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Any Suggestions for Effective LAN?

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by fadzpk

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Hello,
I have a network of 30 clients including 1 SERVER connected at 100mbps using different kind of unamanaged switches (Lantech, Baylan, ANet). We basically Deal in Web designing. Transfering of Files or Data between all the clients on LAN is the part of our network.

Due to this most of the times employes complain about their Computer and transfers on network is being slow or hanging time to time.

What I have figured out is this problem is because of 2 or more users connecting to one user. Suppose CLIENT2 and CLIENT3 is accessing CLIENT1 for data storage or fetching any data. Obviously the performance of CLIENT1 would go down.

Do any of you think I should put a dedicated SERVER that work as an SharingPoint for all the Clients computer. I mean if a user on CLIENT1 create a file and save a copy of it to SHARINGSERVER and if any of other CLIENTS want to acces it they can access it directly from SHARINGSERVER instead of accessing CLIENT1.

1. Do you think its a good idea?
2. Can you please give me some usefull suggestions about making my network more effective?
3. Is there any software to make it effective?

*note: We do have an Internet usage which is being served by SERVER using ISA.

4 replies

by kareemade

Dedicating a central server for all the machine is more effective for file sharing than using another client machine. Moreso, since you are on switch is even better

by curlergirl

What you are describing - a network where data and documents are saved locally on workstations and shared out from there to other users - is a classic peer-to-peer networking arrangement. It is definitely NOT the most effective arrangement for file sharing or, for that matter, for securing or backing up your files and data. The reason your users are complaining about slowness is probably due, at least in part, to the fact that other users are constantly accessing their hard drives to search for and open files. Workstations are slower to serve out files than file servers because they are configured to optimize higher level user processes rather than background processes (such as network file I/O requests); plus, the user of the workstation is already using a certain amount of resources so that the workstation cannot respond as quickly to background requests as a server would. Also, if users aren't careful when they shut down their computers, they could cut off someone who is using a file on their computer and cause the other user to lose their work.

I would definitely recommend putting a central file server in place and forcing (as much as possible) your users to save and share files from that location. It will make it much easier for you, as the network admin, to secure and back up their files. It will also ensure that all files that anyone needs are always avaialble while still allowing individual users to shut down their workstations, thus saving electricity, conserving heat and air conditioning, etc., etc.

However, you have to take into consideration the amount of storage needed to server all of the storage needs that are now being handled separately at various workstations, and configure your server accordingly.

(continued below)

by curlergirl

Also, be sure that your network switches are really switches (not hubs) and that they are working properly and at the full 100mbs network speed. If they are dual-speed (10/100) or if they are not really switches but are actually just hubs (seeing as they are unmanaged, many people get confused about this), this will also slow down your network.

Hope this helps!

by nico baggus

Even if you use switches there are various
combinations of switches & Ethernet cards that
dont negotiate very well, cause more trouble.
Best thing is to NOT let a switch and a PC
autonegotiate, but fix all settings.

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