutions that are worth looking at. At some point, I would expect to see similar approaches from the Linux community, as well. You are essentially getting the same solution that larger companies are implementing but with a "wrapper" or interface that gives you a menu-ized approach to getting this set up and doing day-to-day maintenance on the server. The interface you work with prompts you for the same information that everyone has to enter but with more friendly explanations of what needs to be entered. One of the main differences is that you're dealing with a simplified version of the directory service for whatever NOS that you're working with. When looking at the event log for a Windows system, you may not be able to fix all the errors you're getting. In the years that I have been involved with networking, I have yet to see any server, Windows or otherwise, that runs totally error free. The first step you can take in this area is to make sure you have all the latest patches applied. This can go a long way toward fixing the errors for which you can't find a reason for. See what businesses in your area are using and what has worked best for them. If there is a particular application that is used by the type of business you are in, see if the vendor offers a turn-key solution, in which you get the server preloaded with the NOS and application, and all you have to do is plug it in and start using it. When that type of solution is available, it may help ease the process of getting a network set up and running. Look at the various books that are available on setting up the NOS you are looking at. There are also a plethora of Web sites and newsgroups that can be a valuable source of information as to how others did it and what they are doing on a daily basis to keep things running. RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS SMB research center Keep your SMB network smoothly with the latest news, reviews, case studies and more. http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/ _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Ron Nutter Ron Nutter, a Master Certified Novell Engineer and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer in the Lexington, Ky., area, tracks down the answers to your questions. Send your questions to <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by SBC Dialing for Dollars CRATE & BARREL'S VOIP MOVE NETS SAVINGS AND FLEXIBILITY An apples-to-apples comparison showed that a centralized, software-based, IP-based platform could provide significant cost savings and productivity benefits over a comparable, traditional PBX system. Download whitepaper now, click here http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=88787 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Dr. Internet archive: http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/blass.html Nutter's Help Desk archive: http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/nutter.html _______________________________________________________________ Remedy Free Webcast: Dynamic Change Management - Enabling IT's Response to Changing Business Requirements Join Jean-Pierre Garbani, Forrester Research, as he explores how best practices in change management can help you respond to business requests for IT change-and prevent failure of critical business systems. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=88534 _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE DOWNLOAD INDUSTRY WHITE PAPERS NOW NW Fusion's White Paper Library is your source for the latest industry white papers. Recent additions to the library include white papers on securing remote access, VOIP and productivity, domain name system best practices, WLAN security, IT documentation and much more. Click here to download: <http://www.nwfusion.com/vendorview/whitepapers.html> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. 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