inter department networking question
 

to any of you tech gurus out there..

we currently have one large office complex in spain but we want to split the complex up into 4 or 5 sub divisions each managing one specific aspect of our companies day to day running so my question to you is this..

what equipment will we need to ensure that all of our office computer systems can not only talk to the individual subsections of a network but also to each other vi the main network hub station

currently we are planning to have 4 pc / laptops running in each division each with their own net connection as well as local connections to two printers one of which is going to be laser and one is going to be injet

in addition we would also like to have the network setup so that any documents stored on the main hub server can be accesses by only 1 user in each of the sub divisions and then that user gets to distribute the documents throughout the entire sub division

as it stands im thinking we are going to need the following...

16 pc routers
1 main server
16 firewall connectors
8 printers
4-8 cable modems (if each sub division shares 2 connctions on one modem?)

anything else you guys think we are going to need that i have left of this list?

oh and will each sub division needs its own master server to speak to the main one or not?

I would look into getting a T1 connection or better to the office instead of cable modems.

unfortunately due to budgeting requirements that isnt an option right now

even a half decent t1 connection is going to cost almost 4 times what the cable modems will for everyone :(

Here is how I would do it, but i'm no expert, wait yes I am...

16 Pcs
5 Switches
8 Printers
4 firewall/routers
1 Server
I assume you'll be running NAT.

Segment 1:
4 PCS
1 Switch
2 Printers
1 Router
1 Cable modem

Segment 2:
4 PCS
1 Switch
2 Printers
1 Router
1 Cable modem

Segment 3:
4 PCS
1 Switch
2 Printers
1 Router
1 Cable modem

Segment 4:
4 PCS
1 Switch
2 Printers
1 Router
1 Cable modem

Segment 5:

1 Switch (with 4 other segments connected to it)
1 Server

Basically it would look like this.. in a shitty looking ascii drawing

[seg1]
Box1 box2 box3 box4
|
printer1, printer2 -- switch --- uplink to segment 5
|
Firewall/Router
|
Cable Modem

[seg2]
Box1 box2 box3 box4
|
printer1, printer2 -- switch --- uplink to segment 5
|
Firewall/Router
|
Cable Modem

[seg3]
Box1 box2 box3 box4
|
printer1, printer2 -- switch --- uplink to segment 5
|
Firewall/Router
|
Cable Modem

[seg4]
Box1 box2 box3 box4
|
printer1, printer2 -- switch --- uplink to segment 5
|
Firewall/Router
|
Cable Modem

[seg5]
downlinks from 4 switches - switch - server


Although I think you could probably get away with just getting a single business cable modem that doesnt have a low capped upstream connection, or perhaps SDSL, you'd save money.

Why do you need a cable modem for every 4 pcs?

That seems wasteful, if you want to discuss, icq 6775158

BMF