Network 2 buildings

[robbyp]

Currently have a building with a network of 4 servers and 70 workstations. There's another building about 700 feet from us that we are going to start using. I want to keep all servers here and have them connect to us just like they were here. I figured the best way to do this would be to lay some pipe and run wire, but I'm not sure what wire/router/configuration is best used for something like this. I'm not thrilled with wireless, but fiber optics is something I've been hearing about as well. Just looking for some advice out there from someone that may have done something similar in the past. Thanks.

 

[kevnich2]

IMO, hire someone to run fiber for you, but make sure you run several pairs for redundancy. It's well worth the price and for the speed and reliability, you can easily keep the servers in the one building.

 

[spidey07]

3 ways to connect them.

1) Use somebody elses network (like a T1 or T3 or metro ethernet) and pay them every month. If you're keeping all the servers in one building you'll need some kind of 20 Mbs or higher service as a T1 would be too slow.
2) Use wireless. If you can see the roof of one building from another it will work great and be very reliable if installed correctly
3) Use your own wired network, in this case ethernet using fiber optics.

Option 3 is the normal application for something like this, with option 2 being the low cost option.

 

[LBmtb]

Make sure you either own the land between your buildings or that it's legal. That way you dont lay cable and pipes down and then have the city come in to tell you to take it off.

 

[wondersteve]

I would run fiber that would terminate into a switch w/ built-in fiber modules on each end. That way you have a functional network in the new building with just one piece of equipment (switch w/ built-in fiber module). Then you can wire the building and build your network from there.

We have done this many times at my company and have had little problems from it. We have used something like Cisco's 2924 Switches with the Fiber Modules. Although they are older switches and I think they are disconituned.

 

[bwnv]

Listen to these guys. You should never run copper between 2 buildings!

 

[secnet]

Use switches b/w the buildings and use fiberbackbone.

 

[Genx87]

Fiber!

 

[Kristi2k]

Originally posted by: wondersteve
I would run fiber that would terminate into a switch w/ built-in fiber modules on each end. That way you have a functional network in the new building with just one piece of equipment (switch w/ built-in fiber module). Then you can wire the building and build your network from there.

We have done this many times at my company and have had little problems from it. We have used something like Cisco's 2924 Switches with the Fiber Modules. Although they are older switches and I think they are disconituned.

An excellent suggestion. We do this as well with our buildings (4 seperate buildings in the same area).