Chapter 11: Network Administration

Chapter 11: Network Administration

The Need for Administration

Some local area networks are small systems dedicated to a particular application or group of applications (frequently file and printer sharing). For a small business, the installation of one or two of these systems will provide the benefits of local area network technology in a simple and straightforward fashion. However, for a large organization such as a multi-building business complex or a university, the installation of dozens of local area networks can pose problems. Each network must be individually maintained; the networks may use different hardware and software; the networks may be connected together; and the whole collection may be connected to other networks outside the organization. The installation of a single local area network to span the entire property, with one type of hardware and one type of software, is also frequently infeasible. This chapter explores the problems associated with installing local area networks that serve large numbers of users, and suggests some solutions or at least some ways of thinking about solutions.

Before the advent of personal computers or local area networks, large businesses and universities did all of their computation in large computer centers. The traditional large computer facility consisted of a giant processor housed in an impressive room surrounded by smaller rooms containing the offices of the hardware and software experts who kept the great machine going, made modifications to its hardware and software, and resolved the users? questions and problems. Operation of such a facility was on...

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Local Area Networks: An Introduction to the Technology

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Chapter 11: Network Administration

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