I was hired by a small firm to upgrade their computer systems. Today was the initial site survey. My MO is to have the client take me on their tour and then I poke my head around.
I was shown 3 Windows 98 workstations in a peer-to-peer network, connected wirelessly. Seemed like a simple enough setup, despite its age.
I was told they had network speed issues and so I suggested implementing a wired network. All agreed as it would be a simple matter of pulling cable through the ceiling. What surprised me, though, is that when I stared looking closely, I noticed ethernet jacks already installed throughout the office. And each computer was in fact plugged into a jack. A wired AND wireless network?
I asked someone about this and they said "Oh yeah, we need to be plugged into the walls to get at eachothers files."
I then found the patch panel and the switch. So yes, indeed, each PC was running both a wired and wireless connection.
With each subsequent discovery, I was thinking "WTF?" in my head over and over. Who would have set it up this way?
A little repositioning of the DSL modem and router, and with a little effort, I got the first client machine up and running. I say a little effort because whoever installed this brilliant system installed every networking component known to humankind: NetBEUI, the Novell ones, not to mention the ever present AOL Dial Up Adapters (despite them not using modems), and others. Wow.
Now here's the irony: even after all that work (it may sound simple, but was truly a mess) their speeds were still slow. Between the spyware/popups going berserk on the client machines and most cable being out of spec, things were still slow.
I wonder what other abominations I'll find next time.
I was shown 3 Windows 98 workstations in a peer-to-peer network, connected wirelessly. Seemed like a simple enough setup, despite its age.
I was told they had network speed issues and so I suggested implementing a wired network. All agreed as it would be a simple matter of pulling cable through the ceiling. What surprised me, though, is that when I stared looking closely, I noticed ethernet jacks already installed throughout the office. And each computer was in fact plugged into a jack. A wired AND wireless network?
I asked someone about this and they said "Oh yeah, we need to be plugged into the walls to get at eachothers files."
I then found the patch panel and the switch. So yes, indeed, each PC was running both a wired and wireless connection.
With each subsequent discovery, I was thinking "WTF?" in my head over and over. Who would have set it up this way?
A little repositioning of the DSL modem and router, and with a little effort, I got the first client machine up and running. I say a little effort because whoever installed this brilliant system installed every networking component known to humankind: NetBEUI, the Novell ones, not to mention the ever present AOL Dial Up Adapters (despite them not using modems), and others. Wow.
Now here's the irony: even after all that work (it may sound simple, but was truly a mess) their speeds were still slow. Between the spyware/popups going berserk on the client machines and most cable being out of spec, things were still slow.
I wonder what other abominations I'll find next time.
