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Ethernet Workgroup Design 6-13
Ethernet
Expandability
The simplicity and fluidity of expansion in a small office setting is of paramount
importance. Every small office wants to expand, even if it is an addition of
nothing more than a few additional networked computers. The ability to quickly
and efficiently increase the number of available ports in the small office network
must factor into any selection of devices for installation. In these situations, the
stackable products excel, providing for expansion of the number of available
ports without risking any of the networking limitations of their technologies other
than the maximums placed on the number of stations in a network.
Port Count
The port count decision for a small office network is a simple comparison of
expected station counts with supplied port counts. As the port count range from
the smallest intelligent standalone device to the largest, maximum size intelligent
stack of stackable hubs covers from 13 to 120 ports, there should be sufficient port
availability to cover the vast majority of small offices without requiring links to
other stacks or devices.
Price
As always, the price factor must be considered in the network design process for
small offices. While there may be a temptation to always opt for the lowest-priced
device that meets the minimum requirements, Network Designers must keep in
mind that expandability, manageability, and internetworking capabilities all come
at an increase to final expense. Even if you do not think a BRIM slot will be
needed for another two years, it is less expensive to purchase a device with BRIM
capability and not use it than it is to have to replace the networking hardware at a
later date to meet additional needs.
Other Considerations
In some cases, there are special design issues that restrict Network Designers to
particular hardware selections. Limited available space, for example, or the
environmental conditions of the install location may play a part in the selection of
a networking device for the home office. These specialized considerations are
beyond the scope of this document, but a large amount of information can be
found in the Cabletron Systems Networking Solutions Product Guide.