If company servers or devices containing important information are connected to the same network, then every user on that network has access to your data. Using multiple SSIDs to separate guests, employees and other wireless users helps to maintain security, QoS and manage bandwidth. If you opt to only use one SSID, you are taking a huge security risk, as all of your connected devices are in the same VLAN virtual local area network and can likely communicate with one another.
Broadcasting multiple unnecessary or even necessary SSIDs will impact signal strength and may result in packet loss and less than optimal connections. It may seem counterintuitive, but your small business wireless network setup is actually very much dependant on a solid wiring plan.
Every access point you deploy will need at least one cable, either for data or power. Depending on the aesthetic of your office, you may want to hide cables in the walls rather than have them run out in the open. Some access points can work using a mesh connection, so data cables like Cat5 or Cat6 are not required, however, they still require power.
We typically never recommend mesh connections as there is a significant loss in the quality of service and speed. Many access points can be powered using POE power over Ethernet switches and, therefore, will not require separate power adaptors or electrical line runs. POE switches are generally affordable. In most cases, it is more cost-effective to purchase a POE switch instead of buying individual power adaptors or placing APs close to existing power outlets which may not be ideal for the propagation of the wireless signal.
Be sure to consult a professional cabling company when running new cables as there are nuanced methods that need to be followed in order to pull the best performance out of your WiFI network. One of the best parts of purchasing commercial WiFI equipment is being able to purchase support directly from the equipment manufacturer.
Luckily, many manufacturers offer some level of support. Most will be able to troubleshoot problems related to their equipment and offer advanced hardware replacement in cases of complete hardware failure. Some manufacturers require that you purchase support, but the additional cost can go a long way. It happens very rarely, but it does happen.
There are times when you need professional advice on managing your large or small business wireless network setup. In such cases, call companies like Made By WiFi. After all, would you rather pay once and have everything go right or constantly pay to avoid suffering through a weak office WiFi network? Configuring a large or small business wireless network setup requires knowledge of how the network is going to be used as well as its hardware requirements. Made By WiFi can assist on all fronts.
WiFi is the heart of a large or small business, working tirelessly to power daily operations. The shorter range of 5GHz does allow APs to be deployed in closer proximity without signals overlapping and interfering with one another.
This, in turn, allows for a higher number of AP to be deployed. It should be noted that most WiFi clients still do not work on the 5 GHz band. Similarly, most smartphones are 2. Are you ready setup or upgrade your small office wireless network? Reach out to an account executive for pricing and additional assistance when choosing WiFi equipment for your office network.
Shop for all your business tech needs at. Close Search. Tags: category Networking No Comments. Subscribe you company. Popular Posts. Why NeweggBusiness? Almost all businesses today rely on the Internet to perform common functions, some more than…. When you set up a network, Windows automatically creates a workgroup and gives it a name. In a workgroup:. The Device Name for each device on the network must be unique, and the workgroup for all devices on the network must be the same. A hybrid network refers to any computer network that contains two or more communications standards such Ethernet A hybrid network relies on special hybrid routers, hubs, and switches to connect both wired and wireless computers and other network-enabled devices.
It enables the network to maximize the benefits of both these network types. In a wired computer network, all devices are connected by physical cables to a central access point. This access point can be a router, hub, or a switch. The function of this access point is to share a network connection among several devices. All the devices are plugged into the access point using individual Ethernet CAT 5 cables.
If the devices need to share an Internet connection as well, then the access point is plugged into a broadband Internet modem, either cable or DSL. In a standard wireless network, all networked devices communicate with a central wireless access point that broadcasts a signal. The devices themselves need to contain wireless modems or cards that conform with one or more Wi-Fi standards, either In this network configuration, all wireless devices can share files with each other over the network.
If they also want to share an Internet connection, then the wireless access point is plugged into a broadband Internet modem. A standard hybrid network uses a hybrid access point, a networking device that broadcasts a wireless signal and contains wired access ports. The most common hybrid access point is a hybrid router.
The typical hybrid router broadcasts a Wi-Fi signal using The hybrid router also has a port for connecting to a cable or DSL modem via an Ethernet cable. When shopping for a hybrid router, you might not see the word "hybrid" anywhere. After you determine which of your devices you want to connect with wires and which ones wirelessly, follow the procedures that are listed in Install a wired network , and Install a wireless network respectively to set up these parts of the hybrid network.
There are several different possible network configurations for a hybrid network. The most basic configuration has all the wired devices plugged into the Ethernet ports of the hybrid router, and the wireless devices connected to the router wirelessly. Then the wireless devices can communicate with the wired devices via the hybrid router.
If you want to network more than four wired devices, you can string several routers together, both wired and wireless, in a daisy chain formation. You'll need enough wired routers to handle all of the wired devices the number of devices divided by four.
And you'll need enough wireless routers in the right physical locations to broadcast a Wi-Fi signal to every corner of the network. In this way, you can connect both computers and peripherals such as printers and fax machines and place them where it will easy to access them. When you need the maximum Internet and file-sharing speed for your work, you can plug into the network with an Ethernet cable.
If you need to show a streaming video to your colleague in the office hallway, you can access the network wirelessly. With the right planning, your small business can save money on CAT 5 cables and routers by maximizing the reach of the wireless network. And with the right encryption and password management in place, the wireless portion of the network can be as secure as the wired.
After you set up your network, you might want to add more sharing options for your work and devices. Some of these options are set automatically, while others can be set manually. In Windows 8. If certain sharing options don't turn on automatically, you can activate them manually. These manual activation options include:. Network discovery is a network setting that lets your device find other devices on the network and other devices find your device.
Such functionality makes it easier to share files and printers. Network sharing automatically adjusts security and other settings based on the type of network connected to your device.
To check whether network sharing is enabled, follow the instructions. The first time you connect to a network, you'll be asked if you want to turn on sharing between devices and connect to network devices such as printers. Your answer automatically sets the appropriate firewall and security settings for the type of network. You can turn sharing on or off at any time. To share a file or folder, follow the instructions for the version of Windows installed on your device.
With password-protected sharing, people on your network can't access shared folders on other devices, including Public folders, unless they have a user name and password on the device for shared folders.
The network map is a graphical view of the devices and devices on your network. The map shows how devices are connected and includes any problem areas. It can be helpful for troubleshooting. For Windows 7, certain sharing options turn on automatically. For example, when you change your network location to Home or Work, network discovery is automatically turned on.
Similarly, file sharing turns on automatically the first time you try to share a file or folder. There are three network discovery states:. Windows 7 automatically adjusts security and other settings based on the type of network connected to your device. If you skip this step, then the first time that you connect to the network, you'll be asked to select your network location.
You can change this setting later. The network offers some protection from the Internet such as a router and firewall and contains known or trusted devices.
Network discovery is turned on automatically. Most small business networks fall into this category. The network is available for public use. Examples of public networks are public Internet access networks, such as those found in airports, libraries, and coffee shops. This network location helps keep your device from being seen by other devices around you and helps protect your device from malicious software on the Internet.
You should also select this option if you're connected directly to the Internet without using a router or if you have a mobile broadband connection. The device is connected to a network that contains an Active Directory domain controller.
A corporate network is one example of a domain network. This network location isn't available as an option. It must be set by the domain administrator. For your small business network, make sure that the network location type is set to Home or Work.
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