Network card
This card, known alternatively as a network interface card or a network adaptor card, allows the individual computer to communicate with the network. Each PC on the network will need one of these and the type of card or adaptor will depend upon what type of cable you have installed and the slots that are available on your PC.
Hubs
A hub is a connection point for devices in an network and link the LAN together. They contain multiple ports so that all the segements of the LAN can pass information to one another. There is a major advantage to having a hub as opposed to a single cable network; if one part of the chain in a network between all the users breaks, then the network does not work. So, even with a very small network, you may want to add a hub as it introduces fault tolerance into your network, which prevents problems on one device affecting the others.
If you are going to tackle the job yourself, do think about future proofing your equipment. If your company is going to grow, it might be worth investing in a hub with more user ports than you currently need. Alternatively, invest in stackable hubs that allow one hub to be stacked on top of the other to create one giant hub.
Another relatively easy way is to buy one of the starter kits now available. Kits are by far the easiest and most cost-effective way to set about networking for the first time.
Even if your company only has five users at present, you may anticipate growth in the future. If this is the case, think about whether you may need to create a client/server network. In this case you will need a server.
Modems and routers
If you want to add internet access to your network, you will need to use either an modem or a router. The type of modem that you buy will probably be either analogue, for the normal telephone lines, or ISDN, which is the integrated services digital network providing faster internet access. You will need one modem for each internet account but there is relatively cheap software available allowing you to share one internet account between several users.
If your business requires permanent internet access, you will need a router. Routers connect between the hub and the internet connection.
Routers come in all shapes and sizes depending on the number of users on the network and the desired internet connection, be it ISDN or 56K analogue. A Nortel Networks Netgear ISDN router with two phone ports, for example will cost around £175. The higher up the scale you tend to go the more you will find that hubs and routers can get integrated therefore removing the need for an additional hub.
Switches
If your network is going be relatively large, it may be worth while investing in a switch. This effectively creates a sub-network within the network by allocating additional capacity to specific users on the network who may be sending or receiving large data files. For example, if you have a graphic design department or database users that could create bottlenecks in the network with large files.
You may also need to think about software licensing if you are not using individual copies of software purchased with each PC. Sharing applications on a network often means that additional licenses have to be bought.
