Where I work we have a single internet T1 line that we use for just about everything. Our Network consits of about 40 internet pc’s and 2 parts and inventory servers and roughly 15 network printers. We are an automotive wholesale warehouse with 5 remote locations. 1 server is an older unix server running adis pinnacle plus and it’s used to house all of our cataloging like vehicle part lookup information and interchange as long as sales records/history, inventory records of everytype and so on. 2 of our remotes connect directly to it using direct circuits provided by qwest. this server connected to one of our 2 switches and all of the warehouse employees who need to access the server all use a pc to telnet into it (about 25 users). The 2nd server is bassically the same thing it’s just a brand new ibm running aix5l and only 3 of our remotes connect to it but the connect via vpn and they all have a standard dsl connection. There are about 5 people at each location who have a pc that uses the vpn to connect to the server.
Ok sorry for the long winded info part but i just wanted to give all the info.
The previous IT guy that was here before me had setup just about everything before he got fired for being a complete idiot, and now im here to basically clean up his mess. When the T1 was installed the brougth in a netopia t1 router with 8 port switch and he connected the two vpn routers we have going from port 1 and 2 on the t1 router to the wan ports on the vpn routers. then from a single port on the vpn routers he connected em both to the same network switch. this network switch has EVERYTHING including all the warehouse pc’s, printers, and servers.
ATM everything seems to run at a snails pace when we are in peak office hours because we do have to do alot of internet orders and tracking so just about eveeryone uses the internet and alot of file transfering between the computers and servers. He setup one of the vpn’s to act as the dhcp server for everything except the older adis unix server and the second vpn as the ip server for just the old server.
So the question is where do you think I should start to get this mess fixed and speed up the internet. I am constantly having to restart the vpn thats the dhcp server because we keep dropping internet. And at times it seems like it’s going slower than dial-up. What I also need to know is how many users roughly will a T1 support before it boggs down so bad, and if i should consider looking into a bonded T1?