Current Network Configuration:
1-Novell 5.1 server with 3 NICs 192.168.1.2, 2.2, 3.2, routing enabled, DNS/DHCP, Printing, SQL Database, SPX/IP
3 Network Segements 192.168.1.0, 2.0, 3.0 with mask 255.255.255.0
1- Win 2k email server setup with IMAIL 192.168.1.3
Each segment has 2-3COM 3300 switches with matrix cables, managed
Default router to internet is 192.168.1.1 (seg. 1)
Questions:
1. Would it make more sense to flatten the network down to 1 segment since there are only about a total of 125 pc’s and network devices.
2. Would flattening the network increase or decrease network perfomance as well as server performance. ie, removeing routing on the server should improve server performance right?, but would flattening it increase network performance issues?
3. Users currently on segment 2 & 3 need to travel through segment 1 to get to the internet, this obviously increases performance issues on segment 1
History: Original network design was with 6 hubs, 2 on each segment, this was why the segments were created to eliminiate some of the broadcast traffic. The hubs were replaced by switches earlier this year.
What would be the optimal network redesign with this hardware?