Amid all the talk of Bluetooth, road warriors and mobile commerce,
it is easy to forget that the bulk of corporate IT goes on at
individual sites, across the local area network.
Bolting on the bells and whistles of today's networking
capabilities is all well and good, but in the meantime, the users
sitting at desks around HQ need to be able to access the data they
require speedily and consistently.
Wringing greater efficiency out of your existing network first
requires a comprehensive audit. Only when you have isolated your
network troublespots can you begin to ease data flow around the
enterprise.
You might achieve this by establishing a sound information
strategy; by avoiding bandwidth wastage; by applying quality of
service technology; or by deploying multicast and satellite for
wide area network traffic.
Whichever course of action you decide on, you will also need to
ensure that your department has the requisite skills to maintain,
improve and upgrade the network. Team members might be champing at
the bit to acquire the most cutting-edge networking capabilities on
the training market but without the necessary legacy skills your
existing network will suffer.
You also need to be aware of the improvements in wireless and
fibre-optic technologies that look likely to spell the end of the
road for the mass of cables that comprises the Lan as we know it.
This special report will look at the future of the corporate
network, and meanwhile you could visit the Networks Telecoms Show,
which takes place in Birmingham next week.
OPINION - The end of the department Lan
As Lans begin
to buckle under the strain,
 | | Whichever course of action you
choose, you will also need to ensure that you have the skills to
maintain and upgrade the network | | | | | |
| | Mark Lewis, associate editor,
Computer Weekly | | |
|
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Howard Hines, general manager, technical services at BT Ignite
Solutions believes the way they are managed needs to change
Read Article >>OPINION - Don't let change be a network nightmare
Now
that Lans are mission-critical, change management procedures are
essential says Othmar Kyas, marketing manager, network systems test
division, Agilent Techologies and author of Network
Troubleshooting
Read Article >>
Spotting the data troublespots
Before you make decisions
about upgrading your Lan you need to assess its strengths and
weakness.
Read Article >>Back to basics
IT directors face pressure from staff to
train in the latest fad, but legacy skills are essential in
networking
Read Article >>
Select the right gear
Seven-step guide to squeezing more
miles out of the network's tank
Read Article >>Directing traffic the right way
Active Directory and
its rivals are competing in many areas as the business world
becomes more directory-centric.
Read Article >>Life in the fast lane
Quality of service technology is
becoming cheaper and it promises to provide an alternative to
throwing more bandwidth at local and wide area network
environments. What are the business benefits
Read Article >>
Bypassing your cabled network
Improvements in wireless and
fibre optic technology could soon mean the end of the road for
cottage industry Lans and cable spaghetti
Read Article >>