Input wanted - new network design

Have you considered using an ASP? Done a cost/benefit on hosting your own apps vs. an ASP.

Starting from scratch is a great opportunity! May I suggest you begin with a review of the business objectives and requirements?

Use these to develop the technical requirements. Only then worry about the physical, logical, and component requirements.

Doing this will give you a direct linkage between business objective and every element of your design. You will have a cost effective solution that meets the expectations of the business units.

Don't worry too much about what you may need in two years or more. Chances are today's solution based on tommorrow's possible needs will miss the mark anyway. Make today's design meet today's requirements, and bounce tomorrow's business requirements off of it.

Since the building is being gutted, it may be an opportunity to consider all aspects of information and communications technology in your design. Review telephony requirements, match the feature sets against business requirements and business objectives as well.

This approach will also give you the flexibility to consider ASP solutions from a specific criteria set, rather than letting the ASP push their solution on you.

Best of luck.

For this one as you have simply not given enough detail as to what is needed/ required/ and how much is available to pay for it. From bitter experience Senior Managment will not bat an eyelid at speending a million dollars on a playtoy for themsleves but just try to get a $2.00 network lead that they don't thnk you require. I would start by looking up MS Forest plan and deciding exactly what is required in workstations / servers where they need to be located and exactly what they will be doing then build up a Flow Chart of the required layout. The most important thing here is not to skimp on the hardware as an unrealible network is worst than usless and it will not help your position if parts are constantly breaking down again it all boilsdown to money and how much you have to spend. You could of course always go wireless but personally I am against this methoid while it gives you flexability the security issues are a nightmare but it at least saves the cost of all the plumbing. As you already work there you at least have some idea of the usage of the various people and just how many outside acces points will be required. I would go with the best available and try to make the system as bullet proff as possible and with the lead up time you will at least have the oportinuty to look at 2003 although Longhorn sounds a better system its a pitty its so far off. The best thing about this is it is not being sprung on you at the last minute so you at least have some time to do someresearch if the current system allows you to.